Support UAVs@Berkeley: Cal's Top Student Drone Organization

New Goal of $5,000!

Thank you all so much for your incredible outpouring of support!

We hope to keep the momentum going and raise $5,000 to allow our team to purchase FPV Equipment that will enable novel research, the establishment of a new pilot training program, and brand-new live stream and video creation!

Support UAVs@Berkeley: Inspiring the Next Generation of Drone Innovators

UAVs@Berkeley is a vibrant club dedicated to exploring the exciting world of drones since 2015. We welcome everyone—from seasoned engineers to curious beginners—who share our passion for cutting-edge technology. Our mission is twofold: to develop advanced autonomous drone systems for prestigious competitions like the RoboNation Student Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) challenge and to provide hands-on experience that equips our members with real-world skills.

Recently, we achieved an incredible milestone by designing and building our first heavy-lift multirotor drone, which competed in the 2023-2024 SUAS season. Now, we’re looking to the future, and we need your support to keep the momentum going!

Why we’re raising funds:
Your generous contributions will help us:

• Enhance Our New-Member Program: Ground School is our semester-long program where students from all backgrounds design, build, and fly their drones in small teams, gaining hands-on experience and the skills to contribute to our competition team.
  New members design the airframe, electronics, and software of their drone

   

• Develop our 2024-2025 competition drone: For the 2024-2025 season, we are engineering Berkeley's first fixed-wing Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) drone platform to push the limits of drone technology.
  Our next-generation VTOL competition drone

   

• Update lab equipment: Replace older tools and electronics to keep an up-to-date lab ensuring Berkeley's continued success at the international SUAS Competition.
  

  
  

Here’s where your donations will go:

• NEW STRETCH GOAL! $2,000 - FPV Equipment: First-person view hardware will enable us to train brand-new pilots, conduct cutting-edge research, and film high-quality video content.
• $1,000 - VTOL Powertrain: New motor and propeller assemblies to achieve our two-hour flight time.
• $750 - Carbon fiber fabrication supplies: Carbon fiber fabric and epoxy to create our first-ever carbon fiber airframe for competition VTOL aircraft.
• $500 - Hardware for our Ground School program: Flight controllers, radios, and motors to allow us to introduce more undergraduates to industry-standard drone designs and parts.
• $500 - VTOL Sensor Suite: Power sensors, temperature, and an airspeed monitor for the new competition vehicle.
• $250 - UAV Lab Tools: Soldering irons, wrenches, and multimeters to replace old workshop equipment.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward supporting our mission. Contributions will be used immediately to purchase the hardware and materials needed to meet our timeline. With your help, we can surpass our goal; allowing the team to fully sponsor members to attend this summer's competition and invest in a cutting-edge FPV (first-person view) equipment. Even if we do not reach our fundraising goal, all donations raised will go to purchasing some of the hardware listed above. Note that all estimates are rough only, and actual expenditures may vary.

By supporting UAVs@Berkeley, you’re not just funding drones—you’re fueling innovation, education, and the dreams of tomorrow’s engineers. Help us inspire the next generation of drone pioneers and make an impact today!

Please visit us at https://uav.studentorg.berkeley.edu/ to learn more about the work that we do!

Thank you for believing in our mission. Let’s take UAVs@Berkeley to new heights!