What does my team need to do for this competition?
What are the dates for the UAS4STEM competition?
What are the benefits of competing?
How much does it cost to participate?
Where will the competition be held?
What if your group has more than 10 students?
What ages are allowed to participate? Does the team have to be affiliated with a school?
Interested in contributing a sponsorship?
Have any other questions?
What does my team need to do for this competition?
Your team will be challenged with a specific mission using a drone which varies depending on whether you choose to compete in the beginner or advanced division. Your team will purchase the components and build this drone to specifications provided in the rule book. Advanced division teams will then design and build a custom mechanism for the drone to complete the specific mission. You will need to learn how to program an autopilot system, so that the tasks can be performed autonomously when possible. As part of this process, your students will complete an online ground school that covers basics of flight, safety, the national airspace, and more. This course prepares students to earn their Part 107 certification, which is required by the FAA to operate drones professionally in the national airspace. This competition requires students to be responsible for their learning by seeking out resources to grow their knowledge and skills in order to meet the challenge, with the guidance of the team manager.
For the virtual preliminary competition (taking place each spring), your team will have the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness to fly the mission. They will submit video of their aircraft performing the tasks they were able to achieve and deliver a Flight Readiness Review presentation live to our judges, following the guidelines in our rulebook.
They will also complete a brief challenge that showcases their ability to program the autopilot software and answer a few questions from the judges. Teams will be scored on their efforts, and the top-scoring teams will be invited to compete in-person at our championship competition at the end of July to be held during AirVenture in Oshkosh Wisconsin, the world’s largest aviation celebration.
What are the dates for the UAS4STEM competition?
Teams may begin meeting at any time.
The UAS4STEM virtual preliminary competition will be held April 14-April 30. Each team will book a 50-minute time slot during that window.
Top-scoring teams will be invited to the in-person championship competition held July 21-July 23, 2025 at AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
A virtual meeting for team managers will be held on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:00 PM ET. These sessions are recorded for those unable to attend.
If you have questions, contact us at education@modelaircraft.org.
What are the benefits of competing?
Participation provides students with technical skills in the area of uncrewed air systems. Students also develop professional skills such as teamwork, communication, time management and critical thinking. Winning teams at the national level are presented with scholarship money, directly creating a pathway from this competition to education and a career in a STEM field. Student national competitors who responded to our most recent survey indicated that due to participating in UAS4STEM, they feel more prepared to succeed in science, technology, engineering and math. They also feel improved confidence along with a better capacity for teamwork, communication and leadership.
How much does it cost to participate?
Get started for just $299! Full registration for the 2025 season is $1,495.00, with registration for each additional team beyond the first receiving a 50% discount. International teams are $1695.00. Any remaining balance is due by March 31. The price difference for international teams is due to the additional cost of connecting affiliate memberships between AMA and the organizations representing model aircraft pilots in other countries. The registration fee covers entry costs for both the virtual preliminary and in-person championship competitions, should your team advance. The fee also covers the cost of AMA membership for up to 10 student team members, the designated team manager, and additional adult assistant team manager, and includes credentials to access the Part 107-preparatory UAS4STEM virtual ground school for all team members. EAA membership is also an included benefit for the designated lead team manager. The registration fee does not include the cost of sUAS equipment, which is purchased separately based on the component specification list provided upon registration. The registration fee does not cover any additional expenses (travel, food, lodging, etc) for the championship competition.
Where will the competitions be held?
The 2025 championship competition will be held at AirVenture! Hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, AirVenture is known as “The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration” and has it all when it comes to aircraft. The preliminary competition is virtual, so your team will join our judges live from the location of your choice!
What if your group has more than 10 students?
Each UAS4STEM team has a maximum of 10 student team members, in order to allow each participant the opportunity to have a role that contributes to the success of the team. Schools or clubs may register multiple teams, at a discounted rate, to accommodate all of the students who wish to participate.
What ages are allowed to participate? Does the team have to be affiliated with a school?
The UAS4STEM competition is targeted to students age 11-19, with the support of an adult mentor who manages the team. An additional adult may be designated as an assistant team manager.
Teams can be formed from any type of organization that focuses on educating and enriching youth. We welcome teams from schools, Civil Air Patrol squadrons, scouting groups, homeschool co-ops, community centers, and more.
This competition sounds GREAT! I would love to provide sponsorship.
We are actively seeking sponsors to allow more teams to participate, increase the amount of scholarship money given to the winning teams, and grow the program. UAS4STEM is an educational program of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, a nonprofit dedicated to the hobby of model aviation. You can learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits here.
Help! I have an important question that you didn’t answer here!
We are happy to assist! Drop us an email anytime: education@modelaircraft.org