USM SKYSCANNER TEAM REACHES GLOBAL HEIGHTS WITH 23RD PLACE AT PRESTIGIOUS UAV EVENT

Penang, 27 September 2024 – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) has recently achieved an impressive international ranking, securing 23rd place globally in the International Teknofest UAV Competition.

Skyscanner, the sole Malaysian representative, has successfully demonstrated its innovative drone at the International Teknofest UAV Competition, organised by Tubitak in Turkey.

This esteemed competition serves to showcase the most advanced drone technologies from across the globe, and Skyscanner's participation represents a significant milestone for Malaysia, particularly in the domain of aerospace engineering.

The Skyscanner team developed a bespoke unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with the specifications. Following the successful completion of the rigorous technical standard checks, the drone was officially cleared to fly in the skies of Turkey.

The objective of the aircraft was to facilitate life-saving operations, responding to emergency calls and delivering aid autonomously.

At 08:00 local time, the Skyscanner drone successfully completed its inaugural flight. Upon receiving a GPS location of a survivor through an SOS feature integrated into a bespoke application, the drone autonomously took off from the ground, thereby demonstrating its precision and rapid response capabilities.

The drone was equipped with a high payload capacity, enabling it to swiftly reach the GPS coordinates and hover over the survivor before delivering the necessary aid.

Upon completion of the mission, the drone autonomously returned to the take-off point, demonstrating a seamless operational capability from start to finish.

The Skyscanner 2024 team comprises the following members: Dr. Ahmad Faizul Hawary, Nur Aisyah Mohamad Shariff, Ziyyad Imanhadi, Evo Wilbur Walter, Hanis Sofea, Nursyafiqah Hamzah, Syafiq S, Aqram Syafa, Zihad bin Mahmoud, Amir Wahab, and Azrul Shari.

Their endeavours have elevated Malaysia to a position of prominence on the global stage, particularly within the domain of aerospace engineering, through the exemplification of the team's ingenuity and creativity.

The success of the Skyscanner team is attributable to the robust support provided by several institutions, including the School of Aerospace Engineering USM, BHEPA USM, MIGHT, Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (Yayasan Perkasa Siswa), SATNSC Malaysia, Dronebot Thailand, PPKT Kampus Kejuruteraan, and a number of generous crowdfunding contributors.

Additionally, gratitude was expressed to translators Yamusa and Sinnah, whose contributions were instrumental in supporting the team throughout the competition.

"We are indebted to the unwavering support that has enabled us to compete and succeed on this global stage," said a Skyscanner team member.

This marks another historic achievement for the School of Aerospace Engineering, USM, and we are proud to have represented Malaysia in such a prestigious event.

This success represents a further contribution to Malaysia's developing expertise in drone technology and aerospace engineering, with Skyscanner at the vanguard of innovation and problem-solving in the field of unmanned aerial systems.

Text and Photo: Courtesy of the School of Aerospace Engineering USM

Editing: Siti Faizah Abd Halim