HUST Makes a Strong Mark at the National UAV Competition

On December 7, at the C500 Stadium, People's Security Academy, the Final Round of the UAV Innovation Contest 2025 – PV GAS Cup concluded in an explosive and emotional atmosphere. In this year's season, the BK-IAV team from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) excelled in overcoming many strong opponents to reach the Final and won the National Second Prize, continuing to affirm the mettle and technological capability of HUST students in the field of UAVs.

The UAV Innovation Contest 2025 – PV GAS Cup was organized by the Institute of Space and Underwater Technology (ISUT) under Hanoi University of Science and Technology, in coordination with Petrovietnam Gas Corporation (PV GAS). The contest aimed to seek UAV solutions for applications in smart agriculture, environmental monitoring, logistics, search and rescue, and safety and security. Not merely a technological playground, the event also served to connect students and youth with businesses, creating a creative competitive environment and opportunities to test technologies under real-world conditions.
  As the first UAV competition on a national scale, the development of the problem set and the design of the competition field were implemented in an unprecedented context. The entire process—from formulating the competition challenges and designing the system to installing over 150 sensors for automated scoring on the field—was carried out by lecturers and experts from ISUT in coordination with the team of lecturers, engineers, and students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

In the Final Round, the HUST team excelled in winning the Second Prize—an impressive result for the first season organized on a national scale. This achievement demonstrates the competitive spirit and ability to master technology of HUST students, while also marking the team's maturity throughout their journey of conquering UAV challenges.

"Homeland Skies" - The Soaring Aspirations of Young Engineers

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Prof. Vu Van Yem – Vice President of Hanoi University of Science and Technology – emphasized the significance of this year's theme: “'Homeland Skies' not only evokes the soaring aspirations of youth but also reminds everyone of the responsibility to contribute to the sustainable development of the country."
  Prof. Vu Van Yem affirmed: "Hanoi University of Science and Technology remains consistent with the goal of training high-quality human resources and linking scientific research with practice. UAV and aerospace technology are inevitable trends playing a crucial role in security, resource monitoring, and economic development. The UAV Cup is the place that helps students dare to think, dare to try, and dare to create—something the university always aims for."

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Dinh Tan Hung – Director of the Institute of Space and Underwater Technology (ISUT), congratulated the teams for overcoming interesting challenges and explained the reason ISUT and PV GAS partnered to organize this platform: "Facing practical demands in agriculture, search and rescue, and the environment, the competition was organized to promote the creation of highly applicable UAV solutions. This is the first national-scale competition for UAVs in Vietnam."
  This year's competition attracted over 100 teams from across the country. After three months of competition from the preliminary round to the finals, the 28 best teams were selected for the national round; 8 teams passed the group stage to enter the knockout round, creating transparent, public, and dramatic matches.

With the positive initial results achieved from the first UAV Innovation Contest – PV GAS Cup 2025 in Vietnam, the Director of ISUT announced that 2026 will feature two major subsequent competitions: the UAV Cup and the UUV Cup—a creative competition for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.

The Journey of "Sky Warriors" Bearing the HUST Colors

The BK-IAV team of Hanoi University of Science and Technology consists of members: Ta Duy Trung (K65, Aerospace Engineering) - Team Leader and Chief Pilot; Nguyen Van Duy (K67, Aerospace Engineering) - Media In-charge; Hoang Gia Long (K67, Aerospace Engineering) - Hardware Design; Nguyen Khai Nam (K67, Aerospace Engineering) - Software Design; and Ngo Viet Anh (K66, Mechatronics) - System Programming.
  Nguyen Van Duy – a K67 Aerospace Engineering student – shared that the recent journey was a memorable experience as the team had only about three weeks to prepare for the qualifying round. Despite the tight schedule, the HUST team persisted in testing, optimizing, and practicing continuously to enter the national arena with the highest determination.

Accompanying the team were teachers from the Intelligent Aerial Vehicle Lab – Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Quy and Mr. Ta Dinh Giap, who inspired and closely supported them throughout the process. "We are proud to have brought home the Second Prize for Hanoi University of Science and Technology; this is a very valuable experience for our growth," expressed Van Duy.
  The UAV Innovation Contest 2025 – PV GAS Cup has proven the attraction and importance of UAV technology in modern life. The excellence of the BK-IAV team continues to affirm the position of Hanoi University of Science and Technology in the aerospace field, while also demonstrating the great potential of Vietnamese students when given the opportunity to create.