ASHINA Teknofest Team composed of Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) students brought great pride to the university following receiving invitation for the Teknofest Air Defence Systems Competition to be held in Istanbul on 17 – 21 September 2025. Last year, receiving the first place award in the Teknofest Flying Car Simulation Competition, team ASHINA aims to represent EMU and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Air Defence Systems Competition, one of the most extensive categories of Teknofest, to be organized in 52 main categories within the fellowship of ASELSAN.
“Advanced to Top 65 Teams”
The team progressed through the competition by successfully completing the Preliminary Design Report (PDR) stage, placing among the top 250 teams. They then moved forward through the Critical Design Report (CDR) stage, reaching the top 65. After completing the System Capability Video stage, the team earned a spot as a finalist and was invited to the major event in Istanbul.
About the Project
The ASHINA team developed an autonomous air defence system equipped with target detection capabilities. The system plays a key role in national security and could potentially be used against aerial targets like drones in the future.
The team explained, “We decided to enter the competition in September 2024. From then until February, we carried out planning and analysis. We completed the Preliminary Design Report (PDR) in March and the Critical Design Report (CDR) in May. In August, we uploaded our System Capability Video to YouTube. We will participate in the finals in Istanbul from 17–21 September 2025. From March to the end of June, we conducted our work and tests at the CMPE227 laboratories of the EMU Computer Engineering Department.”
“Wishing Outstanding Success”
Making remarks on the topic, EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç said; “We are thrilled that the ASHINA team, made up of our students, has been invited to the internationally prestigious Teknofest 2025. Their achievement is a testament to EMU’s dedication to science, technology, and innovation. We wish the team every success at the finals in Istanbul and sincerely congratulate all the students and faculty advisors who contributed to this accomplishment”.
Team Members
Team captain Furkan Batı Bilgiler, a third-year student from EMU Information Systems Engineering, oversees the project’s electronic and mechanical systems. Cemre Yeşil, a fourth-year Computer Engineering student, manages team communications and works on software systems and algorithm design. Alper Önder, a second-year Software Engineering student, is responsible for developing the artificial intelligence components, while Doğan Efe Çiğdem, a fourth-year Computer Engineering student, plays a key role in advancing the electronic systems.
