Are you ready for Microsoft’s ultimate developer event? You probably already know Microsoft Build, happening May 7–9 in Seattle, Washington, is where you need to be to connect with the experts, discover new tools, and boost your skills around cloud technologies, AI, mixed reality, and more.
Sure, there will be great speakers and tech sessions galore—but did you know you could win a drone?
That’s right, we’re having a drone contest. Participants will compete against fellow conference go-ers whose drone can complete the outdoor search and rescue course designed specifically for Microsoft Build. You’ll get hands-on, end-to-end experience with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud platform, Azure IoT Edge, and be eligible to win a DJI Mavic Air drone.
How cool is that?
Here’s how it works
Contestants will create training images using AirSim, an open-source aerial informatics and robotics simulation platform. Then contestants will build and train a realistic AI drone model in the cloud using Custom Vision, and then create a container for AI deployment to Microsoft Azure IoT Edge. This intelligent cloud platform lets you run artificial intelligence at the edge of the cloud, perform analytics, deploy IoT solutions from cloud to edge-enabled devices, and manage them centrally from the cloud.
You can download the Azure IoT Edge developer toolkit from AI School during the conference, and enter your model in the contest at the Drone booth before 11 AM Pacific Time on Wednesday, May 9, 2018. At noon, we’ll randomly draw 10 lucky contestants to test their models on live drones that evening. And we’ll livestream the competition during the Microsoft Build closing celebration so everyone can get a glimpse of the action.
The winner will receive a DJI Mavic Air drone; second-place and third-place winners will take home DJI Spark drones. All finalists will receive a goodie bag full of exclusive swag. For more information and complete contest rules, please visit the Microsoft Build website.
Beyond the contest
Whether you enter the contest or fill your Microsoft Build experience with other activities, be sure to check out the drone booth in the AI area of the Expo. We’ll also have a drone museum, live mini drones flying in their own special cage, competition videos, and more.
With more than 350 incredible technical sessions and interactive workshops to choose from and dozens of inspiring speakers you’ll come away from Microsoft Build with a deeper understanding of where tech is headed and how you can be a part of the transformation.
All that and drones, too? Sounds like developer heaven. But only if you register for Microsoft Build today!