Zenith - Polytechnique Montréal

Zenith, founded in September 2024 at Polytechnique Montreal, is a student-led engineering team focused on developing innovative drone technology for global competitions. With a diverse group of 40 students from multiple engineering backgrounds, the team is dedicated to advancing aerial robotics and autonomous flight capabilities.

Currently, Zenith is working on its entry for the AEAC UAS competition, where universities compete to build and program an autonomous drone for firefighting applications. The objective is to design a drone capable of retrieving water from a designated source, flying to a predefined location, and precisely releasing the payload to combat wildfires, all without manual intervention. Even as newcomers to this challenge, the team is determined to achieve a strong placement in their debut competition this summer.

Beyond this project, Zenith aspires to expand its technical expertise, enhance its competitive presence, and inspire more students to explore the realm of drone technology. The team fosters an environment of creativity and collaboration, aiming to develop innovative solutions that contribute to the evolution of unmanned aerial systems.

To turn their ambitious designs into reality, Zenith requires high-precision CNC-machined components. These custom parts are crucial for improving aerodynamics, strengthening structural integrity, and ensuring the overall performance and reliability of the drones. Having access to advanced prototyping and manufacturing resources would enable the team to refine designs rapidly, offering members invaluable hands-on experience in engineering and design.

In particular, two essential components require machining:

1-A metal sheet that needs precise cutting to form structural elements of the drone.

2-A CNC-machined support piece designed to secure the drone's arms and ensure stability during flight.