The winning design of a NASA student competition to create a new greener aircraft looks a little like a cross between a plane and a Swiss Army knife. More than 20 seniors from the University of Virginia contributed to the winning design and project they called the VERDe Atrema or Virginia Environmentally Responsible Design (VERDe) Atrema. The Environmentally Responsible Aviation Project competition is part of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
The challenge was to submit ideas and designs for aircraft or engine concepts and technologies that would assist in meeting the project's goals for more environmentally friendly aviation by the year 2020. Those goals include better fuel economy, fewer emissions, less noise, and better performing airplanes.
Judges for the competition assessed submissions from 20 U.S. and international student teams, most of whom are studying engineering. Nine seniors from Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, created the second-place entry called the P6CAF-IncAR Concept Airliner, which looks more like a traditional tube and wing aircraft.
Two teams tied for third place, including another group from Purdue. Nine undergraduates from Purdue designed the "Night Panther" airliner, while a team of eight first-year graduate students from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta designed a blended wing body aircraft they called ERATO.
For a list of names and more about the competitions, click here .
