Held on 8–9 April 2026, the competition challenged teams to design and deploy 2–3 autonomous drones capable of flying as a coordinated group through a sequence of gates in an indoor arena. Teams were evaluated based on speed, accuracy, inter-drone coordination, and technical presentation. The award ceremony took place at the Singapore Expo on 11 April 2026.
Competing under the team name NUS Aero Intelligence, the group comprises undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students from Dr Zhao’s research lab. Their winning solution demonstrated strong capabilities in robust perception, fast planning, and multi-agent control, enabling high-speed navigation while maintaining precise formation under real-world constraints. The team was awarded a cash prize of SGD 15,000.
Team members include:
Nicholas Tan Yun Yu (Year 4, Computer Engineering),
Pinhong Chen (MSc Electrical Engineering),
Yichao Gao (Year 1 PhD, ECE),
Ajay Shanker (MSc Computer Engineering),
Shenao Wang (Year 1 PhD, ECE),
Gerdpratoom Nuthasith (Year 1 PhD, ECE),
Thum Weng Chuen (Year 3, Electrical Engineering).
The SAFMC High-Speed Drone Flock Challenge places strong emphasis on the integration of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and robotics, reflecting the growing importance of coordinated multi-agent technologies in areas such as logistics, surveillance, and smart mobility.
▶️ Watch the award ceremony: https://youtu.be/UgtcLOd6H8Q
