DC grants CUET team for Teknofest competition

Scheduled for March-April next year in Turkey, the CUET team is developing a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) drone using 3D printing technology for the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah stated, "Our talent has no limits. Where we lag in technology, the innovative power and skills of the younger generation will fill that gap. Talented youth will take Bangladesh to a strong position in the tech world."

Praising their effort, he added, "We are proud of these talented CUET students. They are working on a technology that is vital not just for Bangladesh, but for the world. We hope they perform well in the international competition and build a positive image of Bangladesh."

Highlighting the potential of drone technology, the Deputy Commissioner noted its growing role in boosting agricultural productivity, citing countries like China. Emphasizing positive and humanitarian applications over destructive uses, he remarked, "Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master. If we fail to use technology properly, it will control us; ensuring proper use lets us reap its benefits." He further stated, "Just as we stand by fishermen and flood-affected people, we want to stand by the nation's talented children, because the future of the country lies in their hands, and we dream big with them." He assured further support, including elevating the project to high government levels once proven capable and coordinating assistance through the Bangladesh Embassy in Turkey.

Team leader Rashid Abrar Azmain stated at the event that students from the 2022 and 2023 batches of CUET's Mechanical Engineering department are developing the drone. Claimed to be the country's first fully 3D-printed quadplane VTOL drone, 'The Staraptor' can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and cruise horizontally like a conventional airplane. Measuring 1,340 mm in wingspan and 990 mm in length, and built using carbon fiber and specialized 3D-printing materials, the drone is designed to carry a maximum payload of 15 kg at speeds of 60 to 70 kilometers per hour.

Equipped with a Pixhawk 6C flight controller, Raspberry Pi computer, GPS, and telemetry systems, the drone can autonomously navigate to a destination, deliver payloads, and return without remote control. Rashid Abrar Azmain stated, "Our goal is to build a drone capable of completing assigned missions autonomously. In the future, this technology can play a vital role in agriculture, healthcare, disaster management, and logistics."

Producing it locally at low cost could facilitate emergency medical deliveries to remote areas, flood relief, farming, and rapid urban logistics. Expressing gratitude to the district administration, he also shared future plans to build a 'tri-mode mobility drone' capable of operating on land, air, and water, alongside establishing a permanent UAV research cell at CUET. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Sharif Uddin, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Pathan Md. Saiduzzaman, senior officials, and Team Staraptor members attended the ceremony.