DUBAI – During the course of the week, over 80 drone racing teams from around the world have been vying for the World Drone Prix prize purse of $1 million. After two rigorous qualifier rounds across an indoor test track, 32 top teams have emerged in a bid to compete at the finals this weekend at Skydive Dubai.
The first qualifier round was designed to test pilot skill on ‘speed.’ Each pilot was given five minutes to clock as many laps as possible, with the judges recording their fastest lap time. The second round ramped up to test ‘endurance’ where each drone pilot focused on crash-less flight across five consecutive laps. Drone racing is an adrenaline-charged experience for pilots and spectators alike because of the possibility of a crash. The second qualifier round penalized pilots on total flight duration in the event of a crash or malfunction. View Day 1 & 2 highlights here
32 global teams emerged victorious from the grueling qualifiers across two days, leaving over 48 teams to attempt a return for the next race in the season. With the finals on March 11th and 12th nearing, the qualified racing teams will be given an opportunity to practice on the outdoor final racing track at Skydive Dubai — the first custom-built kinetic outdoor track ever built for a world championship title.
The World Drone Prix race track has been designed to put drone racing skill and technology prowess to the ultimate test. To add to the obstacles, sections of the track have been designed to mechanically close without warning as drones approach, forcing pilots to change course in a matter of split-seconds. The outdoor track is illuminated with LEDs that react to drone movement across the course, designed for spectators watching the races from the stands. This LED strip has embedded GPS tracking, ensuring drone pilots remain on their course through the races.
On March 11th, all 32 qualified teams will compete in the next round, eliminating 16 teams. On Saturday, March 12th the 8 top qualified teams will continue elimination rounds until the final 4 teams are chosen to compete for the world championship title and the largest prize in drone racing history.
