East Syracuse Minoa’s Team #1 took the first-place Challenge Champion trophy and the SUNY Fabrication Club Award for Creativity at the 2019 Forest Fury Team Drone Challenge, Sunday, April 7, 2019 at SUNY Polytechnic Institute.  Ten drone teams from New York State to Connecticut competed in the Northeast’s first low-cost, open challenge in the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Field House. Drones negotiated mission elements on 2 forest fire themed 30 by 60-foot field.  Oneida City School’s Team #1 placed 2ndoverall.  Cazenovia Tech Labs #2 received the third-place Challenge Champion trophy and the SUNY 3D Printing & Design Club’s Award.  The Design Innovator Award went to Carthage High School.  A special Judge’s Award went to the Mountain Goats, a team that travelled from the Engineering Science University Magnet School in West Haven, Connecticut. 

This year’s competition dispatched teams to navigate their drones through the aftermath of a forest fire.  Forest Fury is part of CNY Drones' annual efforts to promote STEM, provide awareness of drone technology educational and employment opportunities and build a safe flying recreational drone community.   The event is a feeder program for the Academy of Model Aeronautics National Drones 4 STEM program.  In addition to drone flying, spectators took part in interactive STEM exhibits including a test flight zone, flight simulator zone, and an Experience FPV (First Person View) zone.  The event is an annually developed community project, hosted by the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) University Model Aviation Student Club, the first AMA drone club of its kind in New York State.  The AMA Club collaborated with the SUNY Fabrication Club, the Baja Club and the 3D Printing & Design Club to run the event alongside CNY Drones volunteers.  The day focused on competition, learning, sharing, and networking with local drone enthusiasts, engineers, and educators.  Exhibitors included United Radio, CADimensions, Mohawk Valley Community College and the New York State Drone Films Fest.   During lunch, teams and spectators received tours of labs in the SUNY Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing.

The theme for the 2020 Team Drone Challenge was officially announced at the event.  FARM-i-GEDDON is an agriculture-themed scenario that will challenge drone pilots to assist a farming co-op after a recent storm.  Teams can attempt to locate missing livestock, help rescue a farmer in a silo, survey field health, re-plant seeds, and trigger an irrigation system.   For more information on getting involved in CNY Drones programs or to get an AMA drone club started, go to www.CNYDrones.org or contact CNY Drones Administrator, Lisa Payne at 315-732-1001.