On December 19, 2018, the final of Microsoft Imagine Cup China 2018 came to a successful conclusion at Microsoft Asia-Pacific Research Headquarters at Zhongguancun, Beijing. The entry submitted by “CQU Flying” delegation, “Xiaotianquan-multi-function rotorcraft robot based on smart agriculture”, won the second place in the final. The delegation is made up of Liu Chaoran and Li Weiyi from the School of Electrical Engineering and Ren Guanting from the School of Computer Science, and the project has been finished under supervision of Xu Qiwei from the School of Electrical Engineering. This is the first time that a delegation from Chongqing has won a second place in the Microsoft Imagine Cup since reform of the competition system.

The Xiaotianquan-multi-function rotorcraft robot based on smart agriculture has been designed to overcome two challenges in agriculture, namely, the bird strike and pets and disease damage. Integrating technologies such as Azure, artificial intelligence, image recognition and big data analysis, the robot is capable of efficient and ecologically friendly bird repelling and pest control and killing.

Mr. Lana Oliveiro, chief strategy officer of Microsoft Imagine Alliance Club, and Dr. Cheng Biao, director of Microsoft ARD in charge of innovation incubation, highly commended the Project and offered their constructive advices. Mr. Alain Crozier, chairman and CEO of Microsoft Greater China, and senior vice president of Microsoft, acclaimed that the “The drone is super cool!”

It is reported that Microsoft “Imagine Cup” is the scientific and technological competition for students with the largest scale and greatest influence across the globe, and it has been recognized by UNESCO. Since its first session in 2003, more than 1.6 million students from more than 190 countries and regions have participated in the “Imagine Cup” Competition and related events. The Microsoft Imagine Cup China 2019 has attracted more than 4,000 candidates from various colleges and universities of China. They have submitted more than 800 innovation projects. After intense competition in different competition zones, only 12 extraordinary teams made it to the final that was held in Beijing. Specifically, Microsoft “Imagine Cup” is a global scientific and technological competition for students that has been held for 17 consecutive years. In the “Imagine Cup” 2019, the restrictions on competition categories have been taken off, and the restrictions on number of award winning teams have been reinforced. Eventually, one first place, two second place winners and three third place winners have been elected.