The goal of the UAV Outback Challenge is to demonstrate the utility of unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs) for civilian applications, particularly in applications that will save the lives of people in the future. The challenge harnesses the ingenuity and passion of aero modellers, university students and high-school students around the world to develop novel and cost-effective solutions. The challenge started after a group of aerospace industry leaders and UAV experts got together to develop a plan that would allow growth in the Australian civil UAV industry, raise awareness of the potential civilian applications, and support skill development in the industry.

The UAV Challenge Outback Rescue was an unmanned aircraft search and rescue competition that ran from 2007 to 2014. It saw teams from around the world compete to save lost bushwalker Outback Joe using unmanned aircraft and deliver him a life-saving water bottle with a prize of $50,000. CanberraUAV claimed the prize in 2014.

Since 2015, the UAV Challenge Medical Express has commenced. This is an unmanned aircraft competition that demonstrates the use of robotic aircraft for medical sample retrieval and medical delivery, and is open to adult teams from around the world. This competition is focussed on the autonomy of unmanned aircraft.

The UAV Challenge inspired the development of a telemetry radio system called the RFD900. This device is now standard in the UAV industry and is manufactured by Brisbane company RF Design who have sold thousands of units around the world. Another electronic device designed to supplement commercial autopilots in such a way as to implement all the failsafe requirements is the Millswood Failsafe Device, which is also now sold as a commercial product.

The 2014 winner of the challenge, CanberraUAV, continues to develop and open source the technology they developed to compete in the challenge, including flight controller, airframe, power-propulsion and image processing algorithms. CanberraUAV’s APM flight controller, Ardupilot, is the most advanced, full-featured and reliable open source autopilot software available in the world, and is installed in over one million UAVs across the globe [IRA16].

Another benefit of these challenges is the close involvement of regulators. Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is internationally recognised as a leader in UAV regulation and Australia’s practical approach to regulation in this space has encouraged global tech giants such as Google to test UAV delivery systems [ABC14].