Student Innovators Seek to Transform Aerospace

Artificial Intelligence Challenge

Team AIQinspect is building a comprehensive, artificial intelligence-based inspection solution to assist human operators performing rivet inspections during aircraft production and maintenance. AIQinspect assesses the quality of rivets by gathering data from sensors and a camera, which are then passed through a trained neural net. The resulting information is communicated to the operator via augmented reality, which highlights problem areas. According to the team, the solution could potentially be used for other types of inspections in the future.

Internet of Things Challenge

Team “Zero” Heroes is looking to solve the limitations of IoT in aircraft by applying wireless systems instead of traditional wired systems, which prove challenging for safety and regulation. The team has come up with batteryless wireless switches comprised of an energy harvester and low-power wireless transmitter, which generate power when a button is pressed. The switches could be used for aircraft cabin applications such as reading lights, call attendant buttons, seat position monitoring and life jacket removal notification. According to the team, the removal of wires will reduce fuel consumption and weight while simplifying aircraft retrofit and maintenance needs.

Electrification Challenge

Team Osprey is seeking to significantly increase the power density of electric motors for UAM and hybrid-electric aircraft through an innovative new system to cool electric motors. Meant to replace traditional methods of cooling electric motors such as water jackets or submerged cooling, the new motor intra-body cooling system uses a series of direct metal laser sintered channels within the body of the electric motor, which increase surface area of the cooling system and remove material from the motor. The team says this new method translates to lighter weight, higher output power and higher efficiency due to reduced temperature. Additionally, because the system is completely sealed, the motor becomes more reliable with less debris ingress.

Internet of Things Challenge

Team Move-ez is using IoT technology to revolutionize passenger experience for persons with reduced mobility. The Smart Wheelchair for Air Travel Needs (SWAN) turns detachable aircraft seats into smart electric wheelchairs that can be used all the way through the travel experience from check-in to arrival. Passengers can control SWAN via smartphone through a dedicated app.

Electrification Challenge 

Team Seren is looking to harness energy in space to generate electricity for spacecraft. The Solar Windmill uses two concentric aluminum spheres to collect energetic electrons flux from solar wind that is trapped in planetary magnetic fields. According to the team, this approach will be useful to store and generate energy in deep space, where the current density from sunlight is low.

Data Services Challenge

Team AirFish aims to improve the efficiency of fish farming through an ocean monitoring system that uses satellite imagery and video imaging technology. The system is meant to help governments combat illegal fishing, reduce bycatch of endangered species and decrease damage to marine habitats. According to the team, AirFish’s improvement of fish farming efficiency will make food production more affordable while reducing open water fishing and environmental impacts.

Data Services Challenge

Team V.A.C.A. is using Earth observation, meteorological and IoT data to help the agriculture industry with an integrated service for stockbreeders. V.A.C.A. provides actionable information on quality and quantity of pastures, number of animals in paddocks and physical condition of cattle.