Drone Champions AG, founded this year in Lichtenstein, wants to establish drone racing as the latest sporting trend. The first official large event, the Drone Champions League, will be held in August. The location is fascinating castle ruins in Reutte, Tyrol.
REUTTE (AUT) – Drone racing involves steering flying robots with a maximum speed of 140km/h through gates and pylons using tiny and very precise joystick movements. The pilots use virtual reality goggles to view the course in real-time, from the drone’s perspective. The racer feels like they are sitting in a cockpit in the drone itself.
Modern drones are practically indestructible. A crash at 100km/h requires, at most, replacement of small parts; the premium carbon housing takes no damage. Not only that, the purchase price remains reasonable. As such, drone racing is developing into a popular sport, particularly for those aged 15 to 45; father-son teams are especially popular.
Competitors in the Drone Champions League start in heats of four. A heat takes approximately two minutes for four rounds. 40 pilots take part in the qualifying phase, although only 32 pilots compete for the title in a knock-out competition. The 12 competitors with the highest score receive a certain number of points for each Drone Champions League race. The pilot with the most points at the end of the competition is the overall winner of the Drone Champions League.