NOVOSIBIRSK STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY
This year, the forum’s central theme revolves around the concept of a “seamless sky” – a unified digital environment designed for drones. Within this framework, drones will be able to navigate safely and efficiently across urban areas and between regions, undertaking a diverse array of tasks across various industries. Importantly, this innovative approach aims to ensure that all drone operations occur within a consistent legal and technological framework, fostering both safety and efficiency in airspace management.
Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University has distinguished itself as the only pedagogical university in Russia to serve as a co-organizer of Archipelago-2025. For NSPU, this participation goes beyond mere involvement in a large-scale initiative; it represents a significant opportunity to demonstrate that a pedagogical university can be a proactive contributor to the technological landscape. This engagement allows NSPU to showcase its commitment to training skilled personnel for innovative industries and integrating engineering competencies into the educational framework.
The NSPU team is proudly represented at the forum by leading experts from the Technopark of Universal Pedagogical Competencies named after Yu. V. Kondratyuk. At the forefront is Alexander Vladimirovich Malkov, Director of the Technopark, who serves as an expert in the engineering competition “Autonomous Drone Races” and is Chief expert for the track “UAS Technologies: Export Challenge”. Additionally, Evgeny Aleksandrovich Epov, Head of the “Creation of Robotic Systems” laboratory, contributes his expertise to the competitions “Autonomous Drones: Mission” and “UAS Technologies: Export Challenge”. These tracks attract teams of schoolchildren, students, and young engineers from across the nation, who collaborate on challenges such as autonomous flight along unknown routes, swarm interaction among drones and robots, and the development of products for certification and market launch.
“NSPU’s participation in the “Archipelago” is not just a matter of prestige; it represents significant practical work”, - emphasizes Alexander Vladimirovich Malkov. “We are actively constructing tangible educational bridges between pedagogy and high technology. Here, we are witnessing how engineering challenges can be tailored for school projects and how future educators can serve as catalysts for technological creativity among their students. This experience will enable us to broaden the horizons of teacher education and cultivate mentors who will inspire the next generation of engineers”.
The work being conducted as part of “Archipelago-2025” extends far beyond engineering challenges. The “seamless sky” concept, which commenced development last year in Sakhalin, encompasses a comprehensive array of areas including legal regulation, communications, navigation, artificial intelligence, and workforce training. In this integrated system, drones will operate seamlessly without communication interruptions, utilizing satellite, cellular, and radio relay communications to interact effectively. They will be incorporated into unified air traffic control situational centers, ensuring safe and efficient management of airspace. The final version of this innovative concept is slated for submission to the government this autumn, with the aim of enhancing the Strategy for the Development of Unmanned Aviation through 2030 and contributing to the national project “Unmanned Aviation Systems”.
For NSPU, involvement in the “Archipelago” project signifies more than just participation; it represents a commitment to practical engagement with innovative educational formats. The Pedagogical University is actively integrating elements of engineering and project-based learning into its curricula, equipping future educators with the competencies necessary to ignite students’ interest in technology, robotics, and unmanned systems within the classroom. University experts assert that the engineering competitions featured at the Archipelago serve as genuine prototypes for educational tasks, which can be seamlessly adapted for lessons in Technology, Computer science, and Physics.
Additionally, the forum is focused on developing a risk-based approach to flight regulation – a system that evaluates safety based on specific mission conditions. This approach aims to minimize risks through the implementation of advanced technology, robust infrastructure, and well-defined operational rules. This area of work is closely linked to the training of specialists who are not only adept at managing drones but also skilled in creating comprehensive solutions for their seamless integration into the economy and everyday life.
NSPU’s involvement in “Archipelago 2025” exemplifies how a pedagogical university can integrate itself into a high-tech ecosystem, actively shaping the development of critical sectors. By preparing future mentors and crafting methodological solutions for the integration of modern technologies into education, NSPU is positioning itself at the forefront of educational innovation. The insights and experience gained from this initiative will serve as a foundation for developing new advanced training courses for teachers, conducting engaging master classes for schoolchildren, and fostering collaborative projects with industrial partners.
