ACRP Design Competition

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2024 Competition Winners

Click on the hyperlinks to see copies of winning designs under each category. Note that only place award winners are provided.

Please click here to view a recording of the award ceremony.

Airport Environmental Interactions Challenge:

1st

First Place - An eight-member team from the Department of Engineering at Utah Valley University received top honors for a design titled Autonomous Electric Aircraft Tug. The team was commended for a high quality proposal that provided a new approach to an existing technology. The proposal included a survey, a model, and a strong analysis which was well documented with diagrams and tables. Dr. Brett Stone served as faculty adviser. Full Design
2nd

Second Place - A three-member team from the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State University placed second for a design titled A Microalgae Photobioreactor for Improving Air Quality Around Airports. Dr. I. Richmond Nettey served as faculty adviser. Full Design
3rd

Third Place - A four-member team from the Civil Engineering Department at the Virginia Military Institute placed third for a design titled Sustainable Solar Canopies. Dr. Wakeel I. Idewu served as faculty adviser. Full Design

Airport Management and Planning Challenge:

1st

First Place - A five-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University received top honors for a design titled Reducing Idle Time via Machine Learning. The judges cited their excellent proposal which was well written and provided a rigorous approach that addressed the chosen problem well. Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser. Full Design
2nd

Second Place - A four-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University placed second for a design titled PuriSky Debris Collector. Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser. Full Design

Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Challenge:

1st

First Place - A five-member team from the Department of Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University received top honors for a design titled Integrating Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Enhanced Wildlife Hazard Assessments within Airport Environments. The judges found the proposal to be well researched and well written with a solid approach to enhancing the use of UAS for wildlife hazard assessments. Dr. Flavio Mendonca served as faculty adviser. Full Design
3rd

Third Place - A five-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University tied for third for a design titled DebriScan. Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser. Full Design
3rd

Third Place - A five-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University tied for third for a design titled Unmanned Ground Vehicle for Foreign Object Debris Removal. Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser. Full Design

Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design Challenge:

1st

First Place - A two-member team from the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University received top honors for a design titled Multifunctional Airport Luggage Cart - The Chariot. The team was commended for an excellent proposal addressing the needs of travelers with mobility issues. Dr. Mary Johnson served as faculty adviser. Full Design
2nd

Second Place - A three-member team from the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University placed second for a design titled GlidePath: An Electrically Assisted Aisle Boarding Chair for Airports. Dr. Mary Johnson served as faculty adviser. Full Design
3rd

Third Place - A one-member team from the Department of Aviation at the University of Dubuque placed third for a design titled Airport Wayfinder. Jason Hart served as faculty adviser. Full Design

Honorable Mentions given to:

A two-member team from the from the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at Purdue University won an honorable mention in the Airport Environmental Interactions challenge for a design titled, Guardians of the Green: Smart Trash Sorting and Disposal System. Dr. Mary Johnson served as faculty adviser.

A two-member team from the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering at Michigan Technological University won an honorable mention in the Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Challenge for a design titled, NOTAM System Restructuring: Enhancing Aviation Communication. Dr. Audra Morse served as faculty adviser.

A three-member team from the Mechanical Engineering Department at Wentworth Institute of Technology won an honorable mention in the Airport Safety, Operations, and Maintenance Challenge for a design titled, Quicklime Deposited Concrete for Prolonged Runway Life. Dr. Haifa El-Sadi served as faculty adviser.

A five-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University won an honorable mention in the Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design Challenge for a design titled, Airport Information Relay System (AIRS). Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser.

A five-member team from the School of Engineering Design and Innovation at The Pennsylvania State University won an honorable mention in the Passenger Experience and Innovations in Airport Terminal Design Challenge for a design titled, Wheelchair Stabilization Platform. Dr. Meredith Handley served as faculty adviser.