Student aviation design competition winners named
NASA and the FAA honored students from seven universities today
as winners of the 2002 University Student Competition, an annual
competition created to foster student interest in revolutionizing
general aviation. Winning projects were recognized at an awards
ceremony at the annual Experimental Aircraft Associations’
AirVenture fly-in at Oshkosh, WI.
Senior representatives from the NASA Langley Aerospace Vehicle
Systems Technology Office and the FAA presented the awards on
behalf of NASA’s General Aviation Programs Office, Langley
Research Center and the FAA.
The nationwide competition is part of a government effort to
stimulate technology breakthroughs and their application to general
aviation. General aviation aircraft are generally defined as single
or twin-engine, single-pilot, fixed-wing aircraft. This year,
students were challenged to pursue innovative systems and
technology concepts in support of NASA’s Small Aircraft
Transportation Systems (SATS) research program.
In the Systems Innovation category:
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Kansas State’s Department of Psychology, Manhattan, KS,
took first place for their advanced cockpit system. The team’s
design assists non-instrument rated pilots to land in poor weather
conditions by simplifying complex flight tasks.
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Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, tied for second place with George
Mason University, Fairfax, VA. The Tech team produced software that
simulates a variety of travel situations, allowing travelers to
choose options that best suit their needs. GMU’s team analyzed
the potential for fractional ownership of small jets, and proved
that the concept is a practical alternative to current air
travel.
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An honorable mention went to a second team from George Mason for
their independent and ground-based air traffic management
system.
In the Technology Innovation category:
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University of Virginia’s Engineering Department,
Charlottesville, VA, took first place for "Alaris," an aircraft
concept that produced outstanding performance by combining a
lightweight wing and body with a powerful turbofan engine.
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A team from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, and Loughborough
University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, took second place.
Their joint effort resulted in "Ikelos," a uniquely designed
aircraft that allows very short takeoffs and landings.
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Third place went to Douglas Burch, an electrical engineering
student from Ohio University, Athens, OH, for his enhanced heads-up
display for future aircraft.
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Honorable mention went to the University of Oklahoma and two
teams from Ohio University for their innovative vehicle
concepts.
All winners received a cash award, a commemorative trophy for
their institutions and certificates of appreciation. Two students
from the winning Kansas State team were awarded internships, which
they are serving at NASA Langley this summer, in conjunction with
the center’s Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS)
program.
The 2003 competition will be broadened to include a separate
high school division and include categories beyond general
aviation. The all-new Revolutionary Vehicle Concepts and Systems
Competition will be sponsored by the NASA Office of Aerospace
Technology, and NASA Langley and Glenn Research Centers. NASA
Langley’s Vehicle Systems Technology Office will lead the
effort. Details will be available Aug. 15 at
http://avst.larc.nasa.gov.
For images of this year’s Technology Innovation winning
designs, visit http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/news_rels/2002/images/designcomp.html.
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