Georgia Tech wins first-ever Collegiate Drone Racing National Championship

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Georgia Tech won the first-ever Collegiate Drone Racing National Championship hosted by Purdue University on Saturday, scoring more than $15,000 worth of equipment and prizes.

The gusty winds and winding track were no match for the 48 pilots and their homemade drones. The races went off without a hitch, despite challenging 19-20 MPH winds.

Student-made drones compete during one of the qualification rounds of the first Collegiate Drone Racing National Championship that was held at Purdue University on Saturday (April 15). The pilots used the homemade creations to navigate a complicated obstacle course at speeds that can reach 80-90 mph. (Purdue University photo/David Wegiel Jr.) Download image

Georgia Tech beat out the other 26 universities to claim the top spot. The University of California, Berkeley finished second, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Unviersity-Daytona third and Purdue finished fourth.

"It was a fantastic event," Tyler Landers, president of the Purdue Drone Club said. "It was a bit windy, but I think everyone had a good time. It was great for Purdue to host the first ever. Congratulations to Georgia Tech they had a great day today."

The final race consisted of Corey Ibanez from the University of California Santa Cruz, David Dominguez Hooper from UC Berkeley, Nick Willard of Georgia Tech and Ivan Rodriguez of the University of Texas-Arlington. Rodriguez beat out Ibanez for the top spot in the race, followed by Willard in third.

Writer: Megan Huckaby, 765-496-1325, mhuckaby@purdue.edu

Sources: Tyler Landers, tlander@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Video from the races is available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxdPFMVWz-l2RlJNZ25jbm1VNXM