Innovation News

RoboNation, one of the nation’s largest annual unmanned aerial systems competitions for university teams and high school students, recently hosted its event in Tulsa.

More than 450 students representing 10 countries competed in the Student Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition at Skyway Range, cementing Tulsa’s place as a leader in the future of flight. 

They completed 55 flights during the 3-day competition with mission tasks that reflected real-world challenges. 

RoboNation, a global robotics education organization, picked Tulsa to be home to the event after more than two decades in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

“RoboNation is proud to partner with Skyway Range and the Osage Nation to bring the SUAS Competition to Oklahoma for the first time,” said Daryl Davidson, President and CEO of RoboNation. 

Clay Kindred with Tulsa Innovation Labs told the Tulsa World’s Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton that Skyway Range is the perfect host for an event of this magnitude.

“All of these students from all around the world and all over the country who do this as a hobby or as a sport are getting to come here to Tulsa and see what it’s like to get jobs doing this work,” he said. 

Workforce development is a key focus of the SUAS competition, similar to the mission of Tulsa Innovation Labs and its goals for the future of Unmanned Aerial Systems in the region. 

“RoboNation is committed to building the skilled workforce required for an increasingly autonomous world,” Davidson said. “To do this, we are focused on bridging education and industry through real, mission-driven experience. The SUAS Competition serves as a proving ground where emerging engineers confront real-world engineering demands, mission planning, and operational constraints.” 

The SUAS competition is already confirmed in Tulsa for another year.

“We’re excited to welcome SUAS teams back to Skyway Range for the 2027 competition and continue connecting these talented students with the companies, industries and career opportunities that await them,” said Kian Kamas, interim managing director of TIL. “We’re honored to host the next generation of talent in Tulsa, creating connections to bring talent here and strengthen Tulsa’s vision to be the Drone Capital of the World.”

Learn more: https://suas-competition.org/