Huntsville, Alabama. (May 2, 2023) – Two Civil Air Patrol (CAP) teams from North Alabama have earned a chance to compete in the UAS4STEM sponsored by Skydio National Championship this summer. The Redstone Composite Advanced Team, and the combined Redstone/Mountain Lakes Composite Beginners Team successfully completed the preliminary round and were selected as top-scoring teams. The championship will be held at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 24-26.
This incredible opportunity for the cadets is the culmination of over 6 months of preparation. The Advanced team will compete in the national championship for the third year in a row, hoping to build on their second-place finish last year. This is the first year that a beginner competition has been offered.
The Advanced team’s drone employs high-tech automation, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine vision. Their mission requires the drone to identify the location of objects, pick them up, and deliver them to specific locations. Higher scores are earned with greater automation.
The Beginner team assembled and tested their drone, preparing for an aerial reconnaissance mission. That mission calls for the team to identify letters on target boards around the field, and report back the coordinates of those targets using their drone.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) sponsors the UAS4STEM competition along with drone maker Skydio. The AMA states: “UAS4STEM is designed for students to learn, practice, and demonstrate professional uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) knowledge, mission planning, flight skills, data collection, analysis, and safety practices in a competitive environment. It’s a drone competition for everyone, with both beginner and advanced categories.”
Both teams are fortunate to be coached by the Alabama Wing’s Director of Aerospace Education, Captain Dan Anderson. Cadets from the Advanced team provided coaching for the Beginner team as well, passing on helpful hints that they have learned.
The Redstone Composite Advanced UAS4STEM team is Team Captain C/TSgt Brody Stokes, C/Lt Col Aidan Anderson, C/Lt Col Aeryn Anderson, C/Capt Ben Lambertson, C/Capt Kristianna Berger, C/1stLt Greyston Harper, C/A1C Jeremy Fielding Jr, and C/A1C Thomas Fleming.
The combined Redstone Composite (AL-119) and Mountain Lakes Composite (AL-135) Beginners UAS4STEM team is Team Captain C/SSgt Emily Butera, C/CMSgt Johnathan Drake, C/CMSgt Judah Cobert, C/SSgt Benjamin Booth, C/Amn Lara Valcarcel, C/Amn Paul Valcarcel, C/Amn Jacob Graham, C/Amn Elizabeth Parakkal, and C/Amn Christopher Parakkal.
# # #
About Civil Air Patrol
Founded in 1941 and established as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force seven years later, Civil Air Patrol is chartered by Congress as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of youth development, aerospace education, and to promote general aviation. In an auxiliary role as a Total Force partner of the Air Force, CAP operates the world’s largest fleet of single-engine aircraft for search and rescue, disaster relief, training, and education. Civil Air Patrol is dedicated to serving America’s communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.