GRAND FORKS - An unmanned airplane competition at the University of North Dakota is expected to draw about 100 students from around the world.
Fifteen teams are vying to see who has the best spy plane. Each drone is required to fly undetected into a simulated enemy compound to retrieve a small flash drive within five minutes.
The challenge is difficult. Two similar events in past years ended with no winners.
Doug McDonald, spokesman for an unmanned vehicle systems group that is helping to sponsor the event, said the participants are the "best and the brightest in the industry."
The competition is scheduled Tuesday through Friday at the Betty Engelstad Center in Grand Forks. The flying portion of the event starts at 9 a.m. Thursday.
