JOHOR BAHRU, May 4 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) recently witnessed the successful conclusion of the SKY-RACER Drone Workshop, one of the most ambitious student-led engineering training programs organized on campus. Conducted from 4 April to 3 May 2026, the month-long initiative brought together students from diverse engineering backgrounds in a collaborative environment focused on innovation, teamwork, and practical technical learning.

The program was organized by the International Student Society (ISS) Yemen in collaboration with the ISS of Sudan, Egypt, and Syria, reflecting a strong spirit of international cooperation and student engagement within the UTM community.

The workshop attracted more than 135 participants and was supported by a dedicated team consisting of 26 mentors, 15 organizers, and four technical speakers who guided students throughout the program. Designed to simulate a real-world product development cycle, the workshop allowed participants to experience the complete engineering process of building a functional drone from scratch.

Throughout the training sessions, participants were exposed to a broad range of interdisciplinary engineering skills. The workshop began with structural and mechanical preparation, including 3D printing and frame assembly, before progressing into electronics integration and PCB-based system development. Participants also explored embedded systems programming, motor control systems, and flight controller configuration.

In addition, students received hands-on experience in soldering, circuit debugging, system calibration, and custom motor driver testing. Working closely in teams under mentor supervision, participants developed practical problem-solving abilities while learning to operate under real engineering constraints and technical challenges.

The program featured continuous technical guidance and troubleshooting support delivered by experienced mentors and invited speakers. This interactive learning environment encouraged participants to strengthen both their technical knowledge and essential soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership.

One of the workshop’s major highlights was the intensive drone tuning and flight testing phase, where students refined their systems to achieve stable flight performance. The program concluded with a final demonstration and drone flying competition held on Sunday, 3 May 2026, involving approximately 50 students who successfully showcased their flying drones and the results of their technical efforts.

The closing ceremony gathered participants, mentors, organizers, and guests to celebrate the achievements of the program and recognize outstanding teams and individuals for their performance and commitment throughout the workshop.

Beyond its technical achievements, the SKY-RACER Drone Workshop aligned strongly with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The initiative highlighted UTM’s commitment to experiential learning, student-driven innovation, and international collaboration.

Organizers emphasized that the workshop was not solely about building drones, but also about shaping future engineers capable of critical thinking, innovation, and transforming ideas into functional engineering solutions.

With its strong participation, structured technical depth, and successful execution, the SKY-RACER Drone Workshop stands as a significant milestone in hands-on engineering education at UTM and sets a new benchmark for future student-led technical initiatives.