Under the High Patronage of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, UAE’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology, the first Unmanned Systems Rodeo (USR) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take place at the Higher Colleges of Technologies in Abu Dhabi on 4-5 May 2011.

Organized by the Institute for Near East & Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) and sponsored by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) and Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investment (ADASI), USR will feature a competition for UAE tertiary students to design, build, test and pilot remote controlled unmanned aircraft.  Competing teams will be judged for their presentation, speed, performance and endurance of their respective unmanned aircrafts.

First event of its type in the region, USR encourages students to apply their mathematical and scientific knowledge to a real world engineering project.  Students will learn the engineering process of designing, building and testing their unmanned aircrafts and will also develop teamwork and presentation skills.

Engineers from HCT, NGC & ADASI will be assisting the participating students throughout the 3 months of preparations.  NGC engineers will be travelling from the United States to give courses on Airplane Parts & Basic Aerodynamics.

The first place team will receive an all expenses paid   to the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International - AUVSI Convention for North America in Washington, D.C., USA from 16-19 August 2011.  The students will have the opportunity to present their concept design to an audience at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., USA.  

The second place team will receive an award of educational value offered by ADASI.