TEKNOFEST International Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition

TEKNOFEST is an international unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) competition held within the framework of TEKNOFEST Technology Festival, one of Türkiye’s technology and innovation-based events. The competition is open to participants at national and international levels and is organized to encourage student teams with an interest in UAV technologies and to enhance their technical knowledge and skills.

The primary objective of the competition is to support students in conducting innovative work related to UAV technologies, enhance their scientific and technical capabilities, strengthen competencies such as teamwork and project management, and establish Türkiye as an international center in UAV technology. The competition enables participants to demonstrate diverse flight capabilities through tasks performed using fixed-wing and rotary-wing systems as well as free missions.

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The International UAV Competition is open to:

• Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students from national and international institutions,
• high school students (in compliance with mixed-team rules), all participating in teams. Teams are required to submit specific technical reports and videos to enter the competition.

As of 2025, the competition is organized into three distinct categories:

1. Fixed-Wing Category: Participants are expected to complete designated missions using fixed-wing UAVs.

2. Rotary-Wing Category: This category involves completing missions using UAVs capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

3. Free Mission Category: In this category, participants develop original systems based on missions they define themselves or on proposed mission scenarios. This category aims to highlight creativity and innovation.

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The competition is assessed through multiple stages. These evaluation stages include:

• Project Presentation Report: A report submitted by teams detailing technical aspects of their design, software, hardware, and mission planning.

• Preparation and Mission Video: Evaluation is conducted based on visual content showing the team’s preparation process and mission execution.

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The International UAV Competition is an initiative designed to increase young people’s interest in aviation and defense technologies. This competition does not merely provide participants with technical knowledge and skills; it also offers them the opportunity to engage with engineering and entrepreneurial culture. By contributing to the development of qualified human resources needed by Türkiye’s aviation and defense industry, the competition supports the advancement of national technology policies.