ADDI

Aachen Drone Development Initiative

Discover.
Develop.
Fly.

Student ideas. Real aircraft.

We are a student initiative at RWTH Aachen University, bringing together people from different disciplines to design, build and fly drones and aircraft for international competitions.

How to join Explore our projects
ADDI's custom-built quadcopters lined up on a workshop table
Built by students From the first idea to the flight test.
1st placeAir Cargo Challenge 2022The winning aircraft 3rd placeIMAV indoor competition 2019Autonomy in action Hosts in AachenAir Cargo Challenge 2024Bringing teams together

Your place on the team

How to join

You bring the curiosity. We build the rest together. Whether you are interested in software, electronics, aircraft design or keeping a team running, there is room to contribute and learn.

  • No previous experience needed
  • No membership fee
  • Typically 4–6 hours per week
Apply to join ADDI

Questions? info@addi.rwth-aachen.de

  1. Find what interests you

    Explore our projects and open positions. You can also apply with your own area of interest.

  2. Send your application

    Email us with the subject Application and tell us what you would like to work on. Still exploring? Tell us what you would like to learn.

  3. Get to know the team

    We will get back to you about joining. Meet the people behind the projects, ask questions and find where you can get involved.

Engineering takes flight

Explore what we build

All projects & past competitions

Autonomous systems

Drones that find their own way.

Combining flight control, computer vision and simulation to navigate and complete missions autonomously.

Robotics · Software · Electronics Explore the IMAV project

Solar endurance

Built to stay in the sky.

Developing a solar-powered glider from scratch, from lightweight structures to our own power-management electronics.

Aircraft design · Solar power · PCBs Explore the Endurance project

Tiny Drones

Small drones. Big possibilities.

Understanding flight controllers from the ground up, experimenting with sensors, embedded software and custom hardware.

Microcontrollers · Control · Hardware Explore Tiny Drones
ADDI team members working together on a drone and its software

More than a project

Different skills.
A shared ambition.

We turn what we learn into something that flies. Along the way, we design, manufacture, write code, test ideas and learn from each other.

Meet the team

Supported by our partners

Helping our ideas take flight.

Thank you to the partners who support our work with tools, components and expertise.

  • Autodesk
  • 3Dconnexion
  • AMAX
  • APC Propellers
  • Advanced Power Drives
  • Collective Incubator
  • Holybro
  • Kontronik
  • Institute for Plastics Processing
  • AMAC
  • AISLER
TechAachen

Part of TechAachen, the umbrella organization connecting student initiatives at RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen. Together, we share knowledge, networks and ideas.

Come say hello

Find us in Aachen.

Arrange a visit

Our workshop
Hirschgraben 24
52062 Aachen

Before you visit
Please email us in advance so someone can welcome you. Meeting times can change during exams; online participation may be arranged on request.

Stay connected
info@addi.rwth-aachen.de
Instagram @aachendrone

View the meeting calendar