Annual VFS Design-Build-Vertical Flight Competition

Annual DBVF Competition

2023 Request for Proposal

This electric-powered remote-control vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) competition seeks to encourage interest in unmanned aircraft technology, and small air vehicle design and fabrication. The competition is designed to develop hands-on skills and familiarization with eVTOL and advanced air mobility (AAM) technology at the university student level and prepare the next generation of engineers and leaders to push the limits of this exciting technology into the future.

SURVICE Applied Technology Operation (ATO) — the 2022 Gold sponsor — will be the host of the DBVF competition flyoff in 2023 scheduled for June 6-8.

A total of $5,000 in cash awards will be given in two rounds and include the following:

  • Preliminary Design Report: $300 to top five (5) scoring teams
  • Overall Competition: 1st – $2000; 2nd – $1000; 3rd – $500

Team eligibility rules include:

  • Team members must be full-time students and can be at undergraduate and graduate levels and at least one Faculty Advisor must be named.
  • Each team member must be a current VFS Student Member ($25/year) at the time of submitting your Preliminary Design Report (PDR).
  • Each team’s pilot must also hold an FAA Part 107 Drone Certification or equivalent certifying authority (non-US based teams).

2023 Preliminary Design Results

Congratulations to the following universities, whose Preliminary Design Report (PDR) were the top five scoring teams:

  • Cooper Union Aerial Vehicle Team
  • Delft University of Technology Lambach Aircraft Team
  • University of Cincinnati Verticats Team
  • University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle Team
  • University of Michigan Vertical Flight Technology Team

2023 Competing Teams

School: Team Name:
Auburn University Vehicle Systems, Dynamics, and Design Laboratory (VSDDL)
Cooper Union Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (CUASA)
Catholic University of America: School of Engineering UAV Drone
Delft University of Technology Lambach Aircraft
McGill University McGill Vertical Flight Society (MVF)
Saint Louis University  
University of Cincinnati VertiCats
University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicle (AMAV)
University of Michigan Michigan Vertical Flight Technology (MVFT)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgerfly
Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology Unmanned Aerial Team

2022 DBVF Results

2022 DBVF: Ohio State Univ. TeamThe winners of the 2022 DBVF Student Competition were:

Check out the press release and photo album of the final flyoff and awards ceremony.

Download the 2022 RFP Request for Proposal.

Congratulations to the other competing teams from this year:

  • McGill University
  • University of Michigan
  • Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology

2021 DBVF Results

2021 DBVF: U. Michigan team (small jpg)The winners of the inaugural (2021) DBVF Student Competition were:

Honorable mentions:

  • McGill University
  • Oregon State University
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology

Download the 2021 Request for Proposal.

Check out our photo gallery of the winners and read the press release to learn more. Congrats to all the teams for perservance through all the challenges of design and development during the COVID-19 pandemic!

 

 

Thank you to our sponsors!


Moog
Silver Sponsor

Sponsorship Opportunities:

  • Gold Level: $5,000
  • Silver Level: $2,500
  • Bronze Level: $1,500

Please download the sponsorship flyer for more details.


2023 Timeline for Deliverables:

Submission Letter:
Closed

Preliminary Design Report:
Closed

Final Technical Report: May 8, 2023

Competition Fly-off Dates:
June 6-8, 2023

Questions: Email  fly@hq.vtol.org

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Download the latest FAQ document dated March 1, 2023.
Download the new Achieving Autonomy Explainer (PDF)

Questions should be submitted by the 15th of every month

  - Updated FAQ document will be posted the 30th of every month


2023 Venue:

SURVICE ATO
3538 Aldino Road
Hangar #6
Churchville, MD 21028

Survice logo

Fly-off Host