Challenge News

Time is slipping by fast, with only two months to go until the 2010 UAV Challenge. The number and origin of the Search and Rescue teams that have entered has shown that word of the Challenge has reached far and wide. Many high-school teams have already been working on their entries, but with registration closing this week the task will begin in earnest. Stay tuned to the website for any rule changes. Good luck and see you in Kingaroy!

There’s still time to enter the Airborne Delivery Challenge!

Registration for the Airborne Deliver Challenge closes today! Register your team online now to be a part of this year’s challenge.

Search and Rescue Challenge

This year has seen more entries in the category than ever before. There are currently 45 teams from across Australia, Estonia, Iran, the Netherlands, the US, Switzerland, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, Hong Kong, Canada and Brazil. There’s still a long road to go until September and a number of criteria that need to be met between now and then, but Joe will be happy to hear that so many teams are coming to find him!

Sponsor update

This year we’re pleased to announce that Insitu will once again be involved with the Challenge – this time as the event’s major sponsor. To join Insitu, and be a sponsor of the 2010 UAV Challenge, please contact Christopher Hess (christopher.hess@deedi.qld.gov.au) for a sponsorship proposal and more information.

Challenge Scheduling Changes

Due to the larger than anticipated number of entrants for the Search & Rescue Challenge, competition days for this event will now take place on both Tue 28 Sep and Thu 30 Sep, with the scrutineering and registration day unchanged on Mon 27 Sep.

The Airborne Delivery Challenge and Robot Airborne Delivery Challenges are also unchanged, with registration in the afternoon on Mon 27 Sep, scrutineering on Tue 28 Sep and competition on Wed 29 Sep.

Due to the Search & Rescue Challenge being extended for an extra day, there will no longer be an extra day for inclement weather. An upcoming version of the rules will reflect these schedule changes.

Although these changes are confirmed, it would be best to keep travel arrangements flexible where possible so that you will be better placed to deal with any more changes that may take place.

Proposed schedule:
Monday 27: Registration, S&R scrutineering
Tuesday 28: R/AD scrutineering, S&R competition
Wednesday 29: R/AD competition
Thursday 30: S&R competition

Take time for tourism in Kingaroy

Whilst there’ll be plenty of excitement at the airport, if you’ve got the chance you should spend some extra time exploring the region. Kingaroy and the wider Wide Bay Burnett region has much to offer tourists, including the nearby Bunya Mountains. If cuisine is more your thing, there are locally made cheeses, beautiful vineyards and be sure to pay a visit to the famous Peanut Van! For more information, visit South Burnett Tourism.

Kingaroy accomodation

Although the ‘go/no go’ announcement of teams is not released until much closer to the event, it’s recommended that teams begin to investigate accommodation options early. The Challenge brings in lots of tourists to Kingaroy, and accommodation tends to fill up early. Accommodation options can be found through South Burnett Tourism or via accommodation sites such as Wotif.com.

Follow the challenge on Twitter and Facebook!

If you haven’t become a friend of the UAV Challenge Facebook page, you’re missing out! Visit us on Facebook.

Joe doesn’t much to do while he’s lost in the bush so has been busy tweeting on Twitter. Follow him closely in case he gives any hints as to his whereabouts!