News Archives

UNM’s ASME chapter wins first place at IAM3D drone competition

May 1, 2025 - Carly Bowling

photo: drone and trophy

The University of New Mexico School of Engineering’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter won first place in the 2025 IAM3D Challenge drone competition in St. Louis last weekend.

The IAM3D Challenge drone competition requires students to 3D print a drone, then fly it in first-person view mode through an obstacle course while carrying a 1-inch 3D-printed cube. The students competed against nine other teams, which included groups from Saudi Arabia and other states around the country.

“We were absolutely elated. We basically found out we were world champions,” Jonathan Martinez, ASME UNM president, said.

The group who attended includes Jonathan Martinez, Michael Kirby, Didier Calderon, Nick Pisciotta, Erik Leonard, Rafael Vasquez, Osnar Villanueva, and Rodney Urquidez. Nearly two dozen other students supported the drone design.

The UNM ASME chapter offers networking opportunities, conference travel, competition attendance, and more. Last fall the group attended the 2024 International Mechanical Engineering Congress & Exposition.

The drone and competition trophy will be placed in the glass case on the main floor of the Mechanical Engineering building.