competitions

Drones and rovers save the day at Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition 2025

Jennifer Pocock — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:18:35 +0000

Drones and rovers save the day at Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition 2025 Jennifer Pocock Thu, 05/01/2025 - 14:18

As the saying goes, if you love something, set it free. If it maps an area, finds a target, delivers a package, and comes back, the trophy is yours forever. Or something like that.

The Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition Team poses with their ground and air robots. Photo by Jenn Pocock

The black quadcopter drone surveyed the field in two quick swoops against a cloud-heavy sky. In just a matter of seconds, it picked up a signal and flew to the sidelines where it landed itself. A small ground rover took off, bumping over the grass to drop a first aid kit a few feet from the goal. Team members on the side of the field exploded with cheers and high fives.

The entire search and rescue took less than two minutes.

Senior electrical engineering student Qeon Edwards jumped with joy at just how well and how quickly their vehicles performed. “What, you doubted us?” he laughed, obviously relieved.

It was late in April when five teams gathered at the Xelevate drone ecosystem field in Leesburg, Virginia, to test their autonomous programming mettle via ground and air vehicles. This was George Mason Ģ��AV’s second year in the competition, which they won last year. The team consisted of 16 students ranging from sophomores to PhDs in computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. As the reigning champs, they had a lot to prove.

A quadcopter takes off from the starting line to search for its target, as the rover and judges stand by. Photo by Jenn Pocock

The challenge rules change every year, so the team can’t just copy their predecessors’ codes. “Last year was basically a game of tag,” said Xuesu Xiao, assistant professor of computer science and the team’s faculty lead. They had to fly a drone around to squirt water on their opponents’ ground vehicles while avoiding their own.

This year, instead of trying to shoot others down, they had to perform a rescue mission: Find a randomly assigned “survivor” in a field of battle and send first aid. The faster the find and the closer the kit, the higher the score.

“Our strategy was for a drone to scout the area first, find the target, and then drive another ground vehicle robot to deliver the first-aid kit,” said Xiao.

The team programmed six flying drones and a ground robot that communicated with one another—and nothing else. That means that the programmers had no immediate control over the vehicles; they set their autonomous creations free and hoped that they did a good job coding them.

Judges measure the distance from the target to the rover-delivered first aid kit. Photo by Jenn Pocock

Overall, their robots performed exceptionally, managing to cut their delivery time and distance to less than a minute and 57 inches, respectively. They were just nudged out, however, by first-place Ģ��AV of Southern Florida and second-place Virginia Tech.

“It was definitely very tight between the top three!” said Cameron Nowzari, associate professor in electrical and computer engineering. “There was only a two-point difference between first and second, and one point between second and third.”

Still, the team wasn’t disappointed with how they performed. Their robots were a labor of love, and they met the challenge in a big way.

In This Story

Xuesu Xiao

Cameron Nowzari

Ģ��AVics

Autonomous Cars

robotics and autonomous systems

competitions

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Students

Sea life defended the republic

Jennifer Pocock — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:34:12 +0000

Sea life defended the republic Jennifer Pocock Tue, 04/29/2025 - 11:34

In This Story

Daigo Shishika

Ningshi Yao

The bioinspired blimps performed swimmingly.

Blimp Squad members Elijah Pointer and Kareem Zaharan (seniors in mechanical engineering) reach for a balloon captured in Narly's net as Faculty Adviser Daigo Shishika looks on. Photo by Jenn Pocock

Narly glided toward the ceiling of George Mason Ģ��AV's Life Science and Engineering Building aviary like a shiny beluga whale with undulating manta-ray wings and a rudder tail. Thomas Girois, a senior in mechanical engineering and Narly’s team lead, flipped on the blimp’s autonomous goal-seeking program to show off its ability to target airborne objects. He hopes it will head toward the balloon that he wants to capture. But it made an unexpected turn and instead nosed the high bay windows, where it wouldn’t move despite its programmed back-up function.

After a moment of confusion, Girois laughed. “It’s outsmarted us again!”

Narly’s microcontroller and camera was coded to recognize and hunt down green and purple airborne objects—which is exactly what it did when it registered the glowing green Exit sign on the ceiling outside the window. Still, the test boded well for the upcoming competition.

Narly was one of three sea life–inspired Lighter Than Air (LTA) vehicles to compete on George Mason’s Blimp Squad in the Defend the Republic (DTR) contest from April 21 – 25, 2025.

The Blimp Squad lines up with their devices, ready to go on the offense. Photo by Jenn Pocock

Flappy, another manta ray blimp, has a larger rudder tail that allows it to make pinpoint midair turns, and Knifey, inspired by the knifefish, has a long, undulating frill along its belly—and a fierce expression. These designs differ from their competitors’, which rely on propellers for propulsion and steering.

“Using propellers is easier,” said Daigo Shishika, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and one of the Blimp Squad’s faculty advisers. “But the big surface areas of our flapping wings are more efficient. Propeller-driven blimps need to carry more batteries, which are heavy and drain fast.”

Shishika noted that contestants lose points if they hurt another team’s blimp, which is always a risk with propellers.

Alexia De Costa (sophomore, computer science) follows under the fearsome Knifey, whose underbelly frill was inspired by the knifefish. Photo by Jenn Pocock

“We’re hoping to get more agility and a safer blimp,” he said.

Ningshi Yao, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the squad’s other faculty adviser, also pointed out the blimps’ winning personalities. “Our flappies are pretty attractive robots,” she said. “Human-robot interaction is important. You want humans to like being around it!”

One DTR spectator, upon seeing Flappy fly for the first time, confirmed this theory. “It’s so cute!” she gasped. “I would die for Flappy.”

After hundreds of hours of testing, Narly, Flappy, and Knifey joined their two defense blimps—a zippy acrobatic wonder called Space Fish, and a high-scoring high-flier called Backbone Junior—to play a midair game of capturing balloons and releasing them through hoops to score goals.

Knifey's fierce expression intimidates the competition. Photo by:Jenn Pocock.

The team took third place out of six and scored the second-most points of all the teams.

“One highlight for me personally was that the flapping wing blimp achieved fully autonomous scoring for the first time since its first debut in the spring of 2023,” said Shishika. “It started as an exploratory agent that was primarily for research, but after two years and four competitions, Flappy finally contributed to the team by scoring 70 points.”

Narly also scored its first autonomous points.

While the team may not have taken first place, their sea-inspired research won the week.

Check out these shorts on our Youtube channel to see the vehicles and their designers in action.

Ģ��AVics

lighter-than-air robotics

robotics and autonomous systems

competitions

mechanical engineering

Applied computer science

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Students

Mason ASCE teams hosted, competed in 2023

Teresa Donnellan — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:00:16 +0000

Mason ASCE teams hosted, competed in 2023 Teresa Donnellan Mon, 01/08/2024 - 12:00

In This Story

Doaa Bondok

Every year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) allows its college chapters to participate in competitions that showcase the engineering knowledge and finesse of civil engineering students across the country.

Two of George Mason Ģ��AV's ASCE teams—Team Surveying and Team Sustainable Solutions—participated and won in the annual competition, which was held in early spring of 2023. Led by Doaa Bondok, assistant professor of structural engineering and Mason ASCE faculty advisor, the Mason teams competed in challenges like the Steel Bridge Competition, Surveying Competition, and Sustainable Solutions.

“These competitions present fun challenges where students extend their engineering knowledge, think through concepts, create innovative solutions, and consider sustainability practices in their final designs,” said Bondok.

Mason's student team competes in the Steel Bridge Competition at the annual ASCE Virginias' Conference, hosted by the student chapter of Mason’s American Society of Civil Engineers. Photo by Bethany Camp/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

Several Mason civil engineering students also won ASCE National Capital Section scholarships: Amber Brown, previous ASCE student vice president, received $2,500; Phillip Hunt, current ASCE student vice president, received $1500; and Kyler Resnick, ASCE recruiting and membership officer and the captain of the Steel Bridge Competition, received $1,500.

“My role as faculty advisor is to support the teams to achieve their goals,” said Bondok. “Personally, I see the most significant aspect of my role is to encourage and motivate them to overcome challenges along the way, help them grow professionally, uplift their spirit, and just being there for them.”

According to Bondok, being an ASCE student member is a rewarding experience that offers the chance to participate in and work on projects that may not be taught within a classroom and work closely with professional mentors in the industry.

Nicholo Gadiana, a Mason ASCE alum, was the project lead of the Sustainable Solutions Competition in 2022.

“One thing I would advise to anyone interested is don't be afraid to let your ideas be heard,” said Gadiana, who underscored the value of being a member of Mason's ASCE chapter. “Students should start having the mentality of networking and interacting with students, professors, and industry professionals when joining ASCE. After graduation, this attribute significantly improved how I approach other professionals in the industry.”

“Students have the ability to significantly improve their critical thinking abilities, gain management skills, and have a strong role on their resume that helps them be well-rounded and competitive as job candidates,” said Bondok.

The Mason ASCE chapter also received an honorable mention for their outstanding activities in 2022.

Ģ��AVics

Civil Engineering

competitions

student organizations

Students

College of Engineering and Computing

George Mason Ģ��AV wins Defend the Republic

Rena Malai — Mon, 22 May 2023 19:07:41 +0000

George Mason Ģ��AV wins Defend the Republic Rena Malai Mon, 05/22/2023 - 15:07

In This Story

Cameron Nowzari

Ningshi Yao

Daigo Shishika

Patriot Pilots pose with their Lighter Than Air (LTA) creations. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of Ģ��AV Branding

Twice a year, university teams compete in the Lighter Than Air (LTA) Defend the Republic competition. In April, George Mason Ģ��AV hosted the competition in EagleBank Arena and won. The winning Mason team, Patriot Pilots, led by principal investigators Cameron Nowzari, Ningshi Yao, and Daigo Shishika, all from the College of Engineering and Computing, competed against six universities and about 50 LTA robotic agents, aka blimps.

“Even after three years, I’m still in awe of what happens at this competition,” said Nowzari, who has led the competition for the past three years, will be moving on from the annual competition and leaving things in the hands of Yao and Shishika. “My hope is that this competition will continue, and more schools will get involved.”

The competition is a mix of technology and creativity, and something students seem to have a lot of fun with, according to Yao.

“The strength of our winning team was in the ability to think creatively through building and design,” said Yao.

Without the severity that can sometimes accompany other types of flying agents, blimps are a lighter, gentler kind of airborne machine that appeals to many people.

“Their soft body and low operational speed make them more tangible and accessible than drones or planes,” said Shishika. “At the same time, they bring unique and exciting research challenges that our students with diverse background tackle together.”

The team will schedule a kickoff meeting during the summer, to plan for the next competition in November. The team welcomes students from all majors.

“We’re always actively recruiting for the team,” Nowzari said. “All that you need to bring is your passion and creativity.”

For information on how to join, email dshishik@gmu.edu or nyao4@gmu.edu. People can also visit blimp-robotics.org to learn how to build their own LTA blimp and encourage younger students to do the same.

Ģ��AVics

competitions

EagleBank Arena

Students

robotics and autonomous systems

Strategic Direction

Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition

Rena Malai — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:54:53 +0000

Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition   Rena Malai Thu, 03/09/2023 - 10:54

In This Story

David Kepplinger

Unseasonably warm temperatures in the Northern Virginia area this spring have turned blooming dates upside down, and the beloved cherry blossoms are no exception. 

Last year, students at George Mason Ģ��AV joined contestants from around the world to predict the peak bloom date of cherry trees at four global locations—Washington, D.C.; Kyoto, Japan; Liestal-Weideli, Switzerland; and Vancouver, BC, Canada. The international Cherry Blossom Prediction Competition was a huge success and is gaining traction during its second annual run. 

The competition is organized by Mason statistics professors Jonathan Auerbach and David Kepplinger, and Elizabeth Wolkovich from the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the Ģ��AV of British Columbia.  

“We’re interested to see how the competition plays out this year,” Kepplinger says. “It’s a great way for our students to get involved in something that’s so interesting to many people. Who doesn’t love the cherry blossoms?” 

Because of the warm temperatures this year, contestants predict the Washington cherry trees will reach peak bloom on March 28 on average, a week earlier than the historic average.

“If you have warm temperatures followed by a cold blast, it can really affect the bloom date,” Auerbach says. “Usually in the D.C. area, peak bloom occurs in early April. But some trees in the Tidal Basin and here at Mason Pond already show signs that flowering is imminent so we’ll have to see.” 

Mason statistics students Sara Alhassani and D.J. Grant provided the closest predictions last year, and Auerbach sees many competitive entries from Mason students again this year. Contestants use a variety of measures like examining weather patterns, soil moisture, past bloom rates, and area rainfall to get the best estimate of peak bloom dates.   

The 2022 peak bloom date in Washington was March 21, and the earliest peak bloom date on record is March 15, 1990.

Competition winners will be announced in May and are eligible for up to $5,000 in cash and prizes.

Ģ��AVics

A Series of Firsts for Mason's ASCE Teams

Tama Moni — Wed, 11 May 2022 17:57:33 +0000

A Series of Firsts for Mason's ASCE Teams Tama Moni Wed, 05/11/2022 - 13:57

In This Story

Doaa Bondok

At Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing, you can expect students who are passionate about their field, hardworking, and goal-oriented in achieving their tasks. That kind of work ethic and enthusiasm exists within the students of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Mason chapter. This year, two Mason ASCE teams won first place in the Region 2 Mid-Atlantic West Symposium competitions, for their steel bridge and sustainable solutions projects for the first time.

Seif Ali, team leader of the steel bridge team, said his goal, from day one, was for his team to win nationals. “I just wanted to make sure that everyone understands that we’re not just here to compete, but to learn,” Ali says. He joined the Mason chapter of ASCE last fall and immediately signed up for the open leadership spot on the steel bridge team – becoming the leader last October. He said that there were few opportunities to join student organizations during the pandemic and that joining this organization was an opportunity to try something different.

Ali said his team built a bridge with plates and members and used the fabrication method to weld and join the metal parts together to create the bridge. A local engineering firm, Nasir and Associates, helped the team by not only providing supplies, but also giving them valuable experience-based recommendations.

The cancellation of his former team landed Nicholo Gadiana, in the leadership role of the sustainable solutions team. “I built the team three months before the competition,” Nicholo says. Faced with the challenge of time constraints and deadlines, Gadiana made sure his team followed the rules in building their project. He said the hardest part of leading his team was maintaining communication between members and finding locations to meet.

The theme for the sustainable solutions competition this year was “The Tiny Home challenge.” Gadiana said his team had to create a model of 10 sustainable tiny homes, that could contain a loft bed, bathroom, kitchen, and living and dining area. The competition rules required that the house must be around 400 square feet and sit on 1.07 acres of land. This team used 3D modeling software to sketch the layout of the houses and design it. For their sustainable part of the project, Gadiana said they came up with using a rainwater soil system, which absorbs the water and lessens the need for concrete in depositing overflowing water.

“In summary, I think it’s the practical side. We provide students with the resources and support to develop them professionally, help them progress well towards their career, gain skills to be able to find a job, to speak about themselves, build on their soft skills,” says Doaa Bondok, faculty advisor for ASCE and Assistant Professor in the Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering Department.

Another win from the ASCE Region 2 Mid – Atlantic West Symposium, was Mason’s surveying competition team who won second place in their competition. Team members include: Nikolas Hawley, (Survey Party Chief), Christian Harar, (Assistant Survey Party Chief), Kai Barner, Survey Technician (Instrument Man), Margaret Freeman, Survey Technician (Chain Man), Siddarth Achar, Survey Technician (Rod Man).

Ģ��AVics

American Society of Civil Engineers

competitions

student leadership

Sustainability

competitions

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Early spring toys with second annual Cherry Blossom Prediction  Competition