Ton Duc Thang university hosted the First International competition on Research and Design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) 2024

On November 21, 2024, the First International Competition on Research and Design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles 2024 (UAV Competition 2024) took place at Ton Duc Thang University (TDTU). This event marks the first-ever international competition in Vietnam, drawing university students from both national and international institutions.

The first UAV Competition 2024 featured nine teams from universities, including Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Vietnam Aviation Academy, Technical University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), and Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Czech Republic).

Attending the Opening Ceremony, from TDTU, there was the presence of Dr. Vu Anh Duc –  Chairman of the University Council, Dr. Tran Trong Dao – President, the Presidential Board, leaders of various units under TDTU, and over 1,000 students from national and international universities coming to support the competing teams.

Distinguished guests and representatives from universities with participating teams were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hoai Quoc – Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Automation Association, Prof. Vaclav Snasel – Rector of Technical University of Ostrava, Prof. Milan Adamek – Rector of Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Ms. Ladislav Vasevič – Principal of Matiční gymnázium Ostrava School, Czech Republic, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hai Hang – Director of Vietnam Aviation Academy, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Hieu Giang – Acting President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, and other leaders from organizations, institutions, enterprises, and sponsors.

The two-day competition (November 21–22) was held at TDTU Sports Complex to determine the best-performing team. Nine teams from five universities competed for a trophy to pursue shared ambitions. The competition encouraged students to explore real-world UAV applications, develop advanced technical skills, and foster a strong commitment to UAV safety and ethics. These objectives align with the competition’s mission to bridge the gap between education and industry demands and empower students to drive advancements in UAV technology.

Some photos of the Opening Ceremony:

Dr. Tran Trong Dao, President of TDTU, delivering the opening speech

Distinguished guests from associations, national and international universities, as well as representatives from enterprises and organizations, attending the Opening Ceremony

Chairpersons, Rectors of the universities with participating teams, and representatives of the Organizing Committee taking a group photo

The competition venue – TDTU Sports Complex

Dr. Vu Anh Duc – Chairman of the TDTU Council, representing the host institution, giving commemorative medals to the co-organizing universities of the first competition

The Organizing Committee giving commemorative medals to the participating teams and representatives of the judging panel

The competition took place on November 21 and 22, 2024, at Ton Duc Thang University. The theme for the first competition, agreed upon by the co-organizing members, was “Navigate and Drop.” The competition aimed to develop UAV systems capable of dropping or shooting balls with precision at ground targets, including four “drop targets” and one “goal target,” each with varying diameters. The UAVs were required to release or shoot balls from a specified height (over 5 meters above the floor) with the highest possible accuracy. This theme was inspired by the idea of using UAVs to transport goods or deliver relief supplies to isolated areas affected by natural disasters, fires, or similar emergencies.

As the first-ever international scientific research competition in Vietnam, it was open to undergraduate students and PhD students at national and international universities. In the current context, UAVs are a cutting-edge technology widely used in various fields such as defense, transportation, agriculture, and logistics. This competition holds significant theoretical and practical value for this evolving field.

Some photos of the teams preparing for and performing their competition tasks

Researching, designing, and developing UAVs has become a highly relevant topic, attracting attention from organizations, enterprises, and startups worldwide. In response to this trend, the competition was organized to provide students with opportunities to apply their knowledge in model design, programming, AI, and image analysis, as well as teamwork skills, to real-world UAV research projects. The event aimed to promote scientific research among students in areas such as electrical and electronics engineering, information technology, AI, and mechatronics engineering. The competition is expected to serve as a platform for connecting institutions and partners, fostering research collaboration, and establishing joint research groups in UAV  technology in particular, and scientific and technological collaboration in general in the future.

Earlier, in November 2023, five institutions, including TDTU, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Vietnam Aviation Academy, Technical University of Ostrava, and Tomas Bata University in Zlín, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to organize the International UAV Competition and agreed upon that the first competition would be hosted by TDTU in Vietnam.