AAUB celebrates UAV team’s international success

AAUB is the country's only specialised public University in the aviation and aerospace sector.

This University, for the first time, participated in the Design / Build / Fly (DBF) competition organised by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) from 10 to 13 April 2025 in Arizona, USA and secured 18th place in the Design Report and 36th place overall, which has brought international recognition to the University as well as Bangladesh. Following the performance, a grand reception and press briefing were organised at the Dhaka campus of AAUB on 06 May 2025. The respected Vice Chancellor of the University, Air Vice Marshal A K M Manirul Bahar, was present at the ceremony.

The respected Vice Chancellor mentioned that with this short span of AAUB's journey, students have shown exceptional creativity and innovative talent. Students have demonstrated their ability to dream and realise their ambitions by utilising their indomitable will, perseverance, technical knowledge and skills in the DBF competition. Each of their achievement is a shining story of indomitable will and inspiration that illuminates prospects. He also stated that Bangladesh's destination will surpass the realm of space if students are accorded appropriate guidance, state support, and infrastructure. In addition to the success of the DBF team, AAUB has other achievements, such as the successful launch of Cube Satellite Balloon, 2nd runner-up position in Kibo Robot programming and qualifying for the CanSat final round competition. Later on, he expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission, Civil Aviation Authority and Bangladesh Air Force, for their support to the University.

Mentionable is that these UAVs have been designed to carry internal and external payloads and launch an engine-less glider from the sky, capable of landing accurately at defined GPS coordinates. Before the final phase, the newly designed UAV completed 21 training missions. The UAV's innovative demonstration flight was conducted on 25 February 2025, and the Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force was present as Chief Guest. This drone will be used in automatic surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, and other sectors. In this sense, team leader Group Captain Dr Saifur Rahman Bakaul added that if students are given additional facilities, they can place themselves at the forefront of such international competitions. 

Senior officials of the Ministry of Education and high officials of the Bangladesh Air Force were also present at the ceremony.