Kolkata, 2026:
The SAE IEM Collegiate Club and IEI-IEM (ME) Student Chapter, under the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM), Kolkata, successfully organized AVIONIX 2026, a student-centric drone competition aimed at encouraging innovation, technical skills, creativity, and practical applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology among young engineering students.
AVIONIX 2026 provided students from first year to third year with a platform to design, build, operate and compete with their own drones while demonstrating their technical knowledge, creativity and problem-solving abilities.
The competition witnessed participation from more than 45 teams, highlighting the growing interest among engineering students in drone technology and the rapidly expanding scope of UAV-based applications.
Two Competitive Categories
AVIONIX 2026 featured two major categories designed to accommodate participants with different levels of experience:
1. Beginners Category
This category was designed for students who were relatively new to drone technology. The participating drones competed without cameras or payload pick-and-drop mechanisms, with emphasis placed on flight control, stability and piloting skills.
2. Advanced Category
The Advanced Category challenged teams to incorporate additional capabilities into their drones, including camera systems and/or payload pick-and-drop mechanisms, encouraging participants to explore more sophisticated applications of UAV technology.
Four Major Events
AVIONIX 2026 featured four distinct events, combining technical challenges, innovation, business thinking and entertainment.
1. Endurance Race — Obstacle Course
The Endurance Race was a drone obstacle course conducted for both the Beginner and Advanced categories. Participants were required to navigate their drones through a series of designated obstacles, including various shapes and pathways, without making contact with them, and safely return to the designated take-off point.
The event primarily tested the flight stability, precision, maneuverability, control and piloting skills of the participating teams.
2. PPT Presentation — Innovation & Business Model
The PPT Presentation event provided teams with an opportunity to present their innovative ideas related to drone technology and demonstrate how those ideas could be transformed into viable business models.
The event encouraged participants to think beyond the technical aspects of drone development and explore the commercial potential, real-world applications and entrepreneurial possibilities of their innovations.
3. Gravity Grid — Technology Meets Fun
Gravity Grid was designed as an engaging technical-fun challenge that combined drone-related skills with precision and teamwork.
In this event, teams operated a lightweight thermocol ramp carrying a ball. Participants had to carefully control and tilt the ramp so that the ball travelled towards designated target zones. Teams were awarded points based on the target area reached by the ball.
The event brought together precision, coordination, strategy and entertainment, adding a unique recreational dimension to the competition.
4. Drone Shots — Aerial Photography Competition
Drone Shots was the photography segment of AVIONIX 2026, where participants used drones to capture creative and visually compelling aerial photographs.
The event encouraged students to explore the creative and visual applications of drone technology, while demonstrating their ability to operate UAVs effectively for aerial photography.
Distinguished Guests and Experts
The event was further enriched by the presence of eminent academicians, researchers, innovators and professionals from the fields of aerospace engineering, robotics, mechatronics and drone technology.
Among the distinguished guests was Prof. (Dr.) Subhasis Bhaumik, Professor, School of Mechatronics and Robotics, IIEST Shibpur. Prof. Bhaumik has a background in Mechanical Engineering, with a M.E. and PhD in Production Engineering, and has contributed extensively to areas including Mechatronics, Robotics, Industrial Automation, Assistive Devices, Rural Technology and Innovative Product Development.
The event also welcomed Prof. (Dr.) Tanmay Pal, Assistant Professor, School of Mechatronics and Robotics, IIEST Shibpur.
Another distinguished guest was Mr. Bebetto Ally (Quazi Tarique Ally), an Indian innovator, engineer and entrepreneur and the founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Aerorotors Aircrafts Research & Development. He is known for his work in drone-based firefighting technology and for developing a patented firefighter drone prototype designed to assist in carrying firefighting equipment to high-rise locations. His startup is incubated at IIT Kharagpur Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP), and he has also been involved in promoting UAV education and skill development through the IIT Kharagpur Aerorotors Drone Academy.
The presence of such distinguished personalities provided participants with valuable exposure to the latest developments, opportunities and career possibilities in drone and aerospace technology.
A Successful Celebration of Drone Technology
With 45+ participating teams, AVIONIX 2026 successfully brought together students with a shared interest in technology, innovation and aerial systems.
The competition demonstrated that drone technology is rapidly gaining popularity among young engineers and that student-led initiatives can play an important role in developing practical engineering skills and encouraging innovation.
Through a combination of technical competition, innovation, entrepreneurship, photography and recreational challenges, AVIONIX 2026 created an engaging platform where students could learn, compete, experiment and showcase their capabilities.
Acknowledgements
The successful organization of AVIONIX 2026 was made possible through the continuous guidance and support of the faculty advisors and organizing team.
Special appreciation is extended to Prof. Rituparna Biswas and Prof. (Dr.) Rahul Baidya Faculty Advisor, SAE IEM Collegiate Club, for being a constant source of guidance and for providing the organizing team with the vision and direction required to successfully execute the competition.
The organizing team also expresses its sincere gratitude to Prof. (Dr.) Abanti Datta, Prof. (Dr.) Aparajita Mukherjee and Prof. (Dr.) Subho Mukherjee, Faculty Advisors of the IEI-IEM (ME) Student Chapter, for their constant encouragement, guidance and support throughout the organization of the event.
Special recognition is also extended to Adrija Lahiri, Campus Ambassador, SAE IEM Collegiate Club, for her contribution towards elevating the scale and outreach of the competition.
The organizers further acknowledge the contribution of Avinandan Mukherjee, Chairperson, SAE IEM Collegiate Club, for his active involvement at the ground level and his continued support to the organizing team and volunteers throughout the event.
The organizers extend their heartfelt appreciation to all the volunteers and members of the organizing team, whose dedication, teamwork and tireless efforts — often working long hours before and during the event — played a crucial role in making AVIONIX 2026 a success.
About AVIONIX
AVIONIX is a student-driven drone competition organized to provide engineering students with a platform to explore, develop and demonstrate their capabilities in UAV technology, aerial systems, innovation and entrepreneurship.
AVIONIX 2026 reflects the commitment of the SAE IEM Collegiate Club, IEI-IEM (ME) Student Chapter and Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Engineering & Management, Kolkata, towards creating opportunities for students to transform classroom knowledge into practical engineering experiences.
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