A team from Valencia Polytechnic University were amongst more than two thousands students from across the world who registered to take part in the Airbus ‘Fly Your Ideas Challenge’. The aviation design competition was run by the aircraft manufacturer to encourage ideas which can shape the future of aviation, while at the same time reducing the impact on the environment.
The Valencia team’s ‘Sky Vision: Beyond the Windows’ project achieved a lighter, more fuel-efficient aircraft through a windowless passenger cabin, to be compensated by exterior cameras and video screens for every seat on the aircraft. The jury voted the team’s project as one of the five finalists, but were doubtful, about how such a design would be received by passengers, despite a survey of 400 people who the students said responded well to the idea.
The winning entry was from Australia’s University of Queensland, whose team used fibre from the castor plant to develop a prototype composite material to be used in aircraft components. They were awarded a prize of 30,000 € and, according to reports from the press in Australia, Airbus has taken out a patent on their invention.
