They programmed and raced for the final Droniada Junior
On the 14th of March 2025 in the Group of Mechanical and Electrical Schools named after Tadeusz Kościuszko in Rybnik, a second round of the national competition Droniada Junior, the partner of which is Silesian University of Technology took place. Forty-one teams from primary and secondary schools participated in the competition.
This is the second edition of Droniada Junior, one of the Droniada series of events. It is a competition that inspires children and young people to discover the world of modern technologies and aviation.
The opening of the event was attended by, among others, Vice-Rector for Infrastructure and Investment, Prof. Dr Hab. Eng. Zbigniew Paszenda and Director of the Branch of Silesian University of Technology in Rybnik, Dr Hab. Zygmunt Łukaszczyk, Prof. of Silesian University of Technology– and the Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering Dr Hab. Eng. Marcin Basiaga, Prof. SUT.
"There is a very high demand for technology using drones, which is why the organization of this event is a hit, because it stimulates creativity and new ideas in children and young people" - explains Vice-Rector Zbigniew Paszenda. – “Silesian University of Technology is happy to act as a partner of such events. We have very good professionals and infrastructure for pilot training. Therefore, I hope that some participants will meet at our University already at the stage of their studies, when they will be developing their professional career.”
- “Young people build and create their future by participating in such competitions. I keep my fingers crossed for them, let them be guided by a lot of imagination.” - says Prof. Zygmunt Łukaszczyk
Droniada Junior was already very popular last year. This time, however, the number of entries exceeded the expectations of the organizers. Nearly 140 teams in three age categories applied for the first stage, which was the Grand Test of Drone Knowledge. They are Kids (4-6th grade of primary school), Cadets (7-8th grade of primary school) and Juniors (secondary schools).
- “41 teams qualified for the second qualifying round. As many as 24 teams were teams from secondary schools. We are glad that the competition was popular among pupils from all over Poland because schools from ten cities, including Białystok, came to Rybnik for the second stage.” - explains Dr Eng. Aldona Rosner from the Silesian University of Technology branch in Rybnik, co-organizer of Droniada.
Two-person teams faced two competitions: Programming and Efficiency.
The participants used DJI Tello educational drones. In the programming competition, participants created algorithms that allowed drones to move autonomously to reach their destination. In the second competition, precision and proper visual-motor coordination were the main factors. It is a classic drone race on the obstacle course - explains Sławomir Kosieliński, President of the Mikromakro Institute Foundation, the originator of Droniada.
Twenty four teams qualified to the grand finale, which will be held again in the Group of Mechanical and Electrical Schools named after Tadeusz Kościuszko in Rybnik on May 30th.
- “I am glad that the Silesian University of Technology wants to organize such large events with us. When we received this offer, we did not hesitate even a moment. All the more so because we have a large group of enthusiasts at school who work in the field of drone technologies” - says Mr. Marek Holona - the Director of the Group of Mechanical and Electrical Schools named after Tadeusz Kościuszko in Rybnik.
- “It is very important for us that this year's edition of Droniada Junior takes place in Rybnik, and I hope that it will become a tradition. I invite everyone to the final, because there will certainly be great emotions and great competition on well-prepared tracks.” - invites Ms. Ewelina Włochy, - the Head of the Department of Digitization and New Technologies of the City Office in Rybnik.
More information and the list of teams qualified for the finals can be found here: link.
