National Aerial Robotics League Drone Competition For Schools and Clubs

Middle School and High School Students Are Eligible To Participate: Schools, School Districts, Scout Troops, FIRST Robotics Teams, STEM Clubs, Non-Profit Organizations, Students.

Since 2015

International Aerial Robotics Drone Competitions

All Participants In Middle School and High School Are Eligible

 

For Schools, After School Programs, Clubs, FIRST & SeaPerch Teams, Science Olympiads, and More

 BELL Drone Vertical Robotics Competition For High School
The #1 Aerial Robotics Competition | 2015 to Present

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Students Across the Country design, Build, Test, and Fly Custom Drones

Student-based teams work with mentors and teachers to design, test, and fly drones through multiple simulations. To earn success, teams must work together in a collaborative manner in order to create solutions for various design and flight challenges. 

Gain STEM Workforce Skills

Student-based teams work with mentors and teachers to design, test, and fly drones through multiple simulations. To earn success, teams must work together in a collaborative manner in order to create solutions for various design and flight challenges. 

Over the course of a single season, students will have:

  • Built, programmed, and flown the most advanced drone available in competition robotics
  • Designed, 3D printed, and implemented their own robotic components
  • Soldered and wired on-board electronic components
  • Learned how industry aerospace experts code for aerial kinematics
  • Overcome the challenges of “in the field” systems integration
  • Utilized project management skills to balance development cycles of ground and aerial robots
  • Delivered technical presentations to compete for judged awards

Competition brackets: High School

Previous Year’s Competition Events:

2023 Recon, Rescue & Firefighting Challenge
2022
Emergency Firefighting Robotics Challenge
2021  Earthquake Search & Rescue Challenge (high school)
2020 Postponed (due to Covid)
2019  Food Delivery & Air Taxi Drone Competition
2019  Synchronized Dancing Drone Contest (middle school)
2018 Wimbledon Tennis Ball Competition
2017  Toxic Train Spill and Recovery Competition
2016 Delivery and Accuracy Drop Contest

Now Accepting Registrations For The 2023 November Competition

Limited Availability – Register Today To Secure Your Spot

2023 AVR Competition Kick-Off Video

Not your typical robotics competition!
The Bell Advanced Vertical Robotics (AVR) Competition is returning for a sixth season to inspire future entrepreneurs in the fields of engineering and manufacturing. Students use hands-on, industry-standard tools to design, build, and compete against teams from around the US with the most advanced aerial robotics technology available today. Participation in the Bell AVR Competition prepares students to meet rapidly changing future workforce needs both on the ground and in the air!

Highlight Video Of 2022 Event

Highlight Video Of 2021 Event

Highlights Of 2019 Event

Highlights Of 2018 Event

Dancing Drone Vertical Robotics Competition For Middle School

The Synchronized Dancing Drone Competition Is Live and Now Accepting Registrations.

The Competition is for middle school aged students, grades 5-8. 

This event will be limited to only 100 teams, so secure your spot today to guarantee participation.

Details

DETAILS FOR 2022-2023 HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. PLEASE CHECK BACK.

What’s Included (as in example and in the past)

A complimentary one-year classroom curriculum license is included when your team joins the Dancing Drone Competition. This is a tremendous value, since the cost of the license retails for over $700+, but it is fully included with your team’s registration.

Competitions & General Details

High School Competition

Aerial Robotics Competition Information

Primary Goal and Focus

The primary goal of the Aerial Robotics Competition (ABC) is to provide an efficient and unique platform for educators to mentor participants on how to become lifelong learners and instill a strong sense of curiosity, confidence and teamwork.

Due to the exponential growth of the drone industry, high-school students may now explore, learn and evolve along with the applications of today and the discoveries of tomorrow.

The ABC fosters this new technological landscape with constantly-evolving competitive event challenges and a company core value of pushing students through hands on exploration and real-world applicability.

Primary Outcomes Include

Primary Outcomes Include

  1. Real-world Applicability
  2. 21st-century success skills
  3. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  4. Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
  5. Agility and Adaptability
  6. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
  7. Effective Oral, Written, and Digital Communication
  8. Accessing and Analyzing Information
  9. Curiosity, Imagination and Innovation
  10. Organization and Collaboration
  11. Real-Life Applicability
  12. Inspired Education
  13. Entrepreneurial Mindset
  14. Engineering and Design
  15. Collaborative Teamwork
  16. Building Enhanced Skillset
  17. National and International Competition
Competition Design

Competition Design

The Competition has been specifically designed to introduce 21st century STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills in and out of the classroom! Drones and UAVs are the perfect competitive and educational platform for kids and teens to become familiar with and learn more about the many facets of drones, robotics, and the future of this budding industry and how it applies to real life and future opportunity.

All of our challenges have been designed to encourage and build: enjoyment, teamwork, curiosity, critical thinking, courage, and creativity.

It’s time to take off and build STEM skills that will lay the foundation for many years to come. Join this movement and prepare to inspire the development and preparation of the entire student.

Middle School Competition

Dancing Drone Competition Information

Primary Goal and Focus

The primary goal of the Dancing Drone Competition (DDC) is to provide an efficient and unique platform for educators to mentor participants on how to become lifelong learners and instill a strong sense of curiosity, confidence and teamwork.

Due to the exponential growth of the drone industry, middle school students may now explore, learn and evolve along with the applications of today and the discoveries of tomorrow. The DDC fosters this new technological landscape with constantly-evolving competitive event challenges and a company core value of pushing students through hands-on exploration and real-world applicability.

Primary Outcomes Include

Primary Outcomes Include

  1. Real-Life Applicability
  2. True application of the arts in the letter A of the acronym STEAM 
  3. Inspired Education
  4. Entrepreneurial Mindset
  5. Engineering and Design
  6. Collaborative Teamwork
  7. Building Enhanced Skillset
  8. National and International Competition
Competition Design

Competition Design

The Competition has been specifically designed to introduce 21st century STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills in and out of the classroom! Drones and UAVs are the perfect competitive and educational platform for kids and teens to become familiar with and learn more about the many facets of drones, robotics, and the future of this budding industry and how it applies to real life and future opportunity.

All of our challenges have been designed to encourage and build: enjoyment, teamwork, curiosity, critical thinking, courage, and creativity.

It’s time to take off and build STEAM skills that will lay the foundation for many years to come. Join this movement and prepare to inspire the development and preparation of the entire student.

All Drone Simulations, Design and Challenges Encompass

All Drone Simulations, Design and Challenges Encompass

  • Real-world Applicability
  • 21st-century success skills
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Collaboration Across Networks and Leading by Influence
  • Agility and Adaptability
  • Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
  • Effective Oral, Written, and Digital Communication
  • Accessing and Analyzing Information
  • Curiosity, Imagination and Innovation
  • Organization and Collaboration
What Drone Is Recommended For The Curriculum and Competition?

What Drone Is Recommended For The Curriculum and Competition?

Drobots highly recommends using the DJI Tello (either the EDU or first generation model).

We have used both the Tello and the Parrot Mambo, but since the Mambo is no longer in production and no longer supported, we strongly suggest the DJI Tello.

Read more about why we like the Tello here.

Purchase the DJI Tello here.

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"This Is The World Cup of Aerial Robotics"

Our Robotics Club, which is all-girls, enjoyed the ability to mesh technology with the arts. The ‘aerial visual arts concept’ attracted a variety of interests and backgrounds from within our school, which is extremely rare. We will continue to compete in future challenges. Until then…

~ Mary T. | Science Olympiad and Club Coach | Madison, WI

"The Aerial Autonomous Competition Was More Fun For Me Then The Students "

Our team just returned from the Aerial Robotics League competition. The ride home was a 3-hour journey, but the time went quickly because all we talked about was how exciting and challenging your competition was. As a parent, the experience leading up to the event was enjoyable to watch unfold. However, the event day was what made me the most proud. All of those hours of team collaboration came together perfectly in the perfect aerial robotics symphony. Great fun and learning.

~ David P. | Parent and Middle School Science Teacher

"Finally a Drone Competition that is similar to First League. Tremendous"

Awesome, awesome, awesome. Watching the kids come together and compete against other teams of students was so enjoyable to watch. Controlling a drone is not only a skill, but has real applicability to the future of tomorrow’s generation. We didn’t come in first place this year, but all of us who experienced the event WON!

~ Susan M. | Robotics Coach and Mother

Drobots Company specifically designs 21st century “drone STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills for kids and teens in and out of the classroom! Come explore with us and be inspired by energetic challenges and competitions created for the entire student. It’s time to take off and build critical 21st century “drone STEM” skills, teamwork, and collaboration – join us! “Drone competitions“. “Drone school competitions“. “Aerial Robotics competitions for kids“. “Aerial Robotics competitions for teens“. “Drone Contests“. “Aerial Robotics competitions for schools“. “First Lego League Drone Competitions“. “Drone competitions for kids“. “Drone competitions for teens“. “drones and art competitions“. “Drone racing competitions for kids“. “Drone racing competitions for middle school“. “Drone racing competitions for high school“, “aerial robotics competitions“, “drone racing league and competitions“, “drone racing league“, “coding summer camps“, “game design summer camps“, “FPV drone competition“, “drone competition and racing for kids“, “technology competition“, “technology races“, “drone racing course camps“, “autonomous drone racing“, “autonomous drone competition“, “first person view drone competition