Engineer candidates will compete at TEKNOFEST with the UAV they designed for uninterrupted communication during disasters.

GAZİANTEP (AA) – BEYZA NUR ERYILMAZ – Engineering students studying at Gaziantep University (GAÜN) aim to come first in TEKNOFEST 2026 with the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) they developed to contribute to uninterrupted communication in disaster areas. VTOL UAV was developed for the “TEKNOFEST 2026 International Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Competition Free Mission Category” by Mert Işlak, Fatma Nur Kılıç, İsmail Özden, Fateme Omidi and Batuhan Özkanlı, who are part of the Gazi Space Community operating within the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of GAUN.

The vehicle designed by the students includes a special communication system to prevent communication disruptions, especially in disaster areas. The system aims to establish a temporary communication network in areas where infrastructure is damaged. Team captain Mert Işlak told the AA correspondent that they developed this project to ensure uninterrupted communication in disaster areas. Stating that they were inspired by the technological innovations made by BAYKAR company in the defense industry, Işlak said: “VTOL stands for Vertical Takeoff Landing.

It means a vehicle capable of vertical takeoff and horizontal movement. Our system has 5 engines. 4 of them allow it to rise, and the 5th allows it to move like a fixed-wing aircraft in horizontal movement. We are competing in the freelance assignment category with our project. We have a VTOL and an FPV drone underneath. FPV drone is a drone with smaller dimensions. “After our VTOL vehicle lifts the drone and carries it over a long range, the FPV drone also separates from the vehicle, and then our circuit board under the VTOL allows us to establish a communication network.” Işlak stated that they can connect to the UAV by phone with the mobile application they developed and communicate with the ground station, and said, “First of all, there is a local network opened by our circuit board with your phone.

This network provides the user with Wi-Fi without the need for internet. When you send a message to our application from your phone, it comes to this circuit board. We can then receive this data to our data station, that is, our computer, approximately 8-10 kilometers away, with the communication module we call Xbee. This is how the communication between them takes place.” he said. – They developed an electromagnetic separation system.

Işlak stated that they used domestic parts in the project and focused on different systems in the project and said: “There is an electromagnet system with our VTOL and our drone now. In the electromagnet system, when we give the power, it tries to hold the magnet. When we cut off the power, the drone tries to let go. We have another circuit board in our vehicle, and when we send a signal, it uses the power of the electromagnet located under the VTOL.

“The drone is disconnected from the VTOL and can be powered back on after 10 seconds, so it can be connected to the vehicle when it comes back.” Explaining that they took the door system in buildings as an example for the separation of drones from the aircraft, Işlak said, “There is a lock system that opens when you scan the chip at the building entrances. We actually did this here. I removed it from a door and installed it on the plane.

This is how the system in these apartments works when you provide electricity. When you scan the card, it cuts off the electricity and you can open the door. When power is applied again, the system can lock each other.” he said. – They are working with the goal of coming first. Işlak stated that they completed the preliminary evaluation report stage and passed it successfully. Pointing out that their excitement increased as the competition approached, Işlak said: “We have a video phase next month.

During the video phase, they ask us whether the vehicle has fulfilled its mission. We have been successfully carrying out our test flights for about 2 months and we aim to get a good reward as a result. We never even thought about second place. For this, our team has been working day and night since the beginning of the year. That’s why we aim for first place.”