Richard Glassock, a long-time contributor to the blog and now a Research Fellow in Hybrid Propulsion Systems for Aircraft at the Institute for Aerospace Technology, the University of Nottingham, England, shared this news about an Airbus-sponsored contest for cargo drone designs. Local Motors, well known for its 3D-printed automobiles, and Airbus Group, well known for its range of commercial and military aircraft, just completed a design contest that drew 425 entries. Rewards were significant for the top three places in the competition, with a main award First Place prize of $50,000, a trip to the Farnborough Airshow in England, and a “1-of-a-kind Cargo Drone Flight Jacket with personalized patch.” Second place earned the winner $20,000 and third place $10,000, with garnering each a trip to the Farnborough Airshow. Airbus executives judged the entries and decided winners. Design criteria included required capabilities and characteristics: Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and efficient forward flight. Hybrid design between multi-rotor and fixed-wing aircraft. Two …
