News Article Release

Naval Academy Futuristic Aircraft Design Wins Top Prize

May 9, 2012

A team of 18 Naval Academy midshipmen received first prize May 9 in an inter-service academy engineering design competition sponsored by Boeing Company.

The competition, now in its second year, required each academy's team to design the cockpit of an aircraft for a mission nearly 30 years in the future. The 2012 award was presented by President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security Dennis Muilenburg.

The company asked each academy's team to design the cockpit that could control a futuristic aircraft similar as well as unmanned aerial and ground vehicles while conducting a typical air-to-ground and air-to-air strike mission. This year's design was expected to work off the inaugural design from last year's competition.

“This year they really beefed up the simulator part of it so they had to write software, get displays and install those displays in the simulator to make it look realistic,” said Capt. Leonard Hamilton, associate professor of mechanical engineering and one of two advisors for the midshipmen. “Last year they weren't required to build a simulator. It was more concept and design. This year it culminated in a functioning simulator that demonstrates the cockpit capability.”

The interdisciplinary project brought together midshipmen from five different engineering majors - including mechanical, systems, computer, electrical and aerospace - under the advisement of Hamilton and retired Lt. Cmdr. Duncan O'Mara, visiting professor in the Systems Engineering Department.

Through discussions with Boeing representatives, the midshipmen determined that they were looking for more creative, revolutionary approaches to the problem than what Navy (who lost to Air Force in last year's competition) originally presented. In response, this year's team added artificial intelligence and three-dimensional holograms in place of glass panel displays.

“Imagine a pilot flying with a 3-D image of the battle space, and he can see in 3-D threats, targets, mountains, terrain, roads,” said Hamilton. “You're going to have the ability to control multiple unmanned aircraft who are your wingmen through artificial intelligence. You'll have a lot of automation. You'll basically be able to do the job of six or seven people by yourself.”

The project helps midshipmen learn about real-world design and acquisition projects. They learn how to work as a part of a large team, how to convey ideas, meet project deadlines and work to a schedule, said O'Mara.

“Our goal is to help the mids become better naval officers as well as engineers,” he said. “They're winning if they're learning.”