Five Concepts for Sustainable Air Travel From Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas Competition
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After beating more than 500 submissions, the five remaining teams of Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas contest traveled from the Netherlands, Japan, China, Brazil and the United Kingdom to Hamburg, Germany where they presented their ideas on sustainable concepts for the future of air travel this morning.
The winner, who will be announced tomorrow via the Airbus Twitter and Facebook accounts, will take home the grand prize of $33,000 to be divided among its team members.
This year’s finalists represented the greatest diversity the competition has ever seen with participants of eight nationalities, from nine universities, with engineering and non-engineering backgrounds – and the most female finalists ever, including an all-woman team.
Jury member Mark Watson, head of environmental affairs, Cathay Pacific Airways says that, “Aviation has always been about developing new technology and about overcoming difficult and unique engineering challenges. Across our industry, we need new and fresh ideas. More importantly, if we are going to really move forward we need radical solutions to our technological challenges.”
The five finalists of the 2015 Airbus Fly Your Ideas competition are:
‘Good vibrations’ energy-harvesting skin
Team Multifun, multiple universities, Netherlands
Multifun’s team members from the Netherlands, India, US and UK devised aircraft wings that harness energy from the fluctuations experienced during flight. A composite material that uses Piezoeletric fibres gathers electrical charges from even the tiniest movements to power auxiliary aircraft systems such as lighting and in-flight entertainment systems.
Drone-guided “birdport”
Team Birdport, University of Tokyo, Japan
Bird strikes are a serious hazard to aircraft with hefty damage costs, and Birdport is designed to reduce them. Using tactics of separation, alignment and cohesion, a flock of drones guide birds away from airports to a nearby safe haven where they will be attracted by birdcalls and decoys.
Game console-inspired infra-red guidance system
Team Aft-Burner-Reverser, Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
By applying motion-sensing technology from a games console to an aircraft guidance system, Team Aft-Burner-Reserver’s concept offers better control while taxiing. Infrared and visual information warn pilots and ground crew of obstacles, reducing potential damage and turnaround time of aircraft between flights.
Faster trolley trash
Team Retrolley, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Trash collection would be more efficient with this intelligent garbage trolley that separates recyclables from rubbish. Not only does it cut the time required to collect waste after a meal or a flight, it reduces galley weight which in turn, lessens fuel consumption.
Wireless and greener ground operations
Team Bolleboos, City University London, UK
The all-woman team, Bolleboos, came up with an electric-taxiing concept that would result in less noise, air pollution, fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The magnetic induction system, which the team has dubbed “Wego,” draws renewable energy from ground operations to power the taxiing aircraft through transmitters embedded in the tarmac.
As part of Airbus’ vision for sustainable air travel by 2050, the aircraft manufacturer organizes the biennial competition to gather the brightest students from around the world to tackle specific sustainability issues in commercial aviation. This year’s challenges included energy, efficiency, affordable growth, traffic growth, passenger experience and community friendliness.
The winning concept of the Airbus Fly Your Ideas in 2013 was a baggage handling system based on the functionality of air hockey tables by Team Levar from the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Updated May 28, 2015 at 9:17 a.m.: Team Multifun takes the grand prize!
Congrats to Team Multifun from @tudelft – 1st prize for #FlyYourIdeas 2015 competition, in partnership with @UNESCO pic.twitter.com/QS3H9TlcYM
€” Airbus (@Airbus) May 28, 2015