FOREST FURY, the northeast’s low-cost, indoor team drone challenge is set to launch Sunday, April 7, from 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) Wildcat Field House.

Middle and high school teams from Carthage, Cazenovia, Cortland, East Syracuse-Minoa, Hannibal, Syracuse, Oneida, Stockbridge, Vernon, Verona and Sherrill join teams from West Haven Connecticut and New York City’s Explorer program to compete in two separate 30-by-60-foot netted fields. 

This year’s competition dispatches 17 teams to navigate drones through a forest-themed setting. The fields feature a hiking path, forest ranger tower, zip line, water retention pond, fire lines, mountain-like terrain, moving rescue vehicles and a timed mudslide. FOREST FURY is part of CNY Drones' efforts to promote STEM, science, technology, engineering and math. CNY Drones’ programs spark interest in regional drone technology, educational and employment opportunities, and help build a safe flying recreational drone community. 

CNY Drones is affiliated with the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), becoming New York State’s first Model Aviation Student Club in 2017. The Utica event is hosted and run by students from SUNY Poly, AMA University Model Aviation Student Club, Fabrication Club, and 3D Printing & Design Club. The day’s logistics for over 150 students will be planned by a spring semester mechanical engineering class at SUNY Poly.

The public is invited to view FOREST FURY’s competition day starting with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Trophies for the top three scoring teams, creativity, design innovation, and 3D printing will be awarded at the end of the day at approximately 5:30 p.m. A new Safety Video Award Challenge is now open to students and student groups, ages 11-18, to compete for a trophy based on their creative development of a brief public service announcement spotlighting the need for drone safety. Registration for the Safety Award Challenge is free. Deadline for submissions is noon on March 23, 2019. 

In addition to the student competition, several local organizations with ties to drone technology have been invited to exhibit and share information on their role in the regional drone technology education and employment pipeline. The 2019 competition is a day of learning, sharing, competing and networking with local drone enthusiasts, students, engineers and educators. Information on next season’s challenge, FARM-i-GEDDON, will be released in September as a part of CNY Drones’ 4^th Annual Drone Info Day.  For more information on the Safety Video Challenge, directions and parking information for FOREST FURY, go to www.CNYDrones.org, or contact CNY Drones Administrator, Lisa Payne at 315-732-1001.