Enthusiasts of unmanned aerial vehicles meet at Drone festival in Vilnius

May 24, 2018

On 26 May, all drone fans, enthusiasts, and professionals are invited to the first Drone festival in Lithuania. The event is held at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University’s Flight Training Unit (Kyviškės Airfield). The event is free of charge. 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) – drones – are rapidly growing in popularity. Interest in drones is on the rise in Lithuania as well. Their application areas and capabilities increase, and their use expands faster than ever. Drones are used for agriculture, geodesy, security, search and rescue missions, construction, 3D scanning and virtual reality, filming and photography just to mention a few. Nowadays, drones are tested for package delivery or even human transportation. As Dr. Justinas Nugaras, the Dean of Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) and one of the festival organisers says, the festival will explore similar projects and their prospects in Lithuania and the whole world. He highlighted that everyone is welcome at the festival. 

“Everyone will find activities that suit them: pupils who just start their journey in aviation; future students who want to become drone specialists; business representatives who are entering the new market of UAVs; researchers and scientists who want to test new possibilities of this rapidly developing technology. We did not want to limit ourselves in terms of participants. We invite everyone to the airfield to enjoy a racing drone speeding up to 140 km/h,” said J. Nugaras. 

One of the festival’s organizers Domantas Kancleris, expert in filming with drones, notes that the number of UAVs is increasing in Lithuania, but not many drone pilots understand that it is not just a flying camera and have the necessary knowledge and education. “UAV is an airspace participant and its pilot should take the responsibility seriously. One of the aims of the festival is to remind it to everyone – both to enthusiasts and professionals. Also we will present the latest drone developments and their possibilities, various uses of drones, and projects done by Lithuanian pilots,” – shared D. Kancleris. 

The organisers of the festival say that everyone will find activities for themselves: drone professionals can participate in speed and accuracy challenges, visit lectures and discussions, newcomers will have an opportunity to try drone flying, and experienced pilots will have an opportunity to gain UAV licence and pass the drone technical inspection. 

Another important aspect is that during the festival future students will have an opportunity learn about the new specialisation in VGTU AGAI Avionics bachelor programme – Engineering of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. This specialisation will provide knowledge in aeronautics, mechatronics, electronics, robotics, IT and will develop skills in drone aerodynamics. Programme graduates will have the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare a drone for a specific task, will be able to create new drones, carry out drone maintenance, and adapt them for business use, like parcel delivery, inspection of buildings and infrastructure, diagnosis of defects etc. Programme graduates will also be ready to look for and experiment with new areas of application of this technology that will be very important in the near future. Lithuania is an attractive country for self-driving cars. We think that UAVs is the next step for progress,” stressed J. Nugaras, the Dean of AGAI.  

The event venue is also worth the attention. Kyviškės Airfield is a unique location. It was opened more than 70 years ago. Event participants will be able to see exposition of aircrafts in the airfield. 

The event is on 26 May, open between 10:00 and 15:00, at VGTU Flight Training Unit (Kyviškės Airfield), Lakūnų str. 1, Kyviškių village, Šatrininkai Vilnius district municipality.  
 

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Student Memo: Where to park your car or bicycle, eat, and find your classrooms
Student Memo: Where to park your car or bicycle, eat, and find your classrooms
When starting your studies, it is not always clear during the first week where you can park your car or bicycle, which building your seminar will be in, or where you can eat or heat up your own food during breaks. To make settling into the academic year easier, we have prepared this memo. Student Car Parking: Students attending lectures at Saulėtekio al. 11 can park their cars in the lot located on Šatrijos Raganos Street. There is no barrier in this lot. How to find the lot: Driving from Saulėtekio al. – going up the hill past the roundabout and the university buildings. Or entering from Pragiedrulių, Mileišiškių sodų, or other streets onto Šatrijos Raganos Street – going down the hill before the roundabout and the university buildings. Students attending lectures on Plytinės Street can park in the lots located there. Students can enter the gated lot by tapping their activated student ID card at the terminal. Entrance to the lots is from Plytinės Street. Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) students, lecturers, and students or staff arriving at "Linkmenų fabrikas" can park in all lots. The barrier opens by tapping an activated student or staff ID card at the terminal. There are no dedicated parking lots for students attending lectures at the Old Town Campus (Trakų rūmai). Canteens and Cafes: Saulėtekis Campus: "Maisto imperija" (Building S2, 1st floor) – weighed food (you can build your own plate) – 1.70 € per 100 g, lunch of the day – 7.50 €, snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 08:00–16:00; Friday: 08:00–15:00. "ARC BISTRO" (Building S3, 1st floor) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 11:00–15:00. Plytinė Campus (P2, 1st floor): "Confetti" – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. You can also heat up your own food here. Working hours: Monday–Thursday: 09:00–16:00; Friday: 09:00–15:00. Old Town Campus (Senamiesčio rūmai): "Confetti" (Islandijos str. 3) – a menu consisting of a multi-course selection and daily lunch at a fixed price (up to 10 €), as well as snacks, coffee, and other drinks. Working hours: Monday–Friday: 07:45–15:00. Places where you can heat your own food in microwaves: When using microwaves, please maintain cleanliness, follow safety rules, and respect others: do not put in or heat items with shiny surfaces (e.g., cutlery, aluminum foil, etc.), do not slam the doors or other surfaces, wipe or clean the inside of the microwave or other surfaces (including the kitchenette) if needed, do not cut in line, and do not stop someone else's food from heating without permission, etc. Saulėtekis Campus: In the "Maisto imperija" canteen (Building S2, 1st floor), as well as in the Sustainability Centre (Building S5), and the 5th and 6th-floor kitchenettes in Building S6. Plytinė Campus: In the "Confetti" cafe (Building P2, 1st floor). Old Town Campus: In the Faculty of Architecture's 2nd and 3rd-floor kitchenettes (at the end of the corridor). AGAI: In the 2nd-floor kitchenette of the old building (near the Dean's office). It is planned that microwaves will also be available in the new building in the future. Linkmenų Campus: In the 2nd-floor kitchenette at "Linkmenų fabrikas". Library: Room 119, 1st floor. You can also make tea/coffee here. Places to leave your bicycle: Saulėtekis Campus: At special bike racks near the entrance to Building S2, and in the Central Building parking lot. Plytinė Campus: In the two designated bicycle shelters in the courtyard between buildings P1 and P2. Old Town Campus: At special bike racks near the entrances to each building. AGAI and Linkmenų Campus: At special bike racks near both departments. Library: At special bike racks near the entrance. Department/Building Abbreviations: Saulėtekis Campus (Saulėtekio al. 11, Vilnius): S1 Central Building (Administration, International Studies Centre, International Relations Office, etc.) S2 Classroom Building S3 Educational Building (Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Business Management) S4 Classroom Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S5 Educational Building (Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Sustainability Centre, Food Laboratory) S6 Laboratory Building (Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Information Technology and Systems Centre, Academic Support Centre, etc.) S7 Laboratory Building Plytinė Campus (Plytinės str. 25, Vilnius): P1 or P Laboratory Building P2 Educational Building (Faculty of Electronics, Faculty of Mechanics, Faculty of Transport Engineering) P3 Educational Building Linkmenų Campus (Linkmenų str. 28, Vilnius): L1 Building (Institute of Building Materials) L2 Building (Road Research Institute) L3 Building L4 Building L5 Educational Building (Linkmenų fabrikas) L6 Educational Building (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute) Old Town Campus (Trakų str. 1, Vilnius): T1 or T Educational Building (Faculty of Architecture) T2 Educational Building (Faculty of Creative Industries) T3 Educational Building T4 Educational Building T5 Educational Building Old abbreviations that might still appear in some contacts: SNR – Senamiesčio rūmai (Old Town Campus) SRK-I – Saulėtekio rūmų pirmas korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus First Building) SRK-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Building) SRL – Saulėtekio rūmų laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Laboratory Building) SRL-II – Saulėtekio rūmų antras laboratorinis korpusas (Saulėtekis Campus Second Laboratory Building) MAC – Saulėtekio centriniai rūmai (Saulėtekis Central Building) AGAI TLK – Antano Gustaičio Aviacijos instituto Treniruoklių ir laboratorijų korpusas (Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute Simulator and Laboratory Building). Other Addresses: Kyviškės Airfield: Lakūnų str. 7D, Kyviškės Sports and Art Centre: Saulėtekio al. 28, Vilnius Library: Saulėtekio al. 14, Vilnius Lithuanian Maritime Academy: I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda. Thematic Reading Rooms in Faculties: Architecture and Creative Sciences Reading Room (Trakų str. 1, T1, 1.15, Vilnius) Technology and Management Sciences Reading Room (Saulėtekio al. 11, S1, C03, Vilnius) Mechanics, Electronics, and Transport Sciences Reading Room (Plytinės str. 25, P2, 179, Vilnius) Maritime Sciences Reading Room (I. Kanto str. 7, Klaipėda)
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