Event Overview

DroneForge is an unmanned systems initiative under InnovFest-2026, conceived to bridge education, industry, and national priorities in drone and autonomous technologies. Aligned with national missions such as Viksit Bharat @2047, Make in India, India Al Mission, and the growing strategic importance of defence and dual-use technologies, DroneForge creates an environment of UAV excellence and innovation.

Anchored in experiential learning, the event provides a comprehensive platform where students move beyond theory to design, build, simulate, fly, analyze, and showcase real-world UAV systems. The event is structured as a multi-vertical ecosystem rather than a single competition, ensuring participation across schools, undergraduate/postgraduate students, researchers, startups, and industry professionals.

Objectives

• Promote hands-on, multidisciplinary learning by challenging students to design, build, and pilot a functional drone through a dynamic obstacle course.

• Bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application in aerospace, electronics, and robotics.

• Encourage innovation and problem-solving within constraints, simulating real-world engineering and mission-planning challenges.

• Cultivate precision and strategy by testing both the technical build of the drone and the real-time decision-making of the pilot and team.

• Foster teamwork and collaboration by requiring teams of 3-5 members to work cohesively across design, engineering, and operations.

• Create an inclusive competitive arena by offering Junior (school & 1 st-year UG) and Senior (2nd-year onwards) categories for all skill levels.

• Identify and nurture emerging talent in drone technology, UAV design, and aerial robotics among students nationwide.

• Build a foundational experience for students interested in pursuing careers in aviation, robotics, unmanned systems, and related research
  
  Prizes

  • Basic Category
    First prize: $10,000; Second Prize: 25,000

  • Advanced Category
    First prize: 750,000 ; Second Prize: <25,000 ; Third Prize: $10,000

  Who Can Participate?

  • All Engineering branch students and school students are eligible to participate in this competition.

  • Note:This event contains specific rules and regulations made available during the workshop (13th Feb - 14th Feb, 2026), which is mandatory to attend for all the registered participants.

  • Category-wise Eligibility:

  • Basic Category: School students and 1st-year UG students

  • Advanced Category: 2nd-year UG students and above

  Mode of Event

  • Offline

  Schedule & Timeline

  • 20th Feb 2026, from 9AM onwards

  Key Benefits & Opportunities

  • Receive mentorship from leading aviation professionals and ISRO space experts

  • Immerse yourself in cutting-edge technology at our interactive drone innovation zone, showcasing the latest advancements in aerospace

  • Win the prestigious DroneForge Innovation Prize of 21 Lakh and industry recognition

  • Network with leading drone companies such as Aeroin Space Technologies and Aviocian Technologies, showcasing advanced UAV technologies.

  • Gain insights from defence experts focused on defence terminologies, skills, and operational practices.

  • Earn industry-certified micro-credentials that validate your skills and boost your profile

  • Get an opportunity for membership and attend inauguration of Aerospace Space Club

  • Unlock research and collaboration pathways with industry

  Registration Fees

  • For Basic category - 7400

  • For Advanced category - 7800

  • Team size 3-5 members

• All Engineering branch students and school students are eligible to participate in this competition.

  Note: This event contains specific rules and regulations made available during the workshop (13Feb-14Feb2026) which is mandatory to attend for all the registered participants.

  Qualifying Rounds & Selection

  SKY-SIM, Drone Pilot Workshop (13 Feb-14 Feb 2026 Hybrid Mode)

  • Drone simulation workshop to train the students to fly a drone.

  • To be conducted using drone simulator software's like fpv freerider or uncrashed.

  • Students will learn basic drone control mechanisms and get first hand training on drone piloting.

  • All students (Engineering, Sciences, School) with no prior experience required

  Sensing the Unseen, Panel Discussion

  • Discussion based on 10 problem statements.

  • Students will be presenting their suggestions /case studies/ research.

  • Experts from industry will be sharing industry demands and will be reviewing the presentations made by students.

  • All students (Engineering, Sciences, School) with no prior experience required.

  NEXUS '26, Drone Expo

  • Companies, startups and research labs will be invited to setup product and stalls

  • To create a platform for industry-academia interaction and showcase cutting-edge drone technology

  • Providing a platform for students to interact directly with industry professionals

  • CU Students will be getting a dedicated stall to showcase their project achievements and their startups.

  THE HIVE, Drone Flying Competition:

  • To design, build, and demonstrate the flight capabilities of a manually piloted drone through a set of manoeuvrability tasks.

  Coordinator/POC:

  Faculty Coordinator:

  Prof Ajin Branesh: + 91 754 889 8308