You’ve heard the expression last man standing. Beginning April 1, a new competition will seek out the last drone standing.

In an effort to help equip first responders with the necessary technology to aid them during various operations, the First Responder UAS Endurance Challenge is designed to crowd-source as many inventive drone designs as possible for first responders.

With a goal of expanding current drone capabilities, payload management, and flight endurance to support search-and-rescue operations and other public safety missions of similar need, the challenge will task contestants with creating and building a powerful drone that could support these missions. Contestants will use their ingenuity and hardware build expertise to design a drone prototype capable of flying for the longest time possible while carrying a 10-pound payload.

Up to $552,000 in prizes will be awarded throughout the duration of the competition, including for areas such as the top three best designs that meet program requirements, as well as a variety of “best-in-class” awards for specific drone capabilities.

The challenge is implemented by Capital Consulting Corporation and Arizona State University Research Enterprise (ASURE) under contract with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Public Safety Communication Research (PSCR) Division. Final winners will be announced on April 30, 2021.

More information on the competition can be found here.