The AUSUAV 2010 entry to the OBC is underway spurred on by the release of the new rules. Flight testing began a few weeks ago and the current prototype 3.6m twin boom pusher airframe flew a 1.4 hr flight on under RC control on 28 Mar 10 with battery capacity remaining. 300-400W seems to sustain flight through lift, sink and mild climbs and descents on the airframe that has a very draggy fuselage and causes a lot of disruption to the flow through the prop. We are confident that this years entry will be capable of carrying all equipment and the rescue payload while achieving greater than a 1.5 hr endurance using electric power. The AP has returned from UNAV after being upgraded to the latest firmware with a 5 Hz GPS and is currently being fitted to the airframe along with the Millswood falsafe and Servo Station. The Millswood equipment has proven its self well in the old Telemaster and Cularis glider. The Cularis was flown using the failsafe as a serial servo controller controlled by Roborealm over a 9XTend for something different, it worked well without any latency issues for docile handling planes like the Cularis. The Millswood failsafe will be employed as a failsafe and payload controller. The new rules regarding comms loss failsafe behavior are a welcome option and will be pursued if time permits. The current test bed will be used to test components and comms ranges while an improved version is made. More to follow after Easter..

We are now looking for people to join the ausuav team, for our 2009 attempt at the UAV Outback Challenge, in the way of Sponsorship. If you have products, services or skills that you would like promoted, or simply have too much money , then we can help you! We are offering a tailored package of promotion in return for goods, services, money or anything else that could help us and at the same time add value to your business. If you think this is you or your company then please contact us via aaron@ausuav.com or the good old phone. In Australia call Aaron on 0419 507 586 or if from elsewhere in the world +61 419 507 586.

After "Winning" last years event (scoring the most points for the competition but not completing the task) we received a great amount of media coverage including print, web, magazine, video etc.

I built this website in response to people wanting information and pictures. Since Oct 2008 we have had over 7000 unique visitors to this website with more than 110,000 hits! That's a lot of worldwide exposure.

Some info on what you'll get for your involvement.

Permanent page and link on our website.

Promotion on our UAV in the form of stickers.

Promotion on our Team Shirts.

Mention in any Print, Radio, Internet Media coverage that we receive.

Positive promotion at the event which has leading memders of the world's UAV community present.

Any other ideas that we can come up with that are suitable to both parties, such as, promotional visits, team photos, product demonstrations on site, written reviews and reports etc.

> We are using the UAV to compete in the 2009 UAV Outback Challenge
> again. ( www.uavoutbackchallenge.com.au ) The competition is sponsored
> by Boeing and other major industry players and are well represented at
> the competition including the judging panel.
>
> We are just a two man team and have paid for everything out of our own
> pockets for last years effort and this years as well. We had great
> success competing against University teams with $30,000 budgets (and
> we beat them all Last year after the challenge we received quite a
> lot of media attention.
> We featured in newspaper reports, widespread coverage on dozens of
> industry websites and several UAV Industry magazines had coverage of
> the event also. There are also promotional videos and a wrap up of
> last years event on my website that are produced by the organisers.
>
> Both myself and Simeon are qualified pilots (we started at 16 years of
> age). Simeon is now a helicopter instructor with the Australian Army
> and I run my own business. My Father and I have built two Ultralight
> aircraft which we fly regularly. We've both been flying RC aircraft
> for at least 20 years now also. These are some of the skills that
> helped us in our approach to the challenge and to problem solve before and during the
> competition.

Hope to see you get on board the team.

Cheers
Aaron & Simeon.
Team ausuav.com

You'll find some info and inspiration about the 2009 UAV Outback Challenge in this video. Again Team Telemaster gets some airtime in this video.

The official Doco from the 2008 UAV Outback Challenge. Team Telemaster gets a good coverage in the video.

Here is a well written article on the 2008 UAV Outback Challenge.

We are pleased to announce that the UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue will take place in 2009 in the regional Queensland town of Kingaroy. The event will take place on 28 September - 1 October 2009.

Aerospace students and enthusiasts alike will again have the opportunity to find and assist 'Outback Joe', a lost bush walker in Australia's vast outback, using UAVs.

We look forward to your continued enthusiasm and support for this event.

See you in Kingaroy!

UAV Challenge rules

The 2009 UAV Challenge rules will be similar to those of 2008. Minor adjustments will be made in the next month. When complete, the new rules document will be made available online.

Register for the UAV Challenge

Register for the 2009 Challenge here. This form will be uploaded onto the website shortly.

Sponsor the 2009 UAV Challenge

The 2008 UAV Challenge received overwhelming support from the aviation and aerospace industry. This support helped to make the event the huge success that it was.

We are now seeking support for the 2009 UAV Challenge. To receive a sponsorship kit, please contact:

Liesl Larsen
Telephone: 07 3224 7134
Email: liesl.larsen@dtrdi.qld.gov.au

2008 UAV Challenge - Outback Rescue winners and finalists

Congratulations to all participants in the 2008 UAV Challenge for making it a great success.

Airborne Delivery Documentary Challenge
Winner: Brisbane Boys’ College – Bash, Burn and Crash ($2,000)

Search and Rescue Documentary Challenge
Winner: Mueller College - MUROC Bush Masters ($8,000)

Airborne Delivery Encouragement Award (donated by RD Collins and Associates)
Winner: TSHS Mt Lofty ($500)

Steven M Sliwa Search and Rescue Encouragement Award (donated by Insitu)
Winner: Missouri S&T UAV Team ($500)

Airborne Delivery Challenge
Winner: Mueller College - MUROC Bush Pilots ($10,000)

Search and Rescue Challenge
Despite impressive demonstrations of autonomous UAV flight, unfortunately no teams were able to rescue Outback Joe this year. As a result, encouragement awards were provided based on technical reports, inspections and practice flights.

Finalists:
Telemasters ($5,000)
Missouri S&T UAV Team ($3,000)
QUT SRUAV 08 ($1,000)

Check out the link to see what Hobby Lobby had to say about our efforts in the "Challenge"

Thanks go to Jay, the CEO of Hobby Lobby for writing up a great story.
We had 4000 individual visitors over three days from the Oct News article alone.