Success in UAV engineering demands innovation, resilience, and an unbreakable spirit. Team Arrow’s journey from AeroTHON’22 to AeroTHON’24 is a testament to our determination to rise above setbacks and claim victory. From winning the Best Manual Flight Award in 2022 to facing an unjust disqualification in 2023, and finally, to securing the national championship in 2024, our story is one of unwavering perseverance and ultimate triumph.
AeroTHON’22 was a stepping stone for Team Arrow, marking our first major recognition in UAV design. Our UAV demonstrated exceptional manual flight capabilities, earning us the Best Manual Flight Award. However, despite this success, we fell short of winning the overall competition. The experience fueled our ambition to come back stronger, pushing the limits of UAV technology.
Determined to build on our previous success, we entered AeroTHON’23 with a highly refined UAV. However, before we even had the chance to compete, we were disqualified in Phase 1 due to an improper review of our reports. The setback was not due to technical shortcomings, but an oversight in the evaluation process. While frustrating, this experience only strengthened our resolve. Instead of letting the disappointment break us, we used it as motivation to ensure nothing was left to chance in 2024.
With two years of lessons behind us, AeroTHON’24 was our moment of reckoning. We approached the competition with unparalleled preparation, a meticulously designed UAV, and a mission to reclaim our place at the top.
The competition began with rigorous technical inspections, where the jury matched our UAV’s specifications with our submitted design reports. The team ensured that every safety and compliance measure—including geo-fencing, telemetry checks, and fail-safe mechanisms—was in place. Our UAV passed all checks flawlessly, marking the first step toward success.
Following this, we presented our technical report and mission capabilities to a panel of aerospace experts from DRDO and Boeing. Our clear explanations, innovative design, and confident delivery impressed the judges, setting a strong foundation for the next rounds.
The second day commenced with Mission 3: Obstacle Avoidance & Payload Drop, one of the most demanding tasks. Our UAV became the first in the competition to successfully navigate all obstacles and achieve a 100% accurate payload drop—directly on target. The bullseye precision left judges and competitors in awe.
After a successful morning, we proceeded to Mission 1: Manual Flight & Autonomous Detection of Hotspots and Objects. The UAV was required to detect, classify, and count objects autonomously while being manually flown to different hotspots. Once again, Team Arrow excelled, correctly identifying all required elements and completing the mission with remarkable efficiency.
The final day began with Mission 4: Autonomous Hotspot & Target Detection with Payload Delivery. This required full autonomy, where our UAV had to detect targets, drop payloads accurately, and complete the task within the competition’s 10-minute time limit. Not only did we complete the mission successfully, but we did so in just 7 minutes, impressing the jury with our speed and efficiency.
However, the real challenge lay in Mission 2: Fully Autonomous Object Detection, which required complete camera integration and real-time recognition of hotspots and objects. This mission posed a technical challenge as our camera system initially struggled to send acknowledgments. Despite this, the team quickly adapted and successfully completed the mission, ensuring that every requirement was met.
With all four missions completed flawlessly, we had full marks in every category—an unprecedented feat in the competition’s history.
The last event was the Tiger’s Cage, where teams pitched their UAV designs for entrepreneurial evaluation. Our well-structured business pitch secured first place, proving our UAV’s real-world applicability beyond the competition.
As the awards ceremony commenced, anticipation ran high. Tiger’s Cage winners were announced first—Team Arrow. Then came the announcement for the overall championship. We were not in third. We were not in second. There was only one possibility left.
When the first-place announcement came, Team Arrow was crowned National Champions of AeroTHON’24. The moment was surreal—the result of years of persistence, innovation, and teamwork.
Winning AeroTHON’24 was more than just claiming a title. It was about proving that setbacks don’t define us—our comebacks do. From our strong showing in 2022, to the heartbreak of 2023, to an undefeated performance in 2024, this victory symbolized Team Arrow’s resilience and ability to overcome any challenge.
With this historic win, we have not only reclaimed our place at the top but also set new benchmarks for UAV technology and team excellence. This is just the beginning. The sky is no longer the limit—it’s just the start.