The program aims to raise public awareness about drones, their uses, and their numerous benefits. It seeks to empower Omani youth to actively contribute to developing technological solutions, building a competitive economic market, and creating job opportunities in the field. The training courses are designed to provide foundational knowledge for enthusiasts and to refine participants’ skills in drone construction, calibration, and operation. Additionally, the program focuses on building capabilities in drone programming and integrating artificial intelligence systems to enable autonomous flight and expand their applications. It also aims to prepare participants for regional and international competitions.

The training program targeted 120 trainees, selected from over 200 applicants comprising students and job seekers. The first group of trainees began the program in July, undergoing an intensive schedule of over 15 training hours per participant throughout the week. The training combined theoretical and practical workshops.

The program included a series of workshops covering various topics such as: types of drones and their applications; drone regulations and permit procedures; fundamentals of drone mechanics and design; and selecting appropriate components based on drone type and purpose. The workshops also addressed essential safety practices for working with drones.

Following this, students participated in a drone assembly workshop, where each trainee built a fully functional drone using various components. They then calibrated the drones, configured the control systems, ensured proper connectivity, and learned safe methods for battery charging, discharging, and storage. Participants then tested their assembled drones to confirm the accuracy and safety of the construction and setup process.

The next phase involved developing drone piloting skills through multiple training levels, starting with virtual flight simulations, progressing to indoor piloting, and finally outdoor flight exercises. Training included both manual remote control and automated piloting systems.

The second phase of the training program will begin in October, during which the top 40 participants from the first phase will be selected to take part in the Artificial Intelligence Workshop. In this advanced stage, trainees will receive intensive theoretical and practical instruction on integrating AI technologies and machine vision systems with drones. This phase will also include 15 training hours distributed over one week.

The competition will conclude with a training camp for the finalists, culminating in the final round of the competition, scheduled to take place in February at Sultan Qaboos University