Drones will take center stage this weekend at EPFL
© 2017 EPFL
EPFL is preparing for its first Drone Days, which will be held on campus from Friday, 1 September to Sunday, 3 September. The program includes drone races, a robotics showcase and a conference. The event will be open to the general public, and visitors will be able to try their hand at flying a drone themselves.
Are you eager to fly a drone, watch the country’s top pilots compete at speeds reaching 150 km/h and get an inside look at the latest advances in robotics research? The fun starts this coming Friday! EPFL is organizing its first-ever Drone Days, an event destined to become a fixture on the Swiss drone scene. Visitors will be treated to an entertaining mixture of sporting and technological prowess in the field of aerial robotics.
A spectacular ballet
The drones will hit the skies Friday morning in the center of campus. Visitors will witness the pilots' dizzying practice runs broadcast live on a huge screen, marvel at various demonstrations and get a bird’s eye view of the campus through test flights or simulation flights. On Saturday, the qualifying races will be held, followed by a night race at 6:30pm. And on Sunday, the finals of the SRSA Cup 2017 will kick off at 1pm – the pilots will race their drones at breakneck speeds in their quest for top honors. The schedule of activities may be changed if required by the weather.
Video piloting
On all three days, from 10am to 5pm, drone technology buffs will be able to check out the interactive exhibition put together by NCCR Robotics. It will showcase the leading research projects being conducted at EPFL in this field. Demonstrations, video piloting, stands and workshops will give visitors young and old a unique opportunity to see firsthand the most unusual drones the researchers have come up with and get a glimpse at emerging innovations.
At the same time, the Rolex Learning Center will play host to the FAI International Drone Conference and Expo, run by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI), with speakers from the cutting edge of innovation, safety and sport. An attendance fee will be charged. For more information please visit: www.fai-dronesconference.org.
The entire event – apart from the conference – is free of charge. Cafeterias and food and drink stands will be available on site. For safety reasons, EPFL kindly asks visitors not to bring their own drones to the event.
For more information, a map and the full program: dronedays.epfl.ch
