Introduction
Enter the Danger Zone
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the HMAS Gatton, and welcome to the Autonomous Naval Aviation Academy — or as we call it, TOPDRONE. Over the next 13 weeks you will be participating in an intensive engineering program to develop the next generation of carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft systems.
While aboard the HMAS Gatton, you will be engaged in designing and constructing aircraft and support systems for all aspects of ship-bourne operations. You will develop systems for catapult launch, arrested recovery, flight control and mission telemetry. You will perform trial launches to prove the effectiveness of your deck equipment, and instrumented flight tests to validate your deck landings are within allowable g-limits. The academy program will conclude with your aircraft conducting a ship-launched strike mission against a dummy target at sea.
TOPDRONE only admits the best and our goal is to push you and your machine to the limit. Only the best of the best will make it all the way. If you succeed you will be awarded the coveted TOPDRONE graduate aviator's wings. If you fail, you'll end up in the drink.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to TOPDRONE. Don't miss the boat.”
