Drone racing is 3D slalom
Normally, motor sports and other types of racing include curves on a flat surface. In a drone race, drones compete in all three dimensions in a battle to be the fastest.
The course is as varied and entertaining as possible. At the Sun Life stadium in Miami, Florida, the drones flew above the spectators’ seats, into the tunnels under the grandstands, and through several storeys of an empty car park. En route, the drones must pass through gates just like in slalom.
The pilots fly through the same track in three heats, and the winner is the one who get the most points. In each heat, 50 points are awarded for passing two checkpoints on the course and completing the heat by passing the last gate. Not everybody gets that far many crash (but their drones survive). A pilot is awarded 10 points per second he finishes faster than the official time limit of two minutes.