Design. Innovate. Fly. POLY UAS empowers students to engineer the future of autonomous flight

Engineering Teams

  • Scenic view of a large lake surrounded by rolling hills and mountains with cloudy skies overhead.

    Mechanical Team

    The Mechanical Team is responsible for the physical design and fabrication of our UAS. Their work includes developing the airframe, integrating payload systems and the gimbal, and ensuring structural integrity under various conditions. They utilize CAD software, perform stress analysis, and oversee manufacturing processes to bring the UAS to life.

  • Modern building on green hillside with snow-capped mountains in the background under cloudy sky.

    Avionics Team

    The Avionics Team is responsible for the electronic and electrical systems of the UAS. They design and integrate components such as sensors, power systems, and communication hardware to ensure efficient and reliable operation.

  • A modern building with wood and white exterior walls, large front window, set in a scenic mountainous landscape with grassy foreground.

    Software Team

    The Software Team develops the UAS codebase, including flight control algorithms, navigation systems, and data processing. They work on autonomous capabilities, machine learning for image analysis, and communication protocols to optimize mission performance.

Benefits of Hyperspeed

  • Members work directly on real UAS projects, gaining practical engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. From design to flight, every step offers valuable, career-ready experience.

  • Connect with industry professionals and alumni in aerospace, mechanical, computer, and electrical engineering to build relationships that support your academic and career growth.

  • Build hands-on experience with CAD, programming, electronics, and project management—skills essential for engineering success in both academia and industry.

  • Collaborate with motivated peers from various engineering backgrounds to tackle real-world challenges and develop innovative UAS solutions.

  • Represent Cal Poly at national competitions while advancing the frontier of drone technology through innovation and teamwork.

Four young men gather around a drone and a remote control on a table outdoors, with a stop sign and open field in the background.

Competitions

Last fall, POLY UAS hosted an in-house sub-scale drone challenge, where two teams competed to design and build autonomous drones under 750g and $500 using ArduPilot. The event gave members a hands-on opportunity to apply their skills, foster teamwork, and strengthen club camaraderie. The winning team completed over 30 autonomous laps—a standout achievement in a fun and rewarding competition.

POLY UAS will be competing in the California Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition (C-UASC) in June 2025.

At this event, we’ll showcase our latest UAS designs and put them to the test in a challenge that mirrors real-world applications — including autonomous waypoint navigation and precision package delivery — all evaluated against rigorous industry and academic standards.