TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition

The TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Competition is an event organized under the TEKNOFEST initiative by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK). The competition is conducted at both national and international levels to encourage high school students to develop knowledge, skills, and abilities in UAV technology.

The primary aim of the competition is to foster interest among high school students in UAV technology and to promote hands-on projects that enhance their technical competencies. Additionally, students are expected to acquire multidisciplinary skills such as teamwork, problem solving, engineering approaches, and project management. The TEKNOFEST High School UAV Competition highlights not only individual talent but also innovative thinking, engineering planning, and task-oriented technical applications.

The competition is organized with the vision of contributing to Türkiye’s emergence as a competitive and pioneering nation in UAV technology at both national and international levels.

^{TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competitions (T3 Foundation)}

As of 2025, the competition is conducted in three distinct categories:

1. Fixed-Wing Category: UAV systems with long-range, high-altitude flight capabilities and emphasis on aerodynamic design compete in this category.
2. Rotary-Wing Category: Agile and highly maneuverable UAVs, typically multi-rotor systems capable of vertical takeoff and landing, are evaluated in this category.
3. Free Mission Category: This is a unique category that encourages creativity and engineering analysis by allowing participants to define their own mission objectives. Participants design mission plans according to scenarios they themselves determine.

The evaluation process of the competition follows a multi-stage system that assesses both the technical skills of students and their presentation and communication abilities. The stages are as follows:

• Project Submission Report: A written document containing detailed information on the UAV design, mission scenarios, system specifications, and technical calculations submitted by participating teams.
• Preparation and Mission Video: Video content documenting the teams’ processes of building, testing, and executing their missions, demonstrating practical achievements.

^{TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competitions (T3 Foundation)}

The competitions are organized by the Directorate of Events and Operations under the TÜBİTAK Directorate of Science and Society (BİTO) and carried out under the TEKNOFEST umbrella. The development, implementation, and oversight of technical regulations are managed by the Advisory and Evaluation Board (AEB).

The annual competition guidelines provide detailed information on participants’ obligations, technical rules, application procedures, and evaluation criteria.

Türkiye’s goal of reducing its dependence on foreign technologies across a wide spectrum—from defense industry to civil aviation—can only be achieved through the development of skilled human resources in this field. The TEKNOFEST High School UAV Competition is part of the National Technology Initiative vision, aiming to inspire young people to engage with domestic and national technologies.

^{TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competitions (T3 Foundation)}

The TEKNOFEST High School Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Competition is a comprehensive education and development platform designed to increase young people’s interest in technology, promote scientific thinking, and contribute to nurturing Türkiye’s future technology leaders. The annual growth in both the number and profile of participants demonstrates the competition’s rising national and international appeal and its emergence as a significant focal point in this domain.