Not your typical robotics competition!

The Bell Advanced Vertical Robotics (AVR) Competition is returning for a sixth season to inspire future entrepreneurs in the fields of engineering and manufacturing. Students use hands-on, industry-standard tools to design, build, and compete against teams from around the US with the most advanced aerial robotics technology available today. Participation in the Bell AVR Competition prepares students to meet rapidly changing future workforce needs both on the ground and in the air!

2023 Season Updates

Registration – New Team Registration is $4,000 and includes one event registration and a full kit of parts needed to compete in the 2023 season. Returning Team Registration is $2,500 and includes one event registration.
Qualifying Competitions – Qualifying competitions will be held November in Arlington, TX and Grandville, MI. The Championship event will be held in the Arlington,Dallas/Ft Worth region the first weekend of December.
2023 Game – The 2023 AVR Competition: Recon, Rescue and Firefighting Challenge adds new challenges for the aerial and ground vehicles along with some of the Firefighting challenges which are still burning in Bell County!

Team FAQ

View the Team FAQ to find more information about the program, competition, and kits.

Team FAQ

2023 AVR Competition Kick-Off Video

The 2023 Bell AVR Game

Recon, Rescue & Firefighting Challenge

2023 AVR Competition

The Bell County Fire Department is ready to send their fearless AVR teams back into the fray to compete in the 2023 AVR Competition: Recon, Rescue, and Firefighting Challenge! The game field will include some firefighting similarities to last season, but also some new and exciting recon and rescue challenges that are sure to test even the most seasoned drone and ground-based robotic pilots.

Teams should become familiar with the 2023 Game Video and thoroughly read the 2023 Game Manual to fully understand each of the missions and the details of the scoring. Competitions start the first week in November, and we look forward to seeing your creative designs and strategic approaches to the 2023 challenges!

2023 Game Manual (PDF)

Gain STEM Workforce Skills

Over the course of a single season, students will have:

Built, programmed, and flown the most advanced drone available in competition robotics
Designed, 3D printed, and implemented their own robotic components
Soldered and wired on-board electronic components
Learned how industry aerospace experts code for aerial kinematics
Overcome the challenges of “in the field” systems integration
Utilized project management skills to balance development cycles of ground and aerial robots
Delivered technical presentations to compete for judged awards

2022 Season Recap

Championship Event

The Bell AVR 2022 Championship Event was held December 3, 2022 at the Bell Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas.

Event Photography Results Awards

A Word From our Students

Watch the videos below to hear about our teams’ experience.

Keller Fusion

Team 1006B

Robowranglers

Team 1480A

Patriot Drone

Team 1027A (JROTC)

Thank You to our Sponsors and Partners!

We proudly recognize the following organizations for their partnership and appreciate their continued support of our global mission to provide educators with hands-on, student-led competition programs and educational resources to prepare future innovators for a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.