The international drone racing tournament, Rostec Drone Festival, will be held in Industry Square on 28 and 29 August. The festival will be premiering its new format this time: a team race has been added to the individual competition, and a Women's Cup will take place for the first time in Russia. The competition's prize fund comes to RUB 1,000,000. Spectator admission is free. Participation in a master class or the competition requires onsite registration.
All those wishing to learn about new technology, take a master class from a top international pilot or sign up for training at Russia's first Drone Piloting Academy will be able to do so at the Rostec Drone Festival. As a side event, the festival will include a competition of drone photographs. The winning snaps will go on public display at the drone festival. Aside from watching the drone show, everyone will be able to try their hand at drone piloting—grab a control unit and get coached in piloting for free, using a simulator or a real UAV. This year, the hosts have updated the UAV racetrack with more space and more vibrant, scenic and exciting track features. One new addition is the neon illuminated inflatable gate.
Forty-eight top pilots from Russia, Belarus, Finland, Turkey and Bulgaria will be competing in the individual event. These are the pilots who have made it through the qualification round, which was three months long and involved the use of a drone simulator. The 48 were shortlisted out of a total of 3,000 participating drone pilots from around the globe.
The festival will combine cyber racing and physical drone racing this year. In addition to showcasing the amazing things a modern UAV can do, the drone show helps to discover new improvement potential in UAV technology.
For three days straight, 40 skilled individual UAV pilots will pit their skills in the contention of leadership in the world of UAV technology. There was never more than 32 contenders at any of the previous festivals.
This Rostec Drone Festival will include a team event for the first time in Russia. Eight Russian and international teams will compete. By regulations, each team is to consist of three pilots and a technician.
In the interest of the safety of contenders and spectators, the hosts will be following all anti-coronavirus prescriptions currently in force. All those attending will have their body temperature taken at the gate, and will be issued branded personal protective equipment. There will be a large number of sanitisers deployed across the festival grounds.
Support for the event comes from the Department of Sports of Moscow City Hall, Rostec State Corporation and Rosoboronexport.
This is the fourth time that the international Rostec Drone Festival is held in Russia, and the first time that it is welcomed by VDNH.