FAQ

Our current focus is IARC Mission 10: a swarm of fully autonomous drones that coordinate to guide a person safely through a simulated minefield — mapping the field, sharing data, and finding the safest route with no remote pilot.

No. We take members of all academic standings and experience levels — curiosity and commitment matter more than a résumé, and you’ll learn by building. Applications are competitive, so tell us what you’re excited to work on.

Yes. We welcome students from all majors. Most of our work is technical, but anyone interested in programming, electronics, or hands-on building is encouraged to apply. If you’re willing to learn and contribute, there’s a place for you.

Mechanical covers structures, testbed, propulsion, and hardware integration. Avionics covers flight-controller, power, and ESC PCBs. Firmware covers flight-control software, the ground station, comms, and tuning. Autonomy covers planning, multi-agent coordination, and the flight computer. Perception covers cameras, detection, SLAM, and mapping. Business covers onboarding, outreach, sponsorships, and budget. Not sure? Apply anyway and tell us what you’re curious about.

Applications open in fall 2026. Watch our Instagram and the Updates page for the exact window and deadline.

There is a 1-hour all-team meeting every other week, plus a 1-hour subteam meeting each week. On top of that, expect a couple of hours per week working independently on your assigned tasks. The exact commitment varies with your role and availability.

Follow @uw_waar on Instagram and check this site for updates, events, and recruitment opportunities.