July 7-9 at Kyungwoon University: "2nd 2nd Operations Commander's Drone Bot Combat Competition"
Combat Competition, Manned-Unmanned Combined Combat System Exhibition, Civil-Military Harmony Event
Gumi City in Gyeongbuk Province will host the “2nd 2nd Operations Commander's DroneBot Combat Competition” for three days starting from the 7th at Kyungwoon University. The event is jointly organized by the Army’s 2nd Operations Command, Kyungwoon University, and Kumoh National Institute of Technology, and supported by the Gyeongbuk-Gumi Defense Industry Innovation Cluster Project Group and Kyungpook National University.
Now in its second year, this competition was established to build consensus on the development of intelligent manned-unmanned combined combat systems, create demand for combat advancement related to drone bots, and develop urban operational systems utilizing advanced science and technology through cooperation among civilians, government, military, industry, academia, and research institutions.
The event features the Drone-Robot Challenge, Drone Battle, Drone Racing, and other drone bot combat competitions, alongside an exhibition of manned-unmanned combined combat systems with participation from over 30 defense companies, as well as cultural events promoting harmony among civilians, government, and military.
The “DroneBot Combat Competition” is divided into two categories: the “military application” category and the “sports participation” category, with a total of eight events. The military application category includes five events: bomb dropping, surveillance reconnaissance, AI drones, aircraft creation, and robot challenges. The sports participation category includes drone battle, drone racing, and drone soccer events.
About 90 participants from 36 military teams and over 200 participants from 45 civilian teams will compete fiercely, with a total prize money and awards amounting to 10 million KRW given to outstanding individuals in each category.
The manned-unmanned combined combat system exhibition showcases transport drones, integrated control systems, and drone stations. Additionally, diverse drone and robot demonstrations by the military and companies include multi-legged robots, bomb dropping, and tactical drone operation demonstrations.
Approximately 1,500 soldiers from the 2nd Operations Command and the U.S. 19th Support Command, along with about 1,200 elementary, middle, and high school students from the Gumi area, will attend the cultural event promoting harmony among civilians, government, and military. They will enjoy a nighttime drone art show featuring around 300 drones and view various equipment and supplies. Various experience booths such as pop drone battles for small drone making, drone piloting and gaming experiences, and robot making workshops will be operated, attracting many students.
Through this competition, the 2nd Operations Command aims to advance the future joint rear-area manned-unmanned combined combat system to the next level. Kyungwoon University (Department of Unmanned Aerial Engineering), a co-organizer, specializes in the “drone field,” while Kumoh National Institute of Technology (Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering) specializes in the “robot field (combatant-following robots),” contributing significantly to creating military needs and combat advancement demand for drones and robots.
Gumi City, which sponsored the competition, has provided generous support to ensure the successful hosting of the event as a platform for regional defense industry exchange and development, creating an opportunity for mutual growth and cooperation among civilians, government, military, universities, and the defense industry cluster.
Major General Ko Chang-jun, commander of the 2nd Operations Command, who organized the competition, stated, “This event showcases various forms of ‘DroneBots’ that will play active roles on future battlefields and serves as a driving force for establishing an integrated drone defense system for nationally important facilities in the Gumi area. We will continue to drive innovation so that the 2nd Operations Command can lead future battlefields as an ‘advanced science and technology force.’”
Kyungwoon University President Kim Dong-je said, “We will continue to carry out university-level collaborative projects to ensure that drones become a core military force through close cooperation with the 2nd Operations Command in building manned-unmanned combined combat systems.”
Kumoh National Institute of Technology President Kwak Ho-sang praised the efforts and passion of professors and students who prepared their works in a short period and said, “We will spare no support to ensure that this competition becomes a practical foundation for national defense robot development.”
Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, “I am honored that the DroneBot Combat Competition is held in Gumi, a leading city in the defense industry. We will do our best to foster advanced defense industries through civilian-government-military cooperative projects such as the Gyeongbuk-Gumi Defense Industry Innovation Cluster specializing in manned-unmanned combined combat systems and the integrated drone defense pilot project.”
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