The Official KFUPM Team for the SUAS Competition
Meet ASCENT-1
Payload & Release Mechanism
Custom system that drops both the beacon and bottle.
Jetson Nano
Companion computer running mission software in a custom 3D enclosure.
GPS Module
High precision GNSS receiver for autonomous navigation.
Herelink Air Unit (HAU)
Digital link carrying telemetry, and video to the GS.
Vision Camera
Primary vision sensor for aerial object detection.
Cube Orange+
ArduPilot autopilot handling navigation, and waypoints.
Carbon Fiber Frame
Lightweight carbon fiber airframe — rigid at low weight.
Custom Battery Box
Enclosure for our upgraded power and quick battery swaps.
Our Competitive Edge
Mission AI & Autonomy
We developed a complete AI pipeline from collecting aerial datasets of mannequins and tents captured at competition altitudes to training our YOLO perception model. We also built a mission search simulator using the official field KML to compare different algorithms.
Custom Payload System
Our payload mechanism was designed entirely in-lab using SolidWorks and manufactured with 3D printing, then refined through multiple design iterations and field tests to ensure reliable, repeatable, and safe payload delivery throughout the SUAS mission.
Flight & Power Integration
Our flight and power system integrates ArduPilot with custom battery integration designed to satisfy the SUAS rapid response requirements using multiple batteries below the 100 Wh limit, improving transportability, safety, and mission reliability.
Autonomous Flight
Computer Vision
Mission Planning
Payload Systems
Flight Testing
SUAS 2026
A Student Team Built for Competition
KFUPM ASCENT unites students across multiple engineering disciplines to design, build, and validate autonomous unmanned aircraft systems.
- Autonomous Flight
- Computer Vision
- Payload Systems
- System Integration
- Power Management
Tactical Precision
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