Central Oregon Aerial Drone Competition to conclude inaugural season at Ridgeview High School

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon's inaugural Aerial Drone Competition season will conclude today, April 16th, at Ridgeview High School's Upper Gym in Redmond. The free event is open to the public and will feature all three Aerial Drone Competition mission events.

Student pilots and programmers from Crook County High School in Prineville, Ridgeview High School in Redmond and Redmond Proficiency Academy will compete head-to-head. The event showcases local teamwork, autonomous flight skills and piloting skills challenges.

Check-in for the competition begins at 3:00 p.m., with racing scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Summit High School's "Chaos Theory" FRC Robotics Competition team will also be present at the event. The team recently qualified for the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston. The "Chaos Theory" team will also have their competition robot on display.

The region plans to expand the Aerial Drone Competition program in the 2026-2027 season. This growth will include the launch of ADC Pro, the REC Foundation's advanced competitive tier.

High Desert Robotics and Rotors Expositions (HDRex) will facilitate the launch of ADC Pro. The program aims to include more teams and schools and mentors in its expanded season.

Coaches, educators and community members interested in participating in the program are encouraged to reach out.