The Blue Sparrow project began in the Estonian Aviation Academy’s aeronautical engineering curriculum as part of the “RPA Design” course. It has now evolved into something much bigger than just a student project. Our team is participating in the international IMechE UAS Challenge in England in July 2024, proudly carrying Estonian colors and local materials on our drone.
Our 12-member team is a mix of ambitious aeronautical engineering and management students, giving us a strong foundation to successfully compete with both aerospace engineers and technology companies. Our goal is not only to compete but also to show what Estonian youth can do when they have the right support and vision. After the competition, we will pass on our project to the next aviation academy students, who will carry on the tradition we started.
Financial support is also crucial for the project’s success, which was initially a major setback for us as deadlines kept falling. We decided to apply for EAS support, which was specifically aimed at students involved in engineering. We recently found out that, through intense competition, we were selected as worthy of a 66,450-euro grant. One of the criteria for receiving the grant was also finding cooperation partners. We have been taken under the wing of Threod Systems and SKYCORP, who believe in our mission and are ready to support us both financially and with their expertise and knowledge.
The IMechE UAS Challenge requires autonomously delivering a 15×12.5x30cm package to a distance of 15 minutes, in addition to assessing creativity and marketing skills. The weight of the package is also important; the heavier the package our drone can deliver, the more points we can get. On top of that, we have set ourselves the goal of building a drone from environmentally friendly materials produced in Estonia, to build a drone with the smallest possible ecological footprint.
The goal of our project is more than just competing or developing technical skills. We want to inspire young Estonians to enter the world of engineering and discover the possibilities of aviation, whether it be unmanned aircraft or future technologies. Our dream is to show that Estonia can be a major player in this field, and our youth are ready for it.
Blue Sparrow is not just a drone; it is an inspiration to a new generation that dares to dream big and fly higher than ever before. We are proud to be part of this journey and to bring honor and recognition to Estonia in the aviation world if we can return home successfully from the competition.