Annual drone racing tournament goes virtual
Weekend competition, via simulator, features first-ever live FPV drone racing on television
Once it became clear that the 2020 Collegiate Drone Racing Championship would have to be postponed until the following year, Jordan Krueger started thinking about virtual competition.
After all, when it comes to flying five-inch drones at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour, simulation training works. And it’s clearly the most cost-effective way of practicing tight turns and complex course routines.
And that’s why, while the COVID-19 pandemic may have kept dozens of pilots representing dozens of schools from converging on the UND High Performance Center, the University, the Research Institute for Autonomous Systems (RIAS) and the Collegiate Drone Racing Association (CDRA) still hosted a tournament this past weekend.
Using Velocidrone — a simulator for first-person-view drone racing — 40 pilots from 18 colleges across the country competed online for fastest pilot and fastest school.
In Sunday’s double-elimination team bracket, UND earned a third-place finish behind runner-up University of Central Florida and Northeastern University, the champions of the 1st Annual Virtual Drone Racing Tournament. Northeastern’s top pilot, Pedro Caceres, also took first in the individual bracket.
The competition was broadcasted on YouTube, Twitch and Midco Sports Network. The televised coverage represented a significant milestone for the drone racing industry, as it was the first time races have been live and not pre-recorded.
“This tournament was a benefit to all parties and all pilots,” said Krueger, a UND graduate, project manager at RIAS and president of the CDRA. “A lot of the effort behind it was volunteered, and that was made knowing this tournament will help grow the sport.”
From pilot to broadcaster
After flying as UND’s drone racing captain in last year’s competition, the first hosted by the University, Krueger found himself in the caster’s chair for Saturday’s and Sunday’s broadcasts.
He provided commentary for the races alongside Joe Scully, a well-known play-by-play announcer who’s also vice president of event production for MultiGP, a leading drone racing organization. Scully emceed UND’s 2019 event, as well.
The full broadcasts are available for viewing on MultiGP’s YouTube channel.
“Honestly, it was a lot of fun and felt pretty natural,” Krueger said. “Scully and I had a few nights practicing commentary on the track, and I loved it. Being that this is the first annual event, I’m looking forward to doing it again.”
Two pilots from UND cracked the top eight of individual competition and comprised the duo bringing home the bronze in team play. Sophomore Russell Marotzke took fourth and Jack Engstrom, also a sophomore, came in sixth. Former teammate Krueger was proud of the group of pilots, saying the placements are only getting better for the young squad.
“They told me they surprised themselves with how well they did,” Krueger said. “Our pilots were fantastic, and I’ll continue to work with them and coach them as club advisor to the UND UAS/RC Club.
“I’m excited to see how we progress for the 2021 Collegiate Drone Racing Championship at UND.”
“Thank you for watching,” said Engstrom to viewers following the consolation bracket finals. “We know it was kind of short notice, and it means a lot to us.”
Achieving more through racing
In light of a global pandemic forcing the competition online, the CDRA established a coronavirus relief fundraiser, through GoFundMe, in connection to the event. The proceeds from the weekend and through the end of May will benefit the Centers for Disease Control Foundation.
Naomi Hansen, communications director from RIAS, helped organize the virtual tournament. She said not only was it a good opportunity to bring awareness to the sport, but also the competition could provide something positive during a difficult time.
The Research Institute for Autonomous Systems will be awarding plaques and gift cards as awards to the top three finishers of the individual and team contests.
“This was a great occasion to provide some entertainment, since sports aren’t being played right now, and it was also a meaningful way to support the fight against COVID-19,” Hansen said. “Midco Sports Network was an outstanding partner on this, broadcasting the tournament across multiple states.”
UND’s Interim Vice President for Research & Economic Development, John Mihelich, agreed, saying that the leadership and team at Midco Sports Network was responsive, adaptable and community-focused.
“We are grateful for such partnerships and look forward to the many things we can accomplish in the realm of drone racing,” he said.
He added that the support of drone racing competitions benefits RIAS’ mission of engaging existing and future autonomous systems researchers; the activity also provides an opportunity for student leadership.
“The tournament offers an opportunity for UND to connect to its students, prospective students and other campuses,” Mihelich said. “We are supporting a first-of-its-kind collegiate competition, reinforcing our commitment to imagination and discovery and preparing students to actively lead and shape the future.”
