In a climate of tensions with China, Taiwanese students are mobilizing. Their mission: to design innovative drones to strengthen the island's defense capabilities. A stimulating competition with crucial stakes. Find out how these young people…
On a testing ground in southwest Taiwan, the atmosphere is tense. Students anxiously watch as the drones they have painstakingly designed take off, land and sometimes even crash on a simulated battlefield. Coming from the four corners of the island, these young talents are participating in a competition aimed at boosting the Taiwanese drone industry. A crucial issue in a geopolitical context under high tension.
China steps up pressure, Taiwan responds with innovation
China, which considers Taiwan to be an integral part of its territory, continues to exert military pressure on the island. Faced with this growing threat, the Taiwanese government is focusing on innovation and investing massively in the drone sector. The objective: to provide a more agile and reactive defense in the event of a Chinese attack.
Jan Shau-shiun, professor at the Department of Space Systems Engineering at National Cheng Kung University and organizer of the competition, highlights the importance of drones in modern conflicts:
We can see the massive use of drones for surveillance and targeted strikes, far behind the front lines, in many current conflicts like that between Ukraine and Russia. Taiwan could face a similar situation, which is why we aim to strengthen our drone capabilities.
A competition to stimulate the drone industry
Launched last year, the National Defense Application UAV Challenge brings together teams of students who design drones for military use. The most promising models can then be adopted by specialist companies and purchased by the government.
During the second edition which took place last October at the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application research and development center, 20 teams competed to test their creations. The drones, multi-rotor or fixed-wing, had to achieve autonomous flight at a minimum altitude of 60 meters, take images of a distant target and return to base in less than 10 minutes.
But this year, the organizers made the challenge more difficult by using a jammer to disrupt satellite signals, making piloting the devices more difficult. A realistic scenario, as Jan Shau-shiun explains:
Observing current conflicts, we see that interference on satellite navigation systems is common before combat. We want to prepare our students to face these types of difficulties in the field.
Determined students despite challenges
For the participants, this competition represents much more than just a competition. This is an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice and make a concrete contribution to the defense of their country. After long hours spent designing and building their drones with the help of local companies, the teams watch with apprehension as their creations fly away.
Cheng Yong-jen, 24, recently graduated from the National University of Formosa, couldn't hold back his tears as he saw the drone he helped develop land safely, while others crashed:
Previously it crashed, we fixed it, it crashed again and we fixed it again. When he finally landed, I was in tears. All the pressure was released at once.
Lin Chun-liang, a professor of electrical engineering at National Chung Hsing University and judge of the competition, said this type of event allows students to develop practical skills that are not taught in school. On-the-job learning that will be valuable for their future careers.
Taiwan focuses on talent training
The Taiwanese government understands this well: to stay at the forefront in the field of military drones, it is necessary to invest not only in research and development, but also in the training of future talents. Hundreds of millions of dollars are thus released each year to purchase and design drones, but also to train those who will work in this strategic industry.
President Lai Ching-te has also reaffirmed his ambition to make Taiwan “the hub of drone supply chains in Asia”. A major challenge in a context where the huge Taiwanese semiconductor sector attracts many young graduates with attractive salaries.
But for Cheng Yong-jen, there is no question of giving up on his dreams. Determined to join a company specializing in defense drones after his master's degree, he ensures:
This is the path we must follow. We cannot stop progressing just because we are behind others. On the contrary, this should push us to redouble our efforts to catch up and make Taiwan a key player in the sector.
In a tense geopolitical context, the determination of these young Taiwanese students commands respect. By putting their talent and creativity at the service of the defense of their country, they prove that innovation can be a formidable weapon in the face of external threats. An inspiring lesson that deserves to be followed closely.
