Northrop to Sponsor Australian UAV Outback Rescue Contest; Ian Irving Comments

Northrop Grumman is pushing to increase interest in engineering and technology among Australian youth by sponsoring the 2014 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Outback Challenge and partnering with Dickson College.

The company said Tuesday it will work with Dickson students to develop a UAV for the competition, which requires participants to design, construct and operate a UAV to locate, rescue and deliver supplies to an individual known as “Outback Joe.”

Queensland’s local government, the Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation, Aviation Development Australia and the Associations for Unmanned Vehicle Systems Australia are hosting the event.

“By sponsoring and mentoring our youth in better understanding UAV technologies, we’re helping motivate them to be the country’s future engineers, scientists and technicians,” said Ian Irving, Northrop’s chief executive for Australia.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation contributes to other science, technology, engineering and math programs worldwide.