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Get ready for the first ever EPFL Drone Days!

Switzerland’s best drone pilots, scientists at the forefront of drone research and the greatest specialists of the field will gather at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) from 1 to 3 September 2017 for the first-ever EPFL Drone Days.

Organised by EPFL in partnership with the National Centre of Competence in Research Robotics (NCCR Robotics), the Swiss Rotor Sports Association (SRSA) and the World Air Sports Federation (FAI),  the event will combine spectacular drone races, an exhibition on the latest advances in robotics research, and conferences on innovation, safety and sport – all in the same place.

EPFL Drone Days is aimed at both the general public and experts in aerial technology. Visitors will be able to watch demonstrations, attend workshops and try their hand at flying with either a drone or a simulator. Get a glimpse of what to expect:

Drone races featuring Switzerland’s top pilots
Spectacular drone races will be held on campus throughout the three days as part of the SRSA Cup 2017. Switzerland’s top flyers – wearing special viewing goggles that receive a live feed from an on-board camera so that they can steer from the drones’ perspective – will race at speeds of up to 150kmph. The best pilots will take part in the final on 3 September 2017. The race is part of the official Swiss FPV Racing Championship and will be a qualifier for the ERSA Euro Cup 2017.

Interactive drone exhibition
In the building next door to the racecourse, NCCR Robotics will put on an interactive exhibition showcasing the latest cutting-edge drone research conducted at EPFL. At the stands and workshops, visitors will be given an inside look at the technologies of the future, from a foldable drone to one that beats its wings like a bird.

1st FAI International Drones Conference and Expo promoting Innovation, Safety and Sports
The third component of the event will be the International Drones Conference and Expo. It will be organised by the FAI and held at the Rolex Learning Center. A series of expert talks will focus on the three main themes of Drones and Innovation, Drones and Safety, and Drones and Sport, and discuss future challenges in terms of the industry, events and legislation.

The sessions on Drones and Sports will present the highlights of Drone Racing events, the different types of Sport Drones, and also discuss the governance of this still young emerging air sport. In addition, case studies from other new emerging sports such as E-Gaming will be shown. There will also be an exchange of experiences between air sports organisations from around the world about their work with new stakeholders. Click here to read the full FAI press release and here to check out the flyer.

Attending the EPFL Drone Days is free of charge. There will be an entrance fee for the FAI conferences, for which visitors should register online at www.fai-dronesconference.org.

Canton of Vaud - a drone industry booster
The aim is for EPFL Drone Days to become a key aerial robotics event, held on a campus that is renowned for its research and innovation. Three annual editions have already been planned up to 2019. Last year, the Department for the Economic Development of the State of Vaud published a report which gives a good picture of the canton’s pioneering role in the development of drones and lists local companies, labs and other stakeholders active in the industry. Read more here.

 

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