SRM University has reached the finals of a global competition organised by aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)

3 students from SRM University offer peek into ‘silent’ aircraft Three aerospace engineering students from Chennai have landed in London, with a project to create the aircraft of the future with zero propulsion noise. The team from SRM University has reached the finals of a global competition organised by aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). The team, comprising Balakrishnan Solaraju Murali, Michael Thomas and Anita Mohil, is among the five groups that have made it to the finals of the 'Fly Your Ideas' competition that saw 6,000 students in 618 teams from 82 countries vie for the 30,000-euro top prize. The other teams in the final are from Australia, Brazil, Italy and Malaysia. Ideas floated in the competition included planes powered by body heat, luggage floating on a bed of air or even an aircraft running on liquid methane. The SRM team's top line idea is called 'Engine Air Cooling System for Noise Reduction.' The trio has found a way to reduce propulsion noise by modifying the shape of the jet exhaust using intelligent materials (shape memory alloys). The final hurdle will see students present their ideas to a jury of Airbus and industry experts at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse on June 12. The winning team will receive the 30,000-euro prize with the runners up bagging 15,000 euros. The winners will be announced at an exclusive ceremony at Unesco's headquarters in Paris on June 14. Aerospace engineers from across the world had to create the aircraft of the future, covering one of six themes identified by Airbus as the key 21st century challenges for a greener aviation industry. These included addressing energy need, efficiency, affordable and traffic growth, passenger experience and community friendliness. Charles Champion, Airbus' executive vice president, engineering and Fly Your Ideas patron said, "The entries were assessed by experienced Airbus engineers who were extremely impressed by the quality of work and innovation. These talented students from around the world represent the future of our industry and I am looking forward to welcoming them to Toulouse for the final round." Throughout the competition, Airbus mentors have worked with the teams to provide guidance and support with their projects in addition to a member of staff from their university. Airbus and Unesco say competitions like this are becoming increasingly important after a study from the McKinsey Global Institute revealed innovation could be under threat from an engineering skills gaps that could be hitting the economy hard. McKinsey forecasted that high-tech companies will face a shortfall of 40 million skilled workers by 2020, with aerospace likely to suffer, along with motor and the medical equipment sectors.

SRM University has reached the finals of a global competition organised by aircraft manufacturer Airbus and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)

3 students from SRM University offer peek into ‘silent’ aircraft Three aerospace engineering students from Chennai have landed in London, w...

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SRM University student team enters global aviation competition finale

NEW DELHI: A team of students from a private Indian university is among the five groups shortlisted for the finals of a global competition to develop innovative ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry. The team 'AVAS' from SRM University will compete in the third edition of the 'Fly Your Ideas challenge', organised by European aircraft-manufacturing consortium Airbus Industrie, a statement from the aircraft manufacturer said. The team comprising Michael Thomas, Anita Mohil and Balakrishnan Solaraju Murali - all studying bachelors degree in Aerospace Engineering - would travel to France to present their ideas before a jury of Airbus and industry experts at Airbus' headquarters in Toulouse on June 12, it said. The other teams making it to the finals are from Brazil, Australia, Italy and Malaysia. The winning team would receive a prize of euros 30,000 and the runners-up euros 15,000. "The winners would be announced at an exclusive ceremony at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris on June 14 as UNESCO has given its patronage to the global competition," the statement said. This year's challenge inspired over 6,000 students from 82 countries to register with 618 teams submitting a proposal. The proposals had to cover one of the six themes identified by Airbus as key 21st century challenges for a greener aviation industry. Team AVAS successfully passed through the eliminating rounds to get to the final with their proposal for reduced propulsion noise.

SRM University student team enters global aviation competition finale

NEW DELHI: A team of students from a private Indian university is among the five groups shortlisted for the finals of a global competition t...

Read more »