Unite Under The Sky! Students from Wrocław and Grenoble Jointly Develop Autonomous Drones
International cooperation, cutting-edge technologies and first independent test flights.
The “Unite Under The Sky!” project, implemented under the Unite! Seed Fund, has brought together students from Wroclaw University of Science & Technology and Grenoble INP – Phelma around a shared goal: the development of autonomous drones for search and rescue applications.
At the end of October, Wroclaw University of Science & Technology hosted students from Grenoble INP – Phelma. The visit marked the first stage of the international project, centred on hands-on workshops delivered by students for students. Participants took part, among others, in classes on the control and construction of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as programming control and navigation systems. The newly acquired knowledge was quickly put into practice — by building their own quadcopters and carrying out their first test flights.
Members of the Robotronik Club from Grenoble also contributed their expertise by delivering a lecture on PCB design in aviation systems. Further stages of the joint work are scheduled for May and July 2026 in France, where students from Wrocław will further develop their skills in electronics, sensor fusion and control theory.
"It was a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, ideas and to look at technology from an international perspective".
Technology with a mission
The “Unite Under The Sky!” project involves the construction of two autonomous drones capable of performing programmed missions within designated areas. One platform will belong to the Academic Aviation Club of WUST (the project coordinator), while the other will be used by Robotronik, the robotics and electronics club of Grenoble INP-UGA. The drone designs will be modular and expandable, allowing them to serve future generations of students.
The long-term objective of the initiative is to develop technologies that may eventually be used, among others, for:
locating people trapped in avalanches,
identifying individuals requiring evacuation in flood-affected areas,
early fire detection and monitoring fire spread.
Workshops
The project includes workshops focusing on topics such as drone control systems, artificial intelligence, UAV construction, ArduPilot, PCB design, sensor fusion, flight safety and autonomous mission programming.
The project will culminate in a demonstration flight of both drones, combined with an integration and outreach event promoting modern technologies and international cooperation within the Unite! alliance. Workshop materials will be made available via the Unite! Metacampus, as well as through open online channels, ensuring that the project’s impact extends beyond its formal framework.