Aerial Drone Competition
by Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
STEM Drone Skills + National Competition
Team-based STEM drone competition for grades 5-12 where student teams fly and program drones through four mission types: piloting, autonomous flight, teamwork, and a communications interview.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
$200
Participation format
Team
Teams of 3 to 5
Duration
Annual season June 1 to April 30; individual events run one day each
Eligibility
Open to students in grades 5-12, divided into Middle School and High School divisions. Teams of 3-5 students.
- Grade level
- Grade 5 to 12
- Age range
- 10 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Recognition
International STEM Competition
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Form a team of 3-5 students and source CoDrone EDU drone hardware from Robolink
- 2Register the team at RECFevents.org and pay the USD 200 season registration fee
- 3Find and register for qualifying events (additional USD 50-100 per event set by event partner)
- 4Compete at qualifying events; top teams advance to Regional Championships
Rules and guidelines
- Teams of 3-5 students; each school may register up to 22 teams per season
- Only CoDrone EDU or CoDrone EDU (JROTC edition) drones permitted
- Season fee of USD 200 per team required before participating in any event
- Communications Mission requires documentation of drone programming process
- Judge and referee decisions are final during events
Fees and financial support
Fee details
USD 200 per team per season registration fee, plus USD 50-100 per team per qualifying event (set by event partner).
About this opportunity
The Aerial Drone Competition (ADC) is an annual hands-on STEM competition organized by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) in partnership with Robolink. Student teams of 3-5 members fly and program CoDrone EDU drones through four distinct mission types in a structured competition format, building skills in drone piloting, autonomous programming, teamwork, and STEM communication.
The four missions that make up the ADC are: the Teamwork Mission, where two alliances of two teams each pilot drones simultaneously on a shared field for alliance-based scoring; the Autonomous Flight Mission, where teams program drones to fly autonomously; the Piloting Mission (Skills), a one-minute timed obstacle course for individual team scoring; and the Communications Mission, which is a judge interview covering drone knowledge, programming documentation, and workforce skills.
Rounds and format
Qualifying events (November-March): teams compete in four missions (Teamwork, Autonomous Flight, Piloting Skills, Communications). Top teams advance to Regional Championships (April-June).
How entries are judged
Teamwork Mission: alliance-based scoring. Autonomous Flight Mission: autonomous precision scoring. Piloting Mission (Skills): timed obstacle course, individual team score. Communications Mission: judge panel interview on drone knowledge and programming documentation.
Frequently asked questions
Can Indian student teams participate in the Aerial Drone Competition?
Indian teams can participate in principle, as RECF operates in 70 countries. However, no confirmed India qualifier events exist as of June 2026. Indian teams should contact drones@recf.org to inquire about the India regional support pathway before purchasing equipment.
What drone hardware does the competition use?
All teams use the CoDrone EDU by Robolink. The drone is not provided by RECF; teams must purchase it separately. Classroom packs from Robolink range from USD 3,599 (12 drones) to USD 5,699 (18 drones). The drone can be programmed using block-based or Python coding.
How are teams scored at ADC events?
Teams are scored across four missions: Teamwork Mission (alliance-based drone piloting), Autonomous Flight Mission (programmed navigation accuracy), Piloting Skills Mission (timed obstacle course), and Communications Mission (judge interview on programming and documentation). Cumulative scores determine advancement to Regional Championships.
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