Partners and Sponsors

Why Partner with Team Minion?

Sponsoring Team Minion is an investment in the next generation of engineers working at the frontier of autonomous systems. Our students gain direct experience with your hardware and software in demanding operational environments, creating a pipeline of graduates who are already familiar with your products and engineering processes when they enter the workforce.

Partner organizations receive visibility at international competitions, on our website, and through ERAU's broader communications channels. More importantly, they get early access to talented engineers who have demonstrated the ability to ship complex integrated systems under deadline pressure, a qualification that no classroom course can replicate.

Our partnerships span the full spectrum of the autonomous systems supply chain: from sensor manufacturers who provide LiDAR and camera hardware, to embedded computing companies who supply processing platforms, to propulsion specialists whose motors and controllers power the Minion vessel. Each partner's contribution is integrated into a real system that operates in real maritime conditions, providing authentic field validation data.

The Minion platform's modular design makes it straightforward to integrate new partner hardware. The picatinny rail system and standardized connectors on the MAST tray mean that new sensors or computing modules can be installed and tested within days. Our team structure assigns dedicated integration engineers to each partner relationship, ensuring clear communication and timely feedback.

Partnership Tiers

We offer several levels of partnership to match your organization's interests and budget. All partners receive recognition on our website, competition materials, and team apparel.