International military teams have flown into Sydney for the first ever Military International Drone Racing Tournament (MIDRT), to be hosted at Victoria Barracks.
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The championships started on Thursday, October 18 and will continue until October 21.
Teams from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand, The United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States will fight it out on the track in a number of races and freestyle events with the hope of being crowned the world’s best military drone racing team.
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Commander Army Forces Command, Major General Gus McLachlan, welcomed the international teams to Sydney for the inaugural competition.
“The teams have travelled a long way to be here and we are pleased that they have come to Australia to participate in this adaptive and exciting sport,” Major General McLachlan said.
He said drone racing was an emerging sport that encouraged interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics among soldiers.
“Our racers have represented the Australian Army at competitions and public events since 2017, and I wish them, and all other competitors, the best of luck for the tournament,” Major General McLachlan said.
Drone racing is the latest in motorsports and requires drone operators to race their custom-built multicopters - most weighing less than two kilograms - through a course featuring multiple obstacles.
Each drone has a camera aboard and beams the images to the operator who can see them through a set of goggles worn on the face.
This provides a virtual reality to the operator as though he or she was actually on board the multicopter.
Drone racing allows for enthusiasts of all ages to become involved in electronics and aerodynamics and is also a new adaptive sport for those with a disability.
As part of the lead up to the MIDRT, members of the Australian Army Drone Racing Team (ADRT) conducted a demonstration display of skills on the flight deck of HMAS Canberra docked in Sydney Harbour.
Drone racing will also feature as a demonstration event at the 2018 Invictus Games, to be held in Sydney between October 20-27.