Chattogram district administration has provided Tk1 lakh in financial assistance to a research team from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). The team will participate in an international drone competition in Türkiye next year.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mian handed over the grant to members of Team Staraptor at the Chattogram Circuit House on Thursday.
The CUET team is preparing for TEKNOFEST Türkiye 2027, scheduled for March-April next year. The team is developing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone using 3D-printing technology, said a press release on Thursday.
Team project, named “The Staraptor,” is Bangladesh’s first fully 3D-printed quadplane VTOL drone. The aircraft can take off and land vertically like a helicopter. It then transitions to forward flight like a conventional aeroplane. It also has a wingspan of 1,340mm and a length of 990mm, built using carbon fibre and specialised 3D-printing materials. The team said it can carry a payload of up to 15kg and fly at speeds of 60-70km/h.
The aircraft uses a Pixhawk 6C flight controller, a Raspberry Pi computer, and GPS and telemetry systems. These allow it to navigate autonomously, deliver supplies and return without continuous manual control.
Zahidul said this technology could contribute to Bangladesh’s advancement and strengthen its international reputation. He highlighted the growing use of drones in agriculture and other sectors. He stressed the need to harness emerging technologies for public welfare while preventing misuse.
He pledged further support mentioning the administration would approach higher government authorities if the drone demonstrates its capabilities. Government efforts would be made to facilitate assistance through the Bangladesh Embassy in Türkiye during the competition.
The team plans to develop a “tri-mode mobility drone” capable of operating on land, in the air and on water. They also plan to establish a permanent unmanned aerial vehicle research cell at CUET.
