FPV drone racing team competing at national and international levels, representing UNAL through IEEE UN, CEIMTUN-RAS, and AESS UN

Project Overview

XWings FPV is the official drone racing team of Universidad Nacional de Colombia, representing the university at national and international FPV (First Person View) racing competitions. Founded in April 2019, we are a joint initiative between IEEE UN, CEIMTUN-RAS (Comité de Estudiantes de Ingeniería Mecatrónica UN - IEEE RAS), and AESS UN (Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society - IEEE AESS).

We are a passionate team of students and researchers dedicated to competing at the highest level on tracks around the world, combining technical expertise with piloting skills to push the boundaries of drone racing.

I founded this team after learning about FPV drone racing, and given there were some amateur teams in Bogotá, I thought it would be a great opportunity to have a team of students from UNAL competing, while learning about the latest technologies in drone racing.

Mission

Experience the ultimate rush of adrenaline and speed as we race through the skies with our FPV racing drones. Our mission is to:

• Compete: Participate in national and international drone racing competitions
• Innovate: Develop and optimize custom racing drones
• Educate: Train new pilots and technical team members
• Represent: Showcase UNAL’s talent in robotics and autonomous systems
• Collaborate: Work with IEEE, RAS, and AESS to promote drone technology

What is FPV Drone Racing?

FPV (First Person View) drone racing is a high-speed competitive sport where pilots navigate racing drones through complex obstacle courses while wearing video goggles that provide a real-time view from the drone’s onboard camera.

Key Characteristics:

• Speed: Racing drones can reach speeds of 120+ km/h
• Agility: Advanced maneuvers including flips, rolls, and split-S turns
• Precision: Navigate through gates and around obstacles with millimeter accuracy
• Immersion: Pilots experience flight as if they were in the cockpit

• Technology: Custom-built drones with cutting-edge electronics and aerodynamics

Team Structure

Pilots

Our pilots are the heart of XWings FPV, combining reflexes, spatial awareness, and technical knowledge to navigate complex racing courses at high speeds.

Active Pilots:

• Alejandro Ojeda Olarte (Founder)
• Dylan Ortiz
• Johel Prada
• Angel Avendaño
• Cristian Martin
• Juseph Useche
• Libardo Carreño
• David Santiago Sandoval

Technical Team

Our technical team designs, builds, maintains, and optimizes our racing drones for maximum performance and reliability.

Technical Leads:

• Camilo Acuña
• Juan Pablo Vallejo

Technical Support:

• Jaime Yara
• Juan Jose Losada Perdomo
• Santiago Cadena

TV UNAL Feature

Producer: Unimedios - UNAL
Location: Bogotá, Colombia
Description: Webseries episode featuring XWings FPV team and our activities at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zehUei7lUtA

April 2019: Humble Beginnings

Initially the team began by just using simulation, but then later I got my own Happymodel Mobula 7 tiny whoop, and the team started to grow. Since then, we’ve competed in multiple competitions, and we’ve won several prizes.

Skills & Technologies

Piloting Skills

• Manual Flight Control: Acro mode flying with no stabilization
• Racing Line Optimization: Finding the fastest path through courses
• Freestyle Maneuvers: Advanced tricks and aerial acrobatics
• FPV Navigation: Spatial awareness through video goggles
• Emergency Recovery: Handling crashes and equipment failures

Technical Skills

• Drone Assembly: Building custom racing quadcopters from components
• Soldering & Electronics: Circuit board assembly and repair
• Flight Controller Configuration: Betaflight tuning and setup
• PID Tuning: Optimizing flight characteristics for performance
• Video System Setup: FPV camera and transmitter configuration
• Battery Management: LiPo charging, storage, and safety
• Aerodynamics: Frame design and propeller selection
• Troubleshooting: Diagnosing and fixing technical issues

Software & Tools

• Betaflight: Flight controller firmware and configuration
• Betaflight Configurator: GUI for flight controller setup
• Blackbox Explorer: Flight log analysis
• FPV Simulator: Training software (Liftoff, DRL Simulator, etc.)
• CAD Software: Custom part design for 3D printing
• Video Editing: Competition footage and promotional content

Community & Outreach

Partner Organizations

IEEE UN (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)

• Student chapter at Universidad Nacional de Colombia
• Technical workshops and seminars
• Networking with industry professionals

CEIMTUN-RAS (Centro de Estudiantes de Ingeniería Mecatrónica - Robotics and Automation Society)

• Mechatronics student center
• Robotics competitions and events
• Collaborative projects

AESS UN (Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society)

• Aerospace and electronics focus
• Advanced systems research
• Industry connections

Media & Coverage

Social Media

📷 Instagram: @xwingsfpv
Follow us for:

• Competition updates
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Pilot highlights
• Technical tips
• Event announcements

Contact Us

📧 Email: xwingsfpv@gmail.com
📷 Instagram: @xwingsfpv
🌐 Website: xwings-fpv.github.io/webpage

Resources & Links

Official Links

🌐 Team Website: https://xwings-fpv.github.io/webpage/
📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xwingsfpv/
📧 Email: xwingsfpv@gmail.com

FPV Racing Resources

• MultiGP: International drone racing league
• Liga Colombiana de Drone Racing: National racing community
• Betaflight: Open-source flight controller firmware

Keywords

FPV Racing Drone Racing Quadcopter First Person View Universidad Nacional de Colombia UNAL IEEE RAS AESS CEIMTUN Competition Robotics Autonomous Systems Betaflight Racing Drones Pilot Training Mechatronics Aerospace Colombia Bogotá