Led by Prof. Hailong Huang and the members of research group of Autonomous and Interactive Mobile Systems (AIMS), the 2026 IEEE RAS Summer School on Small Quadcopter Drones: Design, Operation, and Applications was successfully held in Hong Kong from 24 to 28 August 2026. The five-day intensive programme was delivered primarily in person, with online access provided for selected sessions. A total of 52 participants joined the programme, including 48 in-person participants and 4 online participants.
Combining theoretical instruction with hands-on practice, flight training, and a final competition, the Summer School provided participants with a structured learning experience covering the design, system integration, control, planning, and autonomous operation of small quadcopter drones.
The Summer School was hosted by the Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering and delivered as part of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS) Technical Education Program (TEP). The programme focused on the design, operation, control, and real-world applications of small quadcopter systems, while also introducing participants to emerging opportunities associated with the low-altitude economy.
The five-day programme was organised around the key stages of quadcopter system development. On the first day, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of quadcopter drones and took part in hands-on sessions on drone assembly and ground-station setup. The second day focused on ROS, onboard computing, and first-flight operation, followed by indoor position-mode flight practice to strengthen participants’ understanding of system integration and basic flight procedures.
The third day centred on drone control and stabilisation, combining lectures on control algorithms with practical stabilisation and control exercises. On the fourth day, the programme progressed to planning and navigation, where participants studied path-planning algorithms and carried out autonomous navigation exercises, gaining experience in the key technologies required for autonomous drone operation.
On the final day, participants worked in teams to conduct system debugging and final tuning, integrating the knowledge and skills developed throughout the week. Their learning outcomes were then put into practice through a flight competition, followed by an awards and certificate ceremony, group photo, and farewell session.
A strong emphasis was placed on hands-on learning and teamwork throughout the Summer School. Practical sessions in drone assembly, indoor flight, stabilisation, control, and autonomous navigation enabled participants to apply theoretical concepts directly on quadcopter platforms. The hybrid format also allowed online participants to join selected lecture sessions, broadening access to the programme.
As the low-altitude economy and autonomous aerial systems continue to develop rapidly, capabilities in drone system design, intelligent control, and autonomous navigation are becoming increasingly important. By integrating theoretical foundations, system implementation, and practical applications, the 2026 IEEE RAS Summer School provided participants with a comprehensive learning pathway in small quadcopter technologies and contributed to education, practical innovation, and talent development in aerial robotics and related low-altitude application.
| Department of Aeronautical and Aviation Engineering |
