Scottish student wins UK Young Engineer award for low-cost autonomous medical drone

Kanav Jain, a teenage engineering student from Broxburn, Scotland, earned the UK Young Engineer of the Year title for his low-cost autonomous VTOL quadplane, AeroAid, which can transport medicines to isolated locations. The aircraft uses four vertical rotors for hover and a separate forward-flight motor, enabling take-off without a runway, efficient cruise using fixed wings, and a controlled vertical descent to a pinpoint landing.

Developed with support from Thales, First Step Robotics and a community group, the prototype targets regions where road access is unreliable, aiming to deliver critical supplies quickly and safely. Jain, currently in S4, has previously led drone workshops, including a free session in Glasgow organized by the British Youth International College. He earned the academic category at the BYITC Inspire Awards 2025 and holds a drone licence obtained at age 13.

Judges praised his tenacity and the project's potential humanitarian impact. The competition, run by EngineeringUK, awards £1,000 to each of the top three winners and is backed by major industry partners such as Rolls-Royce, easyJet and EDF Energy.