Institution news
The Institution’s inaugural Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Challenge saw 14 university teams design and build their prototype Unmanned Aircraft Systems over a nine-month period and then compete in a ‘fly-off’ final on at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground on 1-2 July. The UASs were tasked with carrying out a representative humanitarian aid mission.
The overall Grand Champions – one of two teams from the University of Southampton – were presented with their prize by President of the Institution, Richard Folkson.
The winners in each category were:
- Design Prize (sponsored by Frazer-Nash) – Loughborough University
- Most Viable Business Proposition (sponsored by Frazer-Nash) – Loughborough University
- Safety and Airworthiness (sponsored by BMT) – Nottingham University
- Autonomous/Automatic Operations (sponsored by Northrop Grumman) – Southampton University
- Manufacturing (sponsored by Siemens) – Liverpool University
- Flying Operations (sponsored by RPS) – Southampton University
- Most Promise – Sheffield Hallam University (with a mention/commendation for Swansea University)
- Overall Grand Champions (sponsored by Selex ES) – Southampton University
Richard said: “The UAS Challenge was an outstanding success thanks to the organising volunteers and staff. The quality and capability of students was truly impressive in tackling a difficult task with enthusiasm. I hope the competition goes from strength to strength with even more entries next year.”
Chairman of the challenge’s steering group, John Turton, said the competition was complex to organise but that the support from a great number of experts in the field, and the participation of judges – some employed by the industrial sponsors – ensured a highly successful event.
Turton said: “The teams came up with very professionally engineered design solutions in a full-on aerospace engineering challenge, incorporating the elements that you would expect to see in a commercial environment.
“What was particularly heartening was the preparedness of key industry people to take part from the start, engaging with teams at preliminary design review stage (December 2014) and again at critical design review (April 2015), providing qualitative assessments and feedback as well as judging the two-day event. Our key aim here is to enhance interaction between undergraduates, university staff and industry through the work of the Institution.”
Michael Ladhams from the winning team said: “The competition simulated a customer-driven environment. This has helped to prepare us for our future careers. The fly-off highlighted that testing and reliability were two very important considerations for such a project. We learned, unequivocally, that you should never give up: we crashed just four days before the fly-off and nearly gave up before building a new airframe.”
John Turton, a member of the Institution’s Aerospace Board and the Aerospace Technical Committee, thanked his fellow organisers, particularly Martin Soltau, who mastered the competition rules; and Paul Lloyd, Chairman of the Aerospace Board, who brought along colleagues as volunteers.
Rod Williams, formerly the Army's Chief Aircraft Engineer, now at Trident Assurance Services, was Chief Scrutineer, while Alistair Cowin of QinetiQ was chief judge and undertook the huge task of marshalling the judges. Kerry Fletcher led the implementation of a world-class safety management system for the event.
Northrop Grumman was the Gold sponsor and fellow sponsors were Selex ES, BMT, RPS, Frazer-Nash Consultancy and Siemens. Preparations for the 2016 event are already underway and sponsors are being sought.
Contact Rachel Pearson for details about the UAS Challenge 2016.