Ashina Technology Team

Ashina Technology Team was established in 2022 at Eastern Mediterranean University. The team is a student community composed of university students who produce engineering and software-based projects. Under the Teknofest framework, the team participated in the Flying Car Simulation Competition and the Air Defense Systems Competition, achieving notable rankings. Ashina aims to promote a culture of project development within the university and provide students seeking to advance their technical skills with a collaborative working environment.

It was the year 2022. A regular day on the campus of Eastern Mediterranean University. Under the northern Cyprus sun, everyone was absorbed in their own rush...

But that day, Furkan had an unusual idea in his mind: “I participated in Teknofest in high school and won an award. I want to relive that excitement and bring it to northern Cyprus. Why don’t we form a team here?” At that moment, no one knew it, but that question was the birth of the Ashina Technology Team.

At the start, we were just one person. We had no workshop and no material resources—only determination, curiosity, and imagination. We decided to enter the Teknofest 2023 Flying Car Competition. Nights were spent developing algorithms, conducting tests, and struggling with errors. Sometimes we worked alone; other times we sought support from those around us.

In the summer of 2023, we stood on the stage at Turkey’s largest technology festival. It was our first time competing, but we did not return empty-handed. We won second place in Turkey! Yes, an idea born from a single individual carried us to the podium. This achievement was not merely a medal—it was a spark.

^{Teknofest 2023 - Award Ceremony (Yiğitalp Dikmen)}

That spark quickly turned into a team. More students began saying, “I’m in too,” along the university corridors. We entered 2024 with new members, new ideas, and new goals. In the same category, we returned stronger than ever. And finally…

Teknofest 2024 Flying Car Simulation Competition – First Place in Turkey!

This time, we were not alone. We were a team. Our dream had wings—it flew and soared toward success.

^{Teknofest 2024 - Award Ceremony (}Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye⁾

Ashina Technology Team is now a name that comes to mind when technology is mentioned at Eastern Mediterranean University. We are not just a team that participates in competitions—we are working to spread a culture of project development across the university and inspire our peers to create.

But there is more… We are not only focused on flying vehicles.

In 2025, we set our sights even higher: the Air Defense Systems Competition. We successfully completed our preliminary and critical design reports. Starting in July, the entire team is working on the system capability video.

^{Teknofest 2025 Preparations (Alper Önder)}

The system we developed can operate in two modes: manual and fully autonomous. But our greatest pride lies in its ability to intelligently execute various mission scenarios in fully autonomous mode. Its weapon system is precise and powerful enough to detect and neutralize targets. We wrote our own software and developed our own algorithms. Defense is now our domain.

As Ashina Technology Team, we do not aim to merely win competitions. We want to build a sustainable technology ecosystem in Cyprus. We are not just creating a single project—we are building a culture. Our goal is to commercialize our systems through entrepreneurship and become a driving force for technology in the region.

One day, we dreamed of flying cars. One day, we began developing defense technologies. Who knows where tomorrow we will reach?

Ashina is not just a team. Ashina is the story of those who never give up, those who dream, those who strive, and those who believe.

And this story has only just begun…

Ashina Technology Team is no longer just an idea—it has become a team of individuals who trust each other and work tirelessly day and night. Here are the heroes of that team:

• Furkan Batı – Founder & Team Captain
• After his Teknofest successes in high school, he brought that excitement to Cyprus. A versatile engineering candidate actively contributing in every area the team needs—from electronics to mechanical design, from software to strategy. Wherever there is a problem, he is there.

• Cemre Yeşil – Autonomous Systems Lead
• A mind that solves complex problems line by line. The person who designs the software side of every system, from architecture to control algorithms. An engineer who insists, “I won’t write code until I fully understand the logic,” grounding the project in solid fundamentals.

• Alper Önder – Image Processing & Artificial Intelligence Lead
• To him, every pixel from a camera is a data point. The architect of algorithms for target detection, object recognition, and classification. Someone who stays up all night coding to improve a model’s accuracy by just 3%, as if in telepathic sync with artificial intelligence.

• Doğan Efe Çiğdem – Manufacturing Lead
• The person who turns designs into reality. A hands-on master who meticulously manages every process, from CNC machines and 3D printers to lathes and hand tools, believing that “every drawn part must have a physical counterpart.”

• Deniz Demir – Former Team Member – Teknofest 2024 Flying Car Competition
• Played a major role in our 2024 championship win. Although no longer an active member, his contributions during that period were vital to the project’s development. One of the pioneers who left their mark during Ashina’s initial rise.

This team is strong not only because of its role divisions but because of what they have achieved together. Each member brings unique skills, united by one common goal: to take Ashina further.