New coding challenge targets development of fire-fighting drones

NXP Semiconductors announced the launch of HoverGames, a new challenge-based, interactive coding competition that leverages NXP’s broad portfolio of automotive, industrial and IOT technologies for system control, networking, security and motor control. The goal of the competition is to introduce engineers and programmers to drone and rover development. In addition to learning new skills, the challenge series will encourage developers to create solutions for pressing world problems such as disaster management, health crises and environmental degradation.

HoverGames Challenge 1, “Fight Fire with Flyers”, will inspire participants to unleash their creativity to address the high stakes of urban and rural fires. The competition encourages contestants to thoughtfully consider the full scope of the difficulties facing firefighters and to embrace the exciting notion that they could develop unique and disruptive solutions to the problems they face. Each virtual coding and hardware challenge takes place over several months and will leverage the newly released drone developer kit.

How to Get Involved

• Visit HoverGames.com for entry details and submit the required application before July 1, 2019
• Apply your amazing creative and innovative ideas to help firefighters in unique and disruptive ways
• Competition closes October 31, 2019 and winners will be announced in November, 2019

The hardware and software of the developer kit is open, flexible and modular and includes professional, automotive and industrial-grade components enabled by the PX4 flight stack. PX4 is the largest commercially deployed open source flight stack and supports contemporary airframe architectures including VTOL aircraft, multicopter and rover profile.

Projects and learnings are transferrable to real-world commercial applications thanks to Auterion, the company that builds the enterprise distribution of PX4 for the commercial drone market.

NXP is offering members of the media the opportunity to learn more about the competition at this year’s NXP Customer and Partner Event, NXP Connects in Santa Clara, California.