NBUC '24 First Place
Secured first place at the National Business and University Competition (NBUC) 2024 with Bird's AI, a 5G-connected UAV platform designed to revolutionize disaster response. The system combines autonomous navigation, real-time survivor detection using edge AI, and ultra-low latency telemetry streaming for emergency operations.
Context
NBUC 2024 brought together top universities to showcase innovative technology projects with real-world impact. The competition evaluated projects on technical innovation, execution quality, scalability, and potential for deployment in critical applications. Projects were judged by industry leaders and academic experts.
The Challenge
Participants were required to develop and present a complete working prototype with clear problem-solution fit, technical documentation, and impact assessment. The challenge was to demonstrate not just innovation but practical feasibility and readiness for real-world deployment in time-critical scenarios.
Our Solution
Bird's AI is an end-to-end intelligent UAV system featuring a quadrotor platform with Pixhawk flight controller and Raspberry Pi onboard computer running lightweight computer vision for real-time human detection. The system maintains continuous 5G connectivity, enabling low-latency transmission of telemetry, detection metadata, and visual evidence to ground control stations. Mission logic dynamically adapts flight paths based on live feedback to optimize area coverage and detection efficiency.
My Role
As Full-Stack Robotics Engineer and Project Lead, I architected the complete system including edge AI integration, developed the autonomous navigation and detection algorithms, implemented 5G connectivity for real-time data streaming, built the ground control dashboard, and led the technical presentation to judges.
Impact & Results
The prototype demonstrated 95% real-time human detection accuracy with <100ms 5G latency. Compared to manual search patterns, Bird's AI improved area coverage efficiency by covering 500m² autonomously with 25-minute flight time. The system validated the feasibility of integrating edge AI with cellular-connected UAVs for time-critical emergency response operations.
Recognition
Awarded first place among competing universities. The judges commended the technical execution, real-world applicability for disaster response, successful integration of 5G and edge AI technologies, and the potential for immediate deployment in emergency scenarios. Recognized for exceptional presentation quality and comprehensive system demonstration.