NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 20000039430: National General Aviation Design Competition Guidelines 1999-2000 Academic Year

6 Pages·0.57 MB·English

by  NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

National
General
Aviation
Design
Competition
Guidelines
1999-2000 The National Aeronautics and Space The competition is divided into two
Administration (NASA), the Federal categories, each with separate
Academic Year Aviation Administration (FAA) and guidelines and time lines. The first
the Air Force Research Laboratory is the Innovative Design Category
are sponsoring a National General (see pages 3-4), under which
Aviation Design Competition for individual students or student teams
students at U.S. aeronautical and submit paper design projects of
engineering universities for the systems, subsystems, components or
1999-2000 academic year. The complete airframes to address
competition challenges individuals general aviation revitalization goals.
and teams of undergraduates and/ Five cash awards are offered in this
or graduate students, working with category, including special awards
faculty advisors, to address design for product designs which are
challenges for general aviation readily retrofitable to existing
aircraft. aircraft and those which make
innovative use of Air Force-
Now in its sixth year, the developed technologies. The second
competition seeks to increase the category, Design It, Build It, Fly It
involvement of the academic (see page 5), allows individual
community in the revitalization of students or student teams to take
the U.S. general aviation industry well-developed design projects to a
while providing real-world design proof of concept or demonstration
and development experiences for stage. The award for this category
students. It allows university includes a cash development grant
students to participate in a major and the opportunity to demonstrate
national effort to rebuild the U.S. the concept at the Experimental
general aviation sector while raising Aircraft Association's (EAA)
student awareness of the value of AirVenture held in Oshkosh,
general aviation for business and Wisconsin.
personal use, and its economic
relevance. Faculty and student All design packages will be
participants have indicated that the reviewed by a panel of industry,
open-ended design challenges university and government experts
offered by the competition have and written feedback will be
provided the basis for quality provided to the participating teams.
educational experiences.
BACKGROUND Page 2
General Aviation (GA) includes all flight 1950's to the 1990's; piston propulsion
operations except commercial airlines technologies are more than 40 years old.
and military. The 192,000 GA aircraft Revitalization efforts encourage newer,
in service account for 58 percent of all more efficient, and user friendly
U.S. flight hours, 33 percent of all miles technologies.
and 76 percent of all departures in the
United States. During its peak in 1978, Among the more recent technologies
U.S. manufacturers delivered nearly which can be harnessed in revitalization
18,000 new GA aircraft. Between 1979 efforts are new air traffic control and
and 1994, production dropped below navigation tools, such as digital datalink
1000 new aircraft per year. Today's GA and satellite navigation. New computer
market is showing a steady recovery and display technologies, and new
with more than 2,200 new aircraft materials and composites processes are
shipped during 1998. just a few of the existing technologies
which can be applied to general aviation
With the start of the GA industry revitalization.
revitalization, universities have begun
to recognize general aviation as an area The revitalization initiative seeks to bring
for teaching and research. The about increased use of general aviation in
government sponsors and their partners the U.S. which will, in turn, increase the
developed this competition to create volume of aviation production. Its success
this trend and to integrally involve will have a vital and positive economic
faculty and students in national efforts impact. Revitalization goals include:
to revitalize this important sector of
aviation. This competition is an + Expanding the Nation's economy
example of the type of new partnerships to "off airways" communities;
NASA is forming with academia to + Increasing efficient utilization of
capture the bold initiative, innovation, the Nation's airspace;
talent and enthusiasm present in our + Creating world-wide demand for
Nation's academic community. NASA new, U.S.-built, "owner-operated"
and the FAA have shown that this kind small business and personal
of competition serves to stimulate aircraft; and,
breakthroughs in technology and their ar Creating jobs in airframe, engine,
application in the GA market. avionics, airport, and training
industries.
The revitalization initiative is
concerned, in part, with how to make A number of key engineering objectives
general aviation more appealing for (see page 6) have been established for the
business as well as personal use. revitalization effort. Design teams should
Revitalization efforts are making incorporate these objectives into their
general aviation flight easier and more selection of design challenge(s) and their
convenient. Improvements in air traffic approach.
control accessibility, as well
as improved safet); comfort, r COMPETITION COORDINATOR •
reliability, dependability and
performance are needed to Virginia Space Grant Consortium
raise user satisfaction. State-
Old Dominion University Peninsula Center
of-the-art technologies need
2713-D Magruder Boulevard
to be applied to training and
Hampton, VA 23666
certification to make these
goals a reality. Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
The average general aviation
E-Maih [email protected]
aircraft is 27 years old and
incorporates technology Questions regarding the competition should be
which is generally outdated. provided in writing. At the sponsors" discretion,
Current flight deck queries and responses may be made available to
technologies range from the all design teams on aperiodic basis.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN CATEGORY GUIDELINES Page 3
be primarily judged on their potential Two additional sponsored awards are
impact on the marketplace. Emphasis offered in this year's competition. The
will be on affordable technologies and AOPA Air Safety Foundation is
increased utility in both retrofit and new sponsoring an award for the best retrofit
aircraft. See page 4 for design design and the Air Force Research
submission requirements. Laboratory is offering an award for the
best use of Air Force-developed
Teams should address design challenges technologies. The Competition
in one or more of the following six Coordinator can assist teams with
technical areas: making connections to appropriate Air
Force, NASA, or FAA contacts as needed.
• Integrated Cockpit Systems
• Propulsion, Noise and
Emissions + ROF lrerE
• Integrated Design and
Manufacturing
• Aerodynamics A letter of intent to participate in the
• Operating Infrastructure Innovative Design category must be
• Unconventional Designs submitted by the faculty advisor. The
Such as Roadable Aircraft letter of intent should provide full
U.S. colleges with at least four-year contact information for the advisor
accredited engineering programs may Teams are encouraged to consider more (including fax and e-mail if available) as
compete. It is anticipated that this than one of the technology areas in their well as a general description of how the
project will be undertaken as part of a design package. It is desirable that design package will be approached.
formal undergraduate or graduate interfaces with other systems be Specific course involvement should be
engineering course. Student addressed. For example, if an noted, as well as that of student
professional societies may also operations concept is developed for an professional societies and industry or
participate in the competition, either ice protection system, additional credit other participants.
independently or as a partner to an will be given if the design also considers
academic course effort. All design the interaction with a cockpit weather Letters must be received no later than
projects must be developed under the system for graphical display for January 31, 2000; however, it is in the
guidance of a university faculty forecasting icing conditions and /or the team's interest to submit a letter of
advisor. Universities are encouraged, design of an operational interface for the intent as early as possible. Individuals
but not required, to take a multi- pilot. Retrofit options for existing providing letters of intent will receive
departmental approach and/or team aircraft offer great potential for meeting additional general aviation background
with other academic organizations. revitalization goals. Some areas where material which will be helpful in the
Teams may choose to consult directly innovative designs with near-term design process, as well as additional
with industry representatives but are applications are desired include, but information on evaluation criteria and
not required to do so. certainly are not limited to: any other competition updates as they
become available.
For the purposes of the competition, Affordable collision avoidance
general aviation aircraft are defined as systems
fixed-wing, single-engine, single-pilot Situational awareness aids
aircraft for 2-6 passengers, turbine or Single lever
piston. The performance specifications power control
are 150-400 kts with a range of 800- systems
1,000 miles. User friendly,
effective, low
For the successful revitalization of fuel warning
General Aviation, short term applications systems
of AGATE technologies are needed. To Effective alarm
support revitalization goals, successful and warning
designs should focus on technologies management
with most immediate and cost effective options
impact. Designs for systems or Improved
subsystems with retrofit applications are exterior
encouraged; however, whole aircraft lighting
designs will be considered. Designs will
ENGINEERING OBJECTIVES Page 6
• Emphasis on low-cost, high 5. Develop technique to accurately predict
reliability, low incidence of false aileron and elevator loads for large
alarms, and reduced emissions control surface deflections.
through improved operational
1. Reduce time and cost to learn and control. 6. Design a method for protecting the
maintain all-weather safe operations leading edges of laminar-flow surfaces
skills by 50 percent (from current level 3. Develop innovative propulsion design from aerodynamic contamination.
of >1000 hours). which incorporates alternate fuels, low
emission and low noise technologies. 7. Reduce cost for design and manufacture
• Achieve integration of weather,
of ice protection systems for laminar
navigation (moving map), terrain/
obstacle database, traffic situation, flow wings.
and wake vortex information into one
8. Reduce cost for design and manufacture
multi function display.
of ice protection systems for horizontal
• Achieve integration of simplified 1. Develop and validate low-cost tailplanes.
flight controls with flight guidance
manufacturing methods to reduce
displays. 9. Develop unconventional designs, such
airframe and propeller cost and weight.
as roadable aircraft, which consider
• Develop integrated computer-based • Achieve reduced cost of manufacture break through technologies for
training systems that coordinate the
of airframe components by 25 to 40 affordable designs that could capture a
use of both on-board and desktop percent. mass market.
computers and displays (including
virtual reality,). 2. Develop and validate Quality Control/
Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE)
2. Reduce dependence on ground methods to reduce airframe cost and
controller voice communications for
weight, increase quality of production,
safe, random access, point-to-point and reduce cost of maintenance.
navigation in future air traffic systems. 1. Reduce the operating complexity and
• Achieve reduced dependence on costs for airspace and ground systems
3. Implement situational awareness manual inspections through in- infrastructure equipment and procedures
technologies and operating systems to process NDE quality control for for both pilots and air traffic managers.
reduce accidents and fatalities caused by composite manufacturing processes
weather (icing, low visibility; convective and thus reduce time and cost for • Achieve simplified situational
weather) as a primary, factor. composite structure design awareness and decision-making
validation. between pilots and controllers for
• Achieve integration of expert systems "free-flight" or "direct-flight"
for flight training, planning, • Develop low-cost inspection capabilities.
operations, propulsion system techniques for airframe structure.
management decision aiding, icing • Develop design concepts for advanced
avoid and exit decision aiding, and 3. Develop and validate advanced crash- Communication / Navigation /
worthiness concepts and design Surveillance (CNS) air and ground
emergency decision-making.
methods to reduce full-scale testing systems based on datalink and
4. Establish requirements for preferred, requirements for certification. satellite navigation technologies to
affordable datalink for GA usage. reduce reliance on ground-based
• Achieve increased survivability
radar and voice communications.
through low-cost, energy absorbing
5, Reduce cost of near all-weather flight structural design concepts and
systems by 50 to 80 percent. advanced restraint devices. 2. Establish means for increased utility of
airports in advanced air traffic
management ("free-flight") environment.
• Achieve integration of commercial
1. Establish certifiable digital single-lever information systems (rental cars,
powerplant control systems. 1. Develop computer-driven configuration accommodations, food services,
design optimization code and use to operational services) with flight
• Emphasis on reducing costs:
improve acurrent production aircraft. information (weather, traffic,
extending time between overhauls,
procedures, facilities databases)
increasing fuel economy, and 2. Develop active noise reduction system systems for all general aviation
reducing direct operating costs.
for interior use in general aviation airports.
• Address safety by reducing pilot aircraft.
• Achieve low-cost implementation of
workload and increasing engine
reliability. 3. Design improved, single-flap high-lift all-weather operational CNS
system to reduce noise footprint in capabilities for airports and
2. Develop engine diagnostics and airport vicinity for both takeoff and heliports without precision landing
condition monitoring for greater safety, landing phases of operation. capabilities in current instrument
efficiency and lower cost. landing systems.
• Identify critical in-flight conditions, 4. Develop technique to predict drag in
both cruise and takeoff configuration to
capture non-critical conditions for
within 5% and apply to a production
analysis/trending and pre/post-
aircraft.
flight diagnostics.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN CATEGORY GUIDELINES Continued Page 4
Ten sets of the entire design
package must be received by the
Competition Coordinator no later
than May 2, 2000.
Reviewable sections listed below are
subject to a total page limit of 40 double
spaced pages in 12-point type. For
evaluation purposes, reviewers will
focus on the main body of the design
proposal, but will reference the required
appendices at their discretion. The six
sections and required appendices should
be readily identifiable.
Appendices A-D are required, but not _DITION_ _ _ ::_;::_
included in the 40-page limit.
Main Body q]:the Design Proposal:
A.List of complete contact information SI_ONSOI_ED:Aw_
1. Executive Summary.
(use permanent addresses) for all
2. Background on the recent history and advisors and team members. Include
The Air Force Research Laboratory
status of general aviation in the U.S. e-mail, fax and phone numbers.
........ is offering a $3,000 team
This section should broadly address
B. Description (approximately one page)
issues relating to revitalization and
demonstrate that the team has a clear of the university; college, professional _i _ adwesairgdn fororan aaiirrccrraafftt
society, industry, or other institutions
understanding of the issues. _:_--"qL__¢_/' subsystem design
involved in the project. %N_*G/ which meets all criteria
3. A concise statement of the design_ "_ for the National
C. Sign-off page for faculty advisor(s)
challenge(s) you have chosen to General Aviation Design Competition
and department chair(s).
address and how these design and includes Air Force-developed
challenges relate to U.S. general D.Evaluation of the educational technologies. Background on Air Force
aviation revitalization goals. experience provided by the project. technologies is available at http://
www.afrl.af.mil under Technology
4. Description of the team's s_ystems The following appendix iso3_tional: Transfer or through the AFRL Tech
engineering approach to the problem. Connect Hotline at [phone]. The
This section should include a E. Other support material: additional
design package should identify the
description of the team and its overall drawings, computer codes and other
applicable Air Force technologies and
approach to the problem. design elements as appropriate. document the source.
5. A description of how each of the
technical areas is addressed in
The AOPA Air
drawings, mockups, computer codes,
etc., as appropriate to provide Safety Foundation is /'__'_
evidence of a thorough providing a Best
An awards ceremony will be held in
Retrofit Potential
process. August 2000. Awards are anticipated as
Award of $500 to a
follows:
6. Description of the projected impacts
$5,000 Award student design team.
of the team's design with a thorough
This award will be given for the best
discussion of how it meets general to the University Academic
technological innovation that can be
aviation revitalization goals. This Department of First Place Winner
readily adapted to existing aircraft and
section should address the
$3,000 First Place Award offer acost effective, near-term solution
commercial potential for the design,
to Design Team to technology upgrades. Special
including a description of processes consideration will be given to the
that would need to be undertaken to $2,000 Second Place Award
practicality of the design, including
bring the design to the product stage. to Design Team cost and ease of implementation within
Emphasis should be on increased $1,000 Third Place Award the existing fleet.
affordability and utility.
to Design Team
DESIGN IT, BUILD IT, FLY IT- COMPETITION GUIDELINES Page 5
chapters, and other appropriate aviation • sign-off page for faculty advisor(s)
organizations. These groups might provide and department chair(s);
matching contributions, either cash or in- • letter of institutional commitment to
kind. The greatest contributions from such
the project signed by the
alliances can come from access to experts and individual(s) authorized to make
exposure to industry culture/climate and sponsored program commitments for
role models for students. The practical the submitting institution(s); and
knowledge and enthusiasm of EAA chapter • letters of commitment from industry
members would be an asset to participants. or other partners for matching
The EAA Technical Counselors and Flight contributions.
Advisors could participate by providing
consultation in flight test planning and Ten sets of the entire proposal package
implementation. Participation by AGATE must be received by the Competition
industry experts is also encouraged. A list Coordinator no later than February 4,2000.
of AGATE contacts is provided at: http://
agate.larc.nasa.gov. Proposers needing Text should be double-spaced and 12-point
The Design It, Build It, Fly It category assistance in connecting with the EAA, type should be used. The narrative portion
AGATE industries or contacts at other of the package may not exceed 40 pages in
encourages students to take design concepts
to a higher level "fight proof-of-concept or sponsoring organizations should contact the length and will be the primary focus for
flight concept demonstration phase". Competition Coordinator. evaluators. Drawings, computer codes, video
and other appropriate design elements may
This competition category is open to The competition particularly welcomes be included as attachments.
proposals that can demonstrate completion component design challenges. A few
Post Award Requirements: The time frame for
of the design phase of a concept with high examples follow, but are only offered to
relevance for General Aviation revitalization stimulate thinking on the part of proposers: building and testing of the winning
proposal(s) has been expanded to a full
goals (see page 6). Such concept flight + concepts that are retrofitable to existing academic year. The winning proposal(s) will
demonstrations might include, but are not aircraft
be announced by March 17, 2000. The
limited to, prototype flight testing, in-flight angle of attack sensors and indicators
winning team(s) will then have until May 31,
simulation, in-flight software demonstrations, + new fuel quantity sensing systems 2001 to complete their project. The winning
radio control models, and other proof of 4- single or multi channel stabilization
team(s) must present, exhibit and provide
concept flight testing as appropriate. systems demonstrations (as appropriate) at the EAA's
Proposals need to demonstrate a thorough + new types of sensors for aircraft AirVenture during summer 2001.
design phase and applicability to AGATE propulsion systems Additionally the winning team(s) are
engineering goals and objectives. This + altitude hold systems and indicators
required to submit a flight test technical
competition category fosters the + electro-mechanical trim actuators
report summarizing the results of the testing.
development of viable concepts while + crash survivable seats
Peer review of the technical report from the
continuing to meet the educational objectives
flight test community is required before
of the National General Aviation Design The possibility for flight testing on the EAA's publication and distribution. Asafety review
Competition. NOTE: Proposals do NOT have
GlaStar aircraft can be explored for will be performed ifrequired by the sponsors.
to be derived +flonl previous Nation,ll General appropriate proposals. The GlaStar is a two-
Aviation Design Conlpetitiou submissions. place high-wing aircraft with conventional
aluminum wings. Ithas acomposite fuselage
U.S. universities with at least a four-year
covering a steel tube framed cockpit and is
accredited engineering program may
participate in this category of the powered by a Lycoming engine. The aircraft $10,000 Building Fund
is equipped with reconfigurable electronics
competition. Student teams or individuals
capability and can accommodate avariety of $ 500 Student Prize
under the guidance of faculty members
flight test equipment. This venue should be
should submit proposals, to include budget
discussed prior to proposal submission with Government sponsors anticipate making up
requirements, for seed funding. The total
the Competition's Coordinator. to two awards from a total award pool of
award pool is $10,000. Funding will be
$10,000, though the entire pool can be given
provided to the winning proposal(s) at the
Proposals must include the following: to one winning proposal.
beginning of the build phase by the
government sponsors of the competition. • an executive summary;
The proposal should include a design • design overview with support
summaDs plans for the demonstration phase, documentation;
timeline, and budget for the project. The • plans for the development and
proposal must include measurable progress demonstration phase, including
points, as well as aplan for providing timely how student teams/or individuals The Experimental Aircraft Association
updates to the sponsors. Ties to GA will approach this phase; is sponsoring a $500 per team student
revitalization goals must be presented. An • flight safety review process; award. The EAA prize money will be
appropriate aviation safety review process • timeline to comply with award awarded at AirVenture following delivery of
is required. Matching contributions from requirements;
the flight test technical report and exhibit
industry are encouraged and should be • plans for development and peer and / or demonstration of the flight article.
delineated in the proposal and explained in review of the technical report; Information on the EAA and AirVenture is
a budget narrative. Universities are • budget with narrative, including
available at http://www.eaa.org.
encouraged to involve industry, EAA travel costs to AirVenture;