University teams compete in automated flying competition

Salem Al Bloushi, a member of Super 7, from Abu Dhabi Men’s College, launches his ‘plane’ at the flying competition for the 2015 Innovation Challenge. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // University teams from across the Emirates came out to the 2015 Innovation Challenge on Tuesday to test their mastery over flying in the biggest competition of its kind yet.

The students have worked with engineers from Northrop Grumman Corporation over the past three months to build fully automated planes capable of taking off and landing without any human input.

Participating teams are involved in a two-day challenge that ends on Wednesday at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi to take their airplanes and showcase their flying skills.

Each team is given 10 minutes to make pre-flight preparations, then the plane is programmed to make laps around the field for as long as their batteries allow. Judges give points for each successful lap made.

The teams were selected from different campuses of the Higher Colleges of Technology and comprised men and women. This year recorded the highest number of women participants.

The women’s team from HWC-Sharjah Women’s College ended with a near-perfect run as they scored high and remain contenders for today’s finals, with a flight early in the day determining their fate.

“We had a great experience, we tested our flight for the first time and we achieved the highest number of laps in the competition at 13,” said Eman Al Ansari, a second-year electrical engineering student at HCT-Sharjah Women’s College.

She said that although the team had little knowledge of aeronautical engineering they were able to achieve the feat through teamwork.

“We first learnt teamwork because we are from different sections in our university but by using all our skills we all learnt different things about the airplane – it was very exciting to work together,” she said.

Her colleague Heba Ali, who is also studying electrical engineering, said that working on the project aided their studies.

“This is not our major, we are electrical engineers, but I think this experience has helped us become better at that,” Ms Ali said.

Aside from the actual competition and being contenders for the top prize, despite it being their first time in the competition, she said that the experience helped her to gain knowledge.

“First of all, at the beginning we had zero knowledge about airplanes and we didn’t even know each other but we worked together, gained knowledge and friends,” Ms Ali said.

Returning veterans Super 7, from Abu Dhabi Men’s College, however, upped the ante with a plane that matched their expertise.

“We took nine laps. We’re playing it safe but we landed the bonus point, which gives us 35 per cent extra laps and also the assembly,” said Emirati Ibrahim Al Hammadi, 25.

Mr Al Hammadi, a third-year engineering student, brought to the table five years of working experience as a technician at a workshop, but said that the team made it happen.

In terms of the design, having an Etihad pilot on the team helped with the nuances of the flight. “The most important aspect is to have it lightweight and, by using our knowledge, we were able to make the plane aerodynamic and lightweight,” said second-year student and Etihad pilot Mohammed Ali.

The winning team will be announced on Thursday at an awards ceremony at the HCT-Dubai Men’s College.

The winners will receive a trip to the United States, where they will tour Northrop Grumman facilities and educational institutions to further advance their knowledge.

The second-placed team will receive an educational trip to Europe, courtesy of Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments.