About our team
Team AIR at UIC is part of the student-run Engineering Design Team (EDT @ UIC) organization that designs, builds, and tests autonomous drone systems for the annual Student Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) Competition. The mission simulates real-world defense and logistics scenarios, challenging teams to integrate autonomous flight, real-time object detection, precision payload delivery, and GPS-guided waypoint navigation.
Since its founding in the late 2010s, Team AIR has grown into one of UIC’s premier multidisciplinary engineering teams. With a strong foundation in electrical, mechanical, and software systems, the team continually advances its capabilities through custom-built drone hardware, onboard computer vision, and intelligent control systems. Each year, Team AIR refines its mission strategy through hands-on testing, rapid prototyping, and real-world engineering innovation.
Competition History
SUAS 2025
SUAS 2024
SUAS 2023
Our Team
Adrain Tse
Co-Captain, Pilot (Electrical Engineering, 3rd year)
Shaan Mehta
Co-Captain, GCS Operator (Electrical Engineering, 2nd year)
Arman Lnu
Mechanical Designer (Electrical Engineering, 1st year)
Nikki Dmello
Mechanical Designer (Industrial Engineering, 1st year)
Usman Siddiqui
Mechanical Designer (Mechanical Engineering, 3rd year)
Davin Doan
Mechanical Designer (Mechanical Engineering, 4th year)
Peace Fonanih
Mechanical Designer (Mechanical Engineering, 1st year)
Emma Gipson
Mechanical Designer (Mechanical Engineering, 4th year)
Rafael Giblin
Programmer (Physics, 3rd year)
Ethan Cho
Mechanical Designer (Mechanical Engineering, 2nd year)
Flight Performance & Highlights
