Innovation Challenge:
United Technologies Aerospace Challenge
This Challenge is
CLOSED
Pratt & Whitney Engineer working on the line on a V2500 Engine
Key Dates
Bootcamp Began
October 11, 2018
Challenge Started
October 20, 2018
Solutions Due By
December 19, 2018
Winners Announced
April 2019
Designing the Aircraft of the Future
From October 20th to December 19th, 2018, 700 young innovators from all over the world came together to imagine the “Intelligent Airliner” of the future. United Technologies and The New York Academy of Sciences convened a diverse panel of creative problem-solvers to help identify a specific focus area where we could generate high-impact ideas. We invited young solvers from around the world to participate in the challenge for a chance to win a $7,500 USD grand prize. The winning solution was a comprehensive redesign of the Boeing 787 to improve efficiency and eco-friendliness. It was created by Rachel Cox, Mohamed Dein, Harshita Singh Chauhan, and Guilherme Zandamela. You can learn more about the winning solutions and the solvers who designed them.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2016 there were 3.8 billion air travelers, a number it predicts will increase to 7.2 billion by 2035. To meet this growing demand for air travel Airline Monitor predicts that by 2030 there will be 47,000 commercial aircraft in service – up from 27,000 now. As these rates increase, the airline industry faces a growing need to innovate.
The goal of this challenge was to dream up big ideas on a futuristic aircraft that utilizes modern data and digital technology to improve performance, increase efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve the passenger experience. Progress in these areas will improve convenience for passengers, lower costs for airlines and increase safety for everyone.
The Challenge
United Technologies and The New York Academy of Sciences invited young solvers from around the world to participate in an innovation challenge focused on imagining the “Intelligent Airliner” of the future. Read the full challenge statement including the question and background here.
How It Works
After signing up to participate, solvers self-selected into teams and worked together on Launchpad, a virtual interactive platform which safely facilitates global collaboration and problem solving. Using Launchpad, solvers from around the world participated, in teams or individually, to design a solution by answering the question proposed.
Key Dates
Challenge Began: October 20, 2018
Solutions Due: December 19, 2018
Winners Announced: April 2019
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Judges
Sponsor
UTC serves customers in the commercial aerospace, defense and building industries and ranks among the world’s most respected and innovative companies. We are a company founded by people who invented technologies, turned them into businesses, and through innovation, built entire industries. For more about us, visit utc.com
Engineer working on a PT6A Engine at Pratt & Whitney
Key Dates
Bootcamp Began
October 11, 2018
Challenge Started
October 20, 2018
Solutions Due By
December 19, 2018
Winners Announced
April 2019
And the Grand Prize Goes To...
The Future of Aviation
The Future of Aviation Team’s main focus was to find ways to use greener energy in planes, whilst also making them more efficient. They designed a new aircraft to increase plane capacity and make it more aerodynamic so that we spare as much energy as possible. This includes looking into enhancing the customer experience by making air travel more comfortable and convenient
Team Members: Rachel Cox, 17, United Kingdom; Mohamed Dein, 18, Egypt; Harshita Singh Chauhan, 16, Singapore; Guilherme Zandamela, 16, Mozambique
For their winning solution, the team will share a $7,500 grand prize and each team member will receive an all-expense paid trip to New York City to attend the annual Global STEM Alliance Summit in July.
Our Finalists
Icarus
The team redesigned the modern aircraft, looking specifically at; takeoff and landing distances, logistics of boarding and storing of aircraft, energy efficiency in flights, combustion efficiency, drag and aerodynamics, safety and detection of crises, and in-flight services and entertainment.
Team Members: Margaret Gates, 15, United States; Rishabh Java, 16, United Arab Emirates; Sthuthi Satish, 15, India; Arunima Sen, 17, India; Robyn An, 15, South Korea; Abdallah Sabah, 17, Egypt
NYAS Aerospace Challenge
The goal of the project is to design a sleeker, faster and more cost efficient aircraft which can cater to the growing demand for air travel.
Team Members: Abdul Rehman Junaid, 15, Pakistan; Ibrahim Absar, 15, Pakistan; Haseeb Tahir, 15, Pakistan; Ammar Malik, 15, Pakistan; Asad Khabir, 17, Pakistan; Ramzar Ahmad, 15, Pakistan
On the Ground and in the Air: Maximizing Air Travel Efficiency
The team designed a pragmatic and feasible solution that still promises to deliver the massive efficiency boosts needed to power the aerospace industry of the future. The combination of morphing wings and heat recycling has the potential to revolutionize flight as we know it.
Team Members: Angela Busheska, 17, Macedonia; Brindha Rathinasabapathi, 17, United States; Kristoff Misquitta, 15, United States
Project Hephaestus
With the help of digital technology, Project Hephaestus was able to capitalize on the time an airplane spends on the ground by saving time in operations like security and route finding. This increases the amount of airplanes in the sky at all times, which enables the airline industry to transport more people in less time.
Team Members: Abdul Rehman, 17, Pakistan; Gillian Leeds, 15, United States; Tomáz Suller, 16, Brazil; Katerina Beardsley, 15, United States; Andreea Bujor, 14, Moldova; Rahul Sandil, 17, India
Project Tejomaya
Project Tejomaya is an innovation driven aerospace project with research in a radioisotope powered thermionic electric propulsion technology, Artificial Intelligence powered efficient and quick boarding system which uses face recognition and biometrics, AI and Virtual Reality enhanced Passenger Experience with better safety systems and emergency protocols and also reduced air fares.
Team Members: Bhavesh Laddagiri, 17, India; Sruthi Shanker Pydimarry, 17, India; Vivienne Li, 15, Canada; Shiv Shakti Srivastava, 17, India; Jashan Matadeen, 17, Mauritius
Green Connected Aviation for Clean Sky
A complete reimagining of the current aircraft industry, including redesigned airports, more efficient security checkpoints, green energy, and more comfortable cabin design.
Team Member: Anusree Sreedeep Nair, 13, India
Changing the Conception
Lidija created an automated airport which can provide fast a high quality service, safety for passengers and will be as environmentally friendly as possible.
Team Member: Lidija Sokolova, 17, Latvia
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