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From Kickstarter, an APM-powered fixed wing drone project: I've backed it!

An international student team (Team AREND) is collaborating to compete in the Wildlife Conservation UAV Challenge to design, build & fly an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in support of anti-poaching operations in South Africa.  This student team is led by Dr. Jean Koster at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and includes teams from Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and the University of Stuttgart, Germany.

We are especially pleased to collaborate with the University of Pretoria in South Africa, specifically their CSIR Aeronautical Group and the Centre for Wildlife Management.

Team AREND Organization

Also collaborating with and supporting / sponsoring this student team is Helios Torque Fusion, Inc., NIST - the National Institute for Standards and Technology, First RF Corp. of Boulder, Colorado, Blue Atmos, LLC of Denver, Colorado, Four Winds Interactive Inc. of Denver, Colorado, the Arvada Modelers club and many technology experts from the region.  Helios Torque Fusion, Inc. is a Colorado-based business working to commercialize hybrid-electric propulsion systems for UAVs, making the aircraft more fuel-efficient and quiet - both important for wildlife monitoring & protection.The African Conservation Foundation supplies us with poaching information material so we can create a better solution to the unique challenges presented.