Drone in a Box Challenge

OVERVIEW

EDGE Group, the Seeker for this Wazoku Crowd Challenge, invites innovators, start-ups, research teams, and established companies to participate in the Drone in a Box Challenge.

This Challenge seeks cutting-edge solutions that combines an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV, or drone), its docking station for deployment and charging, ground control station for telemetry and operational uses, and seamless operating software into a single unified, scalable system.

EDGE will award a first-prize of US$15,000 and second-place prize of US$5,000 to the best applications, with no IP needing to be assigned or transferred. Then, these two Solvers, teams, or organizations will be invited to EDGE for more conversations, testing, and potential negotiations – with EDGE’s intent to acquire the winning solutions and IP, subject to their interest and feasibility.

The desired output is an all-in-one “drone in a box” solution, capable of deployment in harsh environments, operating autonomously on various mission types, and autonomously completing tasks like docking, charging, and predictive maintenance. Your submission must address critical pain points in existing drone deployment and operation while offering reliable use cases, reasonable affordability for potential scale, and any innovative adjustments to differentiate your submission from market-ready solutions.

Submissions must include both theoretical, paper proposals of detailed descriptions/characteristics as well as required video evidence of operation of the solution.

Ready to define the future of UAV systems? Get started below!

Your IP Rights are protected in this Prize Challenge; EDGE must pay you an award to obtain them.

The best solution has the opportunity to win a guaranteed first-place award of $15,000. There will also be a guaranteed second-place award of $5,000. 

The Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by EDGE against the Solution Requirements. To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded.

Awarded Solvers will be invited to EDGE to discuss ownership of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights in your solution.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on July 7, 2025.

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.

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ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive.

With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security.

For more information, visit edgegroup.ae

The Drone in a Box Challenge opportunity invites individual innovators, teams, start-ups, research institutes, and established companies from anywhere in the world, except:

• Employees of EDGE Group and its affiliates;
• Employees of agents or suppliers of EDGE Group or any of its affiliates, who are professionally connected with the Challenge or its administration;
• Members of the immediate families or households of the aforementioned;
• Any person or entity registered or ordinarily resident in a country that is on a sanctions list at any time during this Challenge (including, but not limited to, the Sanctions Lists maintained by the United States, the United Nations and the European Union).

THE CHALLENGE

Background
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), often known as drones, have become indispensable tools across various industries and in everyday life, offering new solutions for tasks such as surveillance, taking imagery, delivery, and infrastructure inspection. One of the principal challenges to their widespread adoption comes with how they are stored, charged, and deployed. A secure, autonomous, and weather-resistant docking system for drones – that integrates with in-built software that streamlines deployment, operation, and maintenance considerations – would be a significant step forward.

Addressing the conundrum of how to ensure maximum operability and effectiveness from initial set-up through to end-of-life requires a rethink on how drones are designed, launched, and managed. The current gap limits the scalability of UAV and their use cases as operators must return to base or to an established supply chain to recharge, reprogram, or conduct maintenance on drones.

As the use of drones becomes more widespread, the need for cost-efficient solutions that offer high performance without inflating budgets becomes apparent. This Challenge extends an invitation to innovators to develop systems that are affordable yet effective, enabling greater adoption and implementation of drone technology across various sectors.

The ‘drone in a box’ solutions sought would allow EDGE Group unified systems, combining hardware (UAV/drones, docking/charging stations, ground control station, and the operating software) in one off-the-shelf solution for operations.

Unlocking new capabilities and enhancing the core operation of drones would further their applications for governmental, commercial, and defense operators.

The Challenge

The Drone in a Box Challenge participants are tasked with designing an integrated solution that includes:

1. The UAV – a fully autonomous drone with:
   • A payload capacity of at least 1kg.
   • A minimum flight time of 30 minutes on a single charge, under load.
   • Advanced navigation, utilizing Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) services and redundant sensors for precision.
   • Operational even under rain and wind speeds up to 20 meters per second.
   • Real-time telemetry and optional video feed streaming.
   • Current mission data should be encrypted and stored on the UAV, and transferred to the ground control station in real time or when possible.
2. The Docking/Charging Station – a robust, weatherproof station featuring:
   • Ability for deployment of drone and docking post-mission.
   • Wireless or contact-based charging with full recharge achieved under 90 minutes.
   • Remote operability of the station for mission tracking, control, and live updates.
   • Diagnostic capabilities to identify maintenance needs for the UAV or the docking station itself.
   • Able for the drones to dock to the station whether on a fixed surface, moving vehicle (up to 20km/h), or to the docking station when the surface is at slightly acute angles (<10°).
3. The Ground Control System – an integrated software platform for the UAV and docking system, providing:
   • A user-friendly interface for mission planning, execution, and monitoring.
   • Seamless experience for operators with ease of deployment.
   • Maintenance information, charging status, and more including:
   • AI-driven features such as flight path optimization, obstacle avoidance, and predictive maintenance, just naming a few.
   • Enterprise-level security through encryption and relevant authentication.

The above core competencies of a submission are critical to any solution’s acceptance by the EDGE Group, due to the difficulties of splicing different systems together. EDGE is only interested in a complete solution that includes all of the above (UAV, docking station, ground control system).

Participants are tasked with illustrating the constituent parts of their submission, any and all supported use cases for the drone, a demonstrative workflow of deployment through to post-mission recharge, and required video evidence of the functioning of their drone in a box.

An example operational context for potential use of the drone in a box solution by EDGE is listed below:

1. Pre-deployment
   Operators define the mission objective and drone task via the ground control system interface and software. Payloads, requisite configurations of the drone, and pre-checks are made before launch of the flight path and mission requirements.
2. Deployment/Operation
   The docking station ‘launches’ the drone, based on an operator’s trigger or pre-programmed schedule. The ground control system  provides live telemetry, performance data, and optional video feeds. Ideally, the drone can adapt its flight path and behavior based on dynamic changes.
3. Post-mission
   The drone, upon return flight to the docking station, lands and is secured for charging and data upload. Automated self-diagnostics may be implemented to identify any maintenance requirements of core components (batteries, sensors, flight apparatus).
    

Alongside the core ask of this Challenge (a drone in a box solution including UAV, recharging/docking station, ground control station , and software for operation), the EDGE Group are also interested in the following additional features or adjustments to differentiate your solution:

1. AI Integration and Enhanced Autonomy, including but not limited to: automated detection and tracking of targets; real-time path planning/adjustment and collision avoidance; machine learning-powered predictive maintenance on the UAV or the station; and automated calibration of both drone and docking station after each deployment.
2. Security and Data Integrity, including but not limited to: unauthorized access prevention and authentication methods; and cybersecurity against physical and digital attacks.
3. Precision Landing and Navigation, including but not limited to: greater landing precision for low-visibility operations (fog, darkness, smoke); and utilization of advanced positioning capabilities to ensure reliability even in potentially GPS-denied environments.
4. Environmental and Climate Adaptability, including but not limited to: applicability even in weather extremes such as very high temperatures (45° Celsius and above), driving rain, strong winds (20+ m/s); and docking in adverse conditions such as docking station operating on non-planar surface, strong crosswinds, etc.
5. Power Management Enhancements, including but not limited to: greater battery life than 30 mins stated above without adding additional weight to the UAV; fast charging solutions to speed up recharging speeds; and solar or renewable integration to expand charging possibilities in remote areas.
6. Increased Efficiency or Cost Reduction, including but not limited to: advanced materials to reduce rate of maintenance; minimizing manual intervention; and greater affordability of drone in a box system’s constituent parts, to bring more cost-effective solutions to market.
7. Versatile Applications to Expand Existing Use Cases, including but not limited to: payload adaptability (e.g. cameras, sensors, delivery containers) that can be modified manually by qualified operators; unlocking use cases with task-specific features (e.g. thermal imaging for low-light surveillance).
8. Enhanced Usability and User Experience, including but not limited to: augmented reality (AR) interfaces for drone operators; remote access for non-experts; and voice commands for monitoring recharge, enabling deployment, or receiving system reports.
9. Vision-Based Navigation in GNSS-denied environment, including but not limited to: advanced vision-based navigation, localization and mapping techniques for environments with weak or no GNSS signals; an integration of multi-sensor fusion to enhance positional awareness.
10. Additional Enhancements, including but not limited to any additional improvements or innovations that enhance or optimize performance, safety, or functionality.

In your submission, please specifically call out any core differentiators that enhance your solution to evaluators, by using the alphabetical code above (a-j) and its short title. Addressing these challenges and integrating one, few, or many of the above adjustments would elevate your drone in a box solution for evaluators and for greater consideration in the prize award.

With the rapid advancement of technology in the fields of AI, robotics, and communication, there lies a potential for drones to operate independently with enhanced capabilities. Such advancements, including AI-driven decision-making and precise navigation systems, could fundamentally transform the way drones are utilized in various operations.

The Drone in a Box Challenge calls for solo innovators, teams, research organizations, start-ups, and mature companies to demonstrate their next-generation solutions that combine UAV, docking/charging station, ground control system, and software for operation into one ‘drone in a box’ outcome.

Following initial theoretical evaluation of paper proposals and required video evidence, the EDGE Group will shortlist and contact finalists for further information. This may include site visits, experimental validation of submission, and any other evaluation methods required to validate:

• the Solver, team, or organization’s capabilities and expertise;
• premises and standards of operation;
• engineering reviews;
• and/or other requested information about the Solver teams, to be agreed upon with EDGE evaluators.

The EDGE Group is also interested in the collective expertise of participants – with potential partnering, consulting work, career opportunities, or other opportunities a real possibility for Solvers who apply and express interest.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

EDGE Group is interested in solutions that meet the following requirements:

Must have:

1. Complete ‘drone in a box’ solution: consisting of the drone or UAV, docking/charging station, ground control station & interface, and software for operations.
   • Specific baseline requirements for these parts are listed in ‘The Challenge’ section.
2. Balancing effectiveness with affordability: EDGE is looking to lead the next-generation of drone operations with a scalable, accessible, and off-the-shelf drone in a box solution.
   • In order to find widespread use, the entire solution must be cost-effective, while proving success in at least one use case.
3. Cohesion of constituent parts of drone in a box solution: EDGE believes that integrating discrete subsystems could cause integration issues or require significant adaption.
   • Your solution must work coherently, without ‘hacking’ or splicing systems, to give the best chance of favorable evaluation.
4. Video evidence of drone, charging/docking station, and ground control system meeting the requirements: EDGE requires Solvers to upload at least one video alongside their paper proposal, demonstrating the capabilities of the drone in a box.
   • Marketing or advertisement videos will not be accepted. Your video submission must provide technical details, as well as example operations of the drone, its docking/charging, and the ground control system (including the software by which it is controlled).

Additionally, EDGE is particularly interested in the following differentiating factors, including but not limited to:

1. AI Integration and Enhanced Autonomy
2. Security and Data Integrity
3. Precision Landing
4. Environmental and Climate Adaptability
5. Power Management Enhancements
6. Increased Efficiency or Cost Reduction
7. Versatile Applications to Expand Existing Use Cases
8. Enhanced Usability and User Experience
9. Vision-Based Navigation in GNSS-denied environment
10. Swarming
11. Additional Enhancements, please state in your submission.

In your submission, please highlight where your drone in a box solution integrates one, more than one, or any other differentiating adjustments not listed above.

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 6-9 are invited.

This Prize Challenge has the following features:

1. Your IP Rights are protected; EDGE must pay you an award to obtain them.
2. The best solution has the opportunity to win a guaranteed first-place award of $15,000 USD, as solely determined by EDGE. There will also be a guaranteed second-place award of $5,000. 
3. Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by EDGE against the Solution Requirements.
4. To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this Challenge. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded.
5. Awarded Solvers will be invited to EDGE to discuss ownership of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights in your solution.

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please login and register your interest, to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual), Solver (Team), or Solver (Organization).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. IP Acquisition - awarded Solvers will be invited to EDGE to discuss ownership of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights in your solution. Please note that this is a key part of this Challenge, with EDGE’s intent to purchase the IP in a successful solution. Please acknowledge that you understand this requirement.
4. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words). Include any extra capabilities beyond must-have requirements, including the listed A-J differentiators stated in ‘The Challenge’ section.
5. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc).
6. Mission Description – please describe of an example mission and how your ‘drone in a box’ supports the effective functionality and capability requirements, including: take-off and landing, mission success, charging, data transfer, and mission programming/software control (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc).
7. Solution Feasibility – Supporting Information and Rationale, such as references and precedents, that will help EDGE evaluate and validate the feasibility of the solution (up to 500 words).
8. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution or experience in flying systems, UAV operation, etc. (up to 500 words).
9. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
10. Timeline, capability and costs - describe what you think is required to deliver the solution, estimated time and cost (up to 500 words).
11. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words).
12. Attachments – please provide at least one video of your drone in a box solution, detailing its technical features, example operation/mission, and salient details for evaluators.

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on July 7, 2025.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, EDGE will complete the review process and make a decision with regards to the winning solution(s) according to the timeline in the Challenge header. All Solvers who submit a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
6. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.
7. Learn more: Find out more about participation in Wazoku Crowd Challenges.