Student Programs

MathWorks Minidrone Competition

Europe 2026 | MathWorks, United Kingdom

    Learn how to develop an autonomous minidrone line follower and develop key skills like Model-Based Design relevant to the industry—all while having fun using drones!

Europe 2026 Competition Details

Round 1 | Simulation

Develop path planning, image processing, and control systems for a minidrone line follower in simulations

Round 2 | Deployment

Deploy algorithms designed during the simulation round to a Parrot Mambo minidrone

This competition is open to university students and students pursuing apprenticeships in the following countries:
Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Get Ready to Fly

1. Apply to receive all the competition materials. 

2. Watch the MathWorks Minidrone Competition video series to better understand the competition details.

3. Review the competition rules and guidelines.

4. Complete MATLAB Onramp, Simulink Onramp, and Stateflow Onramp courses before starting to work on your algorithm.

Competition Timeline

Task

Deadline

Application 25-July-2026
Simulation Submission 06-Aug-2026
Finalists Declaration 20-Aug-2026
Final Round 17-18-Sept-2026

🏆The Finals of the MathWorks Minidrone Competition- Europe 2026 will be held at the MathWorks Cambridge Office, UK

What’s in It for the finalists?

  1. 🏆 Exclusive Opportunity: Visit MathWorks Cambridge Office
    Finalist teams will earn an exclusive opportunity to visit the MathWorks office in Cambridge, United Kingdom, where the final round of the competition will take place!
    • Compete in the grand finale at the heart of innovation
    • Meet and interact with the engineers behind MATLAB® and Simulink
    • Explore how real-world breakthroughs are built using these powerful tools
  2. Sponsored accommodation will be provided for all the finalist teams. For more information, please refer to the competition Terms and Conditions.
  3. 🤝 Connect with Industry Experts
    Meet and interact with professionals from MathWorks. Gain valuable insights, ask your questions, and build connections with experts shaping the future of technology and engineering.
  4. 📸 Spotlight on You!
    The winning team will be featured on our official Student Programs Instagram channel, giving you a moment in the spotlight.

No participation fees

Free self-paced tutorials

Complimentary MathWorks software