The first day of the UAE’s inaugural Unmanned Systems Rodeo (USR), organized by the Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA), took place on Wednesday the 4th of May at the CERT Technology Park in Abu Dhabi. The USR has been convened under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Chancellor Higher Colleges of Technology.

INEGMA has joined hands with the UAE’s largest higher education institution, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), leading international defense firm Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), and Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI) to stage this groundbreaking science and technology outreach event. The inaugural USR features a competition for HCT students to design, build, test and pilot remote controlled unmanned aircraft. The 11 competing teams from 4 HCT colleges are judged on their presentation, and on the speed, performance and endurance of their respective unmanned aircrafts. The first and second place teams will receive an all expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. and Italy respectively. The eleven competing teams came from four colleges: Al Ain Men’s Campus: Team Seven Stars and Team Spirit of Al Ain; Abu Dhabi Men’s College: Team Take Care, Team Legend, Team Falcon and Team Tornado; Abu Dhabi Women’s College: Team SIGMA-6 and Team AD-ians; Dubai Men’s College: Team Snow Birds, Team Special Commands and Team Robotics. The first day, May 4, featured flying sessions from 9:00 to 16:00. After an introduction and instructions for Unmanned Systems Rodeo Challenge Flight Competition Operations to kick-start the event, team sorties took place in the Parking and Open Lot Area between 0830-1200 and resumed after the lunch break until 17:00. The awards ceremony will take place tomorrow at 11:00 with the presence of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan who will deliver the prizes and awards to the winning teams.