IEEE SIGHT currently has 57 groups and 5 applications pending approval. These groups are found in 19 countries around the world and include one IEEE Society, so far.

Areas especially targeted for growth in 2015 include Region 8, where we currently have only one group (Kenya), Region 10 outside of India, and IEEE Societies.

In 2014, 800+ people participated in SIGHT-sponsored Community Engagement Workshops, and over one dozen volunteers received financial support from SIGHT to present their work at conferences.

Currently, SIGHT group focus areas are highly varied, as the graph below illustrates. However, education forms the largest portion with 31% of groups naming it as a top focus area.
 

Last month, we asked you what your top SIGHT-related goal for 2015 was. Here's what you said!

Increase the size and/or scale of an existing SIGHT project was the clear winner (36%), with create a SIGHT group and receive funding for a SIGHT project tied for second place (23% each). We will be giving you opportunities to do so soon!

Raj Madhavan, a member of the IEEE SIGHT Steering Committee and Chair of IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) SIGHT, had the honor of serving as one of the judges for the Drones for Good Award that was hosted by the United Arab Emirates government in Dubai. The award is dedicated to transforming Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs or popularly referred to as Drones) technologies into practical solutions for improving people's lives today. The award was administered under three categories: government, national, and international. There were over 800 submissions received from 57 countries. 

View from the judges' pit.

One of the five finalists in the national category.

UAE Drones for Good Event 2015

The first prize was AED 1 million for the national winner and USD 1 million for the international winner. The international award and the US$1 million first prize went to Flyability, SA, a spin off from EPFL in Switzerland for their "small, lightweight drone which has the unique capability of being able to collide on obstacles without losing its stability and of being safe to fly in contact with humans." It was an exciting two days to see the contestants demonstrate their creative designs in using drones for the betterment of humanity!