High-speed drone racing championships return to Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For the second year, Purdue University will host the Collegiate Drone Racing National Championships.

The all-day event will be held Saturday (April 14) with the course set up inside Lambert Fieldhouse, 800 W. Stadium Ave., because of inclement weather concerns.

Flight times run from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with pilots initially competing in six qualifier races. The top 16 pilots will move on to the championship races that begin at 5 p.m.

Sixty-four pilots from 20 universities across the nation are scheduled to compete this year, an increase from the 48 pilots that comprised last year’s first-ever Collegiate Drone Racing National Championships. Virginia Tech, Kansas State, Oregon State and Minnesota are among the universities represented this year.

Every pilot competing builds their own drone. The pilots use the homemade creations to navigate a complicated obstacle course at speeds that can reach 80-90 mph. They zig and zag through checkpoints and around flags.

The championships are coordinated by the Collegiate Drone Racing Association, which was formed by the Purdue Drone Club.

Parking will be available at the Northwestern Parking Garage or the Grant Street Parking Garage.

State Street Redevelopment Project construction is in progress on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. This work has closed a large portion of State Street and significantly affected surrounding thoroughfares in West Lafayette.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu  

Source: Owen Crook, jocrook@purdue.edu