Design Competition
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Hi! We are Flight Quest, an aerospace startup using technology to try to bring the experience of flight to the masses!
Our vision is of a semi-autonomous “SkyZone” airpark where anyone can walk up and just fly in exclusive airspace with no training…and no risk!
While we have in house hardware and software R&D in progress, this idea is too fun and too technical to not involve as many young engineering innovators as possible.
While some platforms exist that will allow us to start prototyping a functional airpark right now, we want to see what the best young minds can come up with in terms of aircraft designs that are purpose built for a new aircraft mission:
Pure FUN!
No transportation necessary!
So! We are announcing an aircraft engineering design competition with over $100k in prizes!
The conventional engineering design constraints:
1000 lbs takeoff weight
300 lbs battery (or 30% of takeoff weight)
500 lbs structure and propulsion
200 lbs payload
Electric propulsion
Stress to +10g -5g
Minimum endurance of 30 minutes (with 5 minutes in reserve) at 100 mph in level flight at a density altitude of 5000 ft.
Stall speed of no more than 45 mph.
No mechanical linkage between pilot and control surfaces required. This is a “piloted drone” where the drone part can be instantly switched off and on. The main mission is carried out in the “autonomy-off” state, that activates only if necessary to avoid collision or when it is time to land.
No single prop tractor type propulsion to ensure excellent visibility and low noise for best pilot experience.
Ballistic Recovery System (BRS) with reinforced landing gear or other impact energy absorbing structure.
General Instructions and Recommendations:
Cyber Physical Security (CPS)/Control Co-Design (CCD): Ground up design with a complete system in mind.
These aircraft are meant to be part of the physical layer of a complete CPS system. Applicants are required to address how their aircraft are designed from the bottom up to click into and eventual full CPS system by bringing in a CCD (see here for definition) team.
Allowed Aircraft Configurations
Canard (e.g. modified Long-EZ), Low Wing Monoplane (e.g. modified BD-5), Biplane (e.g. modernized DH-2), and Flying Wing, and everything in between, are acceptable configurations.
Applicants are encouraged to explore de novo designs that take full advantage of the fresh design space afforded by release from the range requirement. Drag is less of a factor than if efficiency and range are the goal in that application, so some higher drag can be accommodated in exchange for structural strength/durability/modularity. For example, struts and bracing.
We know there are already electric aircraft without the range mission element, proposed as meeting the mission requirements for conventional trainer aircraft that stays local to the takeoff point.
This Mission is totally new: give flyers the most visceral, free, and powerful flight experience possible. So rider experience (visibility, ergonomics, control feedback) is a key feature.
Think as close as you can to riding a horse. Or one of those things in Avatar.
Only, flapping is for the birds. You’ve got a LOT of power in that electric motor…
3 Month Deliverables
A 3D printed mockup
Some form of digital twin simulated data
A flying X-Plane prototype
A pitch deck presentation of the challenges in development and key advantageous features of your design
There will be an award for both innovation and functionality
DISCLAIMER: Flight Quest retains initial licensing rights to any new technology.