Overview
Blackbird UAV is a student organization participating annually in a national drone design competition. The club aims to design, build and operate 2 bespoke firefighting <15kg aircrafts while providing students with a practical hands-on experience in the design, manufacturing, and software integration components of such an undertaking.
The money raised from this campaign will allow the club to use more efficient materials, exotic components, as well as be better prepared for the competition in May 2025 in Alberta.
The Background
Blackbird UAV was formed in 2009 to participate in the AEAC National Student Competition. Since its formation, the club has participated every year and has won 6 podium positions and 3 Innovation Awards. In 2023, the club won 1st place for the most prestigious phase of the competition for the first time ever. Last year, it won a third innovation award. This was enabled by creative usage of limited resources. Over the years, the club has also claimed a few firsts at the competition: the first team to make a flying communication relay, the first to perform a successful flight mode transition, and the first ever to use cellular data as the main communication link with the vehicle.
Blackbird UAV is now seeking to expand its horizons by using the momentum from its recent tremendous victory and climbing ever higher for the next competition in May 2025 by creating a completely new vehicle from the ground-up, entirely by Carleton University students!
The Rollout
All funds donated will go directly to either the design and manufacturing of the competition vehicle, or to bring more club members to the national competition.
The Impact
The funding enables us to be more creative with our designs and to better manage any potential setbacks. Overall, the funding increases our chances of winning the national competition and be innovative. Also, every additional member the club can afford to bring by using these funds will experience a unique and invaluable opportunity to interact with other competitors and organizers, as well as gain significant field experience.