MathWorks Global Drone Student Challenge Overview

Hi, and welcome to the global drone student challenge. This challenge introduces you to an industry-relevant, model-based design workflow and helps you gain expertise in developing a vision based autonomous drone flight algorithm. It's a virtual challenge open to students worldwide. To participate, you must be a currently enrolled student at a degree-granting institution. You can participate as an individual or as a part of the team with up to four members. It's a great opportunity for you to participate, learn, compete, and win exciting prizes.

In the rest of the video, we will cover about the problem statement, how to get started, overview of the Simulink model, the evaluation process, and a quick summary. Let's start with the problem statement. Here, each team is expected to develop a vision-based line follower algorithm for a drone in Simulink.

In the virtual scenario, there is a track made up of straight line sections. At the end of the track, there is a circular landing mark. Your task is to develop an algorithm that guides the drone to follow the track accurately, and detect the circular mark at the end, and perform a smooth landing on it.

The track consists only of straight line sections. No curves or intersections are included. Here is how you can get started. Upon signing up for the challenge, along with the Matlab license, you will receive a quadcopter simulation model. This model includes the flight control system, Simulink 3D visualization, and a plant model. The plant model subsystem includes all the necessary sensors, including a downward-facing camera.

Using the camera data, you will have to implement the line following algorithm inside the flight control subsystem. For more details about the model, watch the model description video in the minidrone competition video series. The link is provided in the description.

The developed algorithm must be capable of following the tracks ranging from beginner to advanced levels. The track details for different levels of complexity is clearly mentioned in the rules and guidelines document. To create the tracks of varying difficulty levels, use the Track Builder app. For more details on creating tracks, watch creating arena tracks video in the MathWorks minidrone video series. The link is available in the description.

Once your solution is ready, submit your model on the competition web page before the deadline. The submitted models will be evaluated on the tracks of varying difficulty-- beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. The teams with the model that successfully complete the first two levels will be eligible to receive participation certificates.

The top three teams with the highest scores across all the submissions will be awarded cash prizes and winning certificates. Additionally, the winners will get the opportunity to interact with UAV experts from MathWorks and receive a LinkedIn recommendation. The detailed submission guidelines and the evaluation process can also be found in the rules and guidelines document. Please go through it.

Here is the quick summary of what you need to do next. Visit the MathWorks Global Drone Student Challenge web page and register for the challenge, and then watch the video series and read the rules and guidelines document to fully understand the competition. Explore the resources provided, which helps you to develop your solution. Finally, make sure to submit your solution before the deadline.

If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us at minidronecompetition@mathworks.com. All the best, and thank you.