Northrop Grumman Sponsors UAV Student Challenge in Australia

Photo courtesy The Wall Street Journal

By Priya Potapragada



Northrop Grumman Corp., in an effort to encourage youth to go into engineering and technology fields of study, is sponsoring the 2014 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Outback Challenge competition in Australia. 



The UAV challenge requires participating students to conceptualize, build and fly a UAV that can handle search-and-rescue operations or deliver life-saving supplies to a made-up lost or injured person, called Outback Joe.  



In a partnership with Dickinson College, Northrop Grumman is continuing to mentor students in creating their own UAV to participate in the competition. 



"Australia is a country of innovators, and we see UAV applications in areas of environmental monitoring, humanitarian relief, search and rescue and disaster relief operation, not just defense," said Ian Irving, chief executive for Australia, Northrop Grumman Corp. "By sponsoring and mentoring our youth in better understanding UAV technologies, we're helping motivate them to be the country's future engineers, scientists and technicians."