The Aerial Robotics Club at NC State

A multi-disciplinary team of NC State students that specializes in designing and building autonomous search and rescue aerial systems.

Our current system is our Kavik Airframe, our first entirely battery-powered system.

Complete the interest form Join ARC Slack

Design

We design our airframe, electrical systems, and software from the ground up. Our system is tailored to our mission.

Build

We build our system from our designs. Students get experience facing real-world challenges dealing with the implementation of mechanical, electrical, and software systems.

Compete

Our careful design efforts and hard work during construction pay off when we go to compete. We now focus on the CSU California Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition (C-UASC), where student teams design and demonstrate autonomous aircraft.

Weekly schedule

Recurring club and subteam meetings. Times may change, so check Slack for the latest updates.

Join Slack for schedule updates

General Body Meetings

Mondays at 6:00 PM

Room announced in Slack

Airframe

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6:00 PM

Engineering Building III, Room 2003 (MAE Lab)

Software

Time to be determined

Join the Software Slack channel for updates

Electrical and Drop

Time to be determined

Join the Electrical and Drop Slack channel for updates

Want to know more about NCSU’s Aerial Robotics Club and the people in it?

Meet the ARC team

Are you a NCSU student wanting to get involved with our club?

Complete the interest form Join ARC Slack

2nd Place in Design - C-UASC 2026
- Competed in the CSU California Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition hosted by Cal State LA.
- Earned second place in the Design and Innovation Competition.
AUVSI SUAS 2023 - Getting used to a new venue.
- Aircraft was blown out of mission area, so it needed be landed before we could preform drops.
- Demonstrated successful image acquisition and processing.
- Competed against 72 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey
AUVSI SUAS 2022 - Getting back into gear after COVID-19.
- Unfortunately crashed on takeoff.
- Competed against 71 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey.
AUVSI SUAS 2018 - First Flight of Akela!
- Autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, search, dynamic retasking, and landing
- Avoided all virtual moving obstacles in the airspace
- Competed against 63 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey
AUVSI SUAS 2017 - Just Joe Sportsmanship Award
- Autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, search, dynamic retasking, and landing
- Actionable, and remote intelligence objectives met
- Competed against 54 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey
2nd Place - AUVSI SUAS 2016
- Autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, search, dynamic retasking, and landing
- Emergent target identified; secret message deciphered
- Highest accuracy payload drop; interoperability objective met
- Actionable, remote, and electronic intelligence objectives met
- Competed against 24 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey
3rd Place - AUVSI SUAS 2015
- Autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, search, dynamic retasking, and landing
- Identified emergent target and performed successful air drop
- First place Flight Readiness Review
- Competed against 39 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Germany, and Turkey
1st Place - AUVSI SUAS 2014
- Autonomous takeoff, waypoint navigation, search, dynamic retasking, and landing
- All standard targets, IR target, and emergent target identified; secret message deciphered
- Actionable, remote, and electronic intelligence objectives met
- Highest accuracy payload drop; interoperability objective met
- First place journal paper
- Safety Award
- Competed against 28 teams from around the world, including the US, Canada, India, Israel, Romania, and Turkey

The Aerial Robotics Club at NC State

Design

Build

Compete

Weekly schedule

General Body Meetings

Airframe

Software

Electrical and Drop

Want to know more about NCSU’s Aerial Robotics Club and the people in it?

Are you a NCSU student wanting to get involved with our club?

2nd Place in Design - C-UASC 2026

AUVSI SUAS 2023 - Getting used to a new venue.

AUVSI SUAS 2022 - Getting back into gear after COVID-19.

AUVSI SUAS 2018 - First Flight of Akela!

AUVSI SUAS 2017 - Just Joe Sportsmanship Award

2nd Place - AUVSI SUAS 2016

3rd Place - AUVSI SUAS 2015

1st Place - AUVSI SUAS 2014