Autonomous flight. Redefined.
September 20–24, 2027 • Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC-USP)
Watch the film
Recap of previous editions & preview of USP São Carlos arenas
The Two Pillars
Science meets real-world execution.
Every year, IMAV unites rigorous academic peer review with challenging field flight missions. One week in Brazil to redefine the boundaries of autonomous micro flight.
Peer-reviewed breakthroughs.
Oral and poster presentations on state estimation, bio-inspired aerodynamics, swarm robotics, edge vision, and disturbance rejection.
Indoor Autonomous Challenge
GPS-denied navigation inside a simulated industrial collapsed structure at the USP Sports Arena. Drones must traverse narrow windows, evade dynamic obstacles, and locate survivor markers without human piloting.
Timeline
Key Deadlines
February 15, 2027
Call for Papers & Rulebook v1.0 Launch
Official release of competition guidelines and open call for research paper submissions.
May 15, 2027
Full Paper Submission Deadline
Submission deadline for 6-8 page scientific research contributions.
June 1, 2027
Competition Team Intent Registration
Team entry registration and Preliminary Technical Report submission.
July 10, 2027
Paper Acceptance Notification
Review outcomes and revision instructions sent to authors.
August 10, 2027
Camera-Ready Paper Due & Early Bird Registration
Final version of accepted papers and discounted registration cutoff.
September 20 – 24, 2027
IMAV 2027 Event Week
Conference sessions, Keynotes, Indoor Arena Battles, and Outdoor Missions at USP São Carlos.
Keynotes
Voices from the forefront.
Prof. Dr. Marco Pavone
Stanford University / NVIDIA Autonomous Systems
“Autonomous Aerial Navigation Under Deep Uncertainty: From Mars to Earth”
This talk explores algorithmic breakthroughs in stochastic control, neural scene representations, and real-time motion planning for agile micro aerial vehicles traversing unknown and high-risk environments.
Prof. Dr. Guido de Croon
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
“Bio-Inspired Autonomy: Tiny Drones Navigating Like Insects”
How can palm-sized drones achieve robust autonomy with micro-watt neuromorphic processors? Lessons from insect optical flow, flapping kinematics, and extreme lightweight sensor fusion.
Dr. Caio Fonseca & EESC-USP Team
Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC-USP)
“Aeronautics Innovation in Brazil: Developing Resilient UAV Solutions for Tropical Biomes”
An exploration of regional aerodynamic challenges, biodiversity conservation drone deployments, and Brazilian aerospace technology development.
São Carlos.
The technology capital of Brazil.
Hosted by the Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC-USP), Latin America’s epicenter of aeronautical engineering and mobile robotics. Connected via high-standard executive transit to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and Campinas (VCP).
Organized & Supported By
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about participation or sponsorship?
Get in touch directly with the secretariat at EESC-USP.
imav2027@eesc.usp.br