British Teen Vrooms His Way To Victory At World Drone Prix 2016Bannister's team beat out 150 other teams to clinch the title, including local favorites Dubai Dronetek, who came in second.

通过信德Hariharan

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

@Worlddroneprix Twitter

Can you recall what you were up to when you were a 15-year-old? Well, British teenager Luke Bannister may have no difficulty in doing so, since he and his fellow members of the龙卷风X-Blades Banni英国团队spent a weekend in March winning the first place and US$250,000 award in the inaugural edition of the世界无人机大奖赛held in Dubai. Bannister's team beat out 150 other teams to clinch the title, including local favorites Dubai Dronetek, who came in second. According toThe Associated Press,the competition saw drones whizzing along the brightly lit race circuit at Skydive Dubai, with each of the machines manned by four pilots at a time, all wearing virtual reality goggles that allowed them to watch the sights from their drone's perspective.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai with 2015 Drones for Good Award winning team Flyability in Dubai, UAE. Image credit: UAE Drones for Good.

Despite the complexities involved in the challenge, the 15-year-old champion of the first ever World Drone Prix was a picture of modesty after the victory, with Bannister saying that controlling the drones was "like flying a jet fast." But Saif Mohammed al-Suwaidi, Director-General, UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, highlighted the intricacies of the competition, saying, "It is not merely a flying game, but a sport that requires mental focus and accuracy to enable users to harmonize mental commands and hand movements to fly their drone." Organized by the World Organization of Racing Drones (WORD), the World Drone Prix is a part of the UAE's commitment towards drone technology. The UAE government has already established theDrones for Good Awardin 2014, which aims to encourage and reward use of futuristic drone technology for practical solutions that can improve quality of life.

Related: CES 2016 Highlights:Autonomous Aerial Vehicle Ehang 184

Wavy Line
信德Hariharan

Former Features Editor, Entrepreneur Middle East

信德Hariharanis the Features Editor at Entrepreneur Middle East. She is a financial consultant turned business journalist with a FOMO when it comes to everything technology.

Related Topics

Entrepreneurs

Infographic: The Top 10 MENA Countries For Tech Startups In 2023

The UAE led the MENA region, with it being home to 339 scaleups, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia follow with 140 and 132 scaleups, respectively.

Business Ideas

The Top 10 Home Business Ideas for 2023

Can't figure out which enterprise you should launch in 2023? Check out 10 stellar home business ideas to get inspiration.

Growth Strategies

With A Goal To Fully Decarbonize The Last-Mile Industry, UAE-Based One Moto Secures US$40 Million In Lease Financing

With a goal to fully decarbonize the last-mile industry, the startup aims to introduce 50,000 electric delivery vehicles in the UAE by 2025.

Starting a Business

10 Common Obstacles to Avoid When Starting a Business

Starting a new business can be an exciting and rewarding venture, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Here are some common obstacles to avoid when starting a new business.

Finance

How To Build A Profitable Accountancy Business (From An Accountant Who Did Just That)

When you're an entrepreneur, running a business is your first job, and you'll probably do very little actual accounting as you grow. So, if you love the front-line work, you might need to think again.

Business Culture

Want to Be More Productive at Work? You Need Better Hobbies.

Here's how engaging in complex hobbies can offer mental rest and spur productivity.