Judges at the 2016 Airborne Delivery Challenge event

Q1: Can one school enter multiple teams?

A1: Yes, but there is a process for ensuring that all school have a good chance of entering. Check the rules to see the qualification process relating to multiple teams from a single school.

Q2: If the radio link from the UAV Controller’s remote control is lost, how long until flight termination must be activate?

A2: Flight termination must be activate if the remote control link is lost for more than 3 seconds

Q3: If a student wishes to enter as an individual with no team mates, will exemptions be made to allow them to conduct all team roles?

A3: No. Teamwork and cooperation are key aspects of civilian aviation and the UAV Challenge missions have been designed for teams.

Q4: Can you provide any clarification regarding the use of 5.8 GHz video transmitters?

A4: In 2013 and again in 2014 the UAV Challenge organisers contacted the ACMA asking for clarification on whether video transmitters are considered to be within the telecommand or telemetry class of transmitters as referenced in the LIPD Class Licence 2000. The key statements in the response from the ACMA were:

“The Low Interference Potential Devices Class Licence does not define what “Telemetry” is for the purposes of the class licence.

Given that no definition is specified and nothing states that video is not considered to be telemetry, there is no impediment to the use of the frequency band specified under Item 26 for video transmission.”

Since this communication with ACMA the Class Licence 2000 has been replaced by LIPD Class Licence 2015, but other than revision of the item numbers in the Class Licence none of the changes relate to the previous discussion.

The UAV Challenge organisers are satisfied that video transmitters can be used in the frequency bands specified in Items 40 and 41 of the LIPD class licence 2015. https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2016C00432

Q5: Is the flight system able to be fully autonomous i.e. the aircraft?

A5: An autopilot can be used onboard the aircraft but must allow pilot intervention during all stages of the flight of the aircraft. The aircraft must enter flight termination if radio communications are lost from UAV Controller’s radio controller. The autopilot can provide pilot assistance such as aircraft stabilisation, or full aircraft control such as GPS waypoint following.