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Stealth UAV, Lunar Elevator Among Student-Developed Projects A "Stealth UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)," a theoretical lunar space elevator, and a dragonfly-inspired reconnaissance plane with a 9-inch wingspan were among the projects designed by Technion-Israel Institute of Technology students and presented at the 50th Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, which took place February 17-18 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The student projects from the Technion included: A “Stealth UAV” designed to fly up to 1,850 miles without refueling. It can carry two 1,100 lb “smart bombs,” and be equipped with various sensors (electro-optic, infrared and radar) to enable operation in the dark and under all weather conditions. Seven students worked on the project under the direction of Dror Artzi, an adjunct lecturer at the Technion.
A theoretical Lunar Space Elevator, dubbed "Jacob's Ladder," which could bring the extremely rare helium-3 isotope (for use as nuclear fuel) from the moon to earth. Under the direction of Dr. Alexander Kogan, five students designed the system composed of cable cars weighing 1 ½ tons each, which would travel along a 201,946 mile cable from the moon’s surface to a path around the earth and back. One-way travel time for a solar-powered car would be approximately 200 hours. The team says it could be built using existing technology, and that it would pay for itself within five years.
A plane with a 9-inch wingspan and a 7.9-inch body. A prototype of the “Dragonfly,” powered by an electric battery that supports four flapping wings, has already been demonstrated within the confines of the Technion Aerospace Engineering Building. The plane’s relatively low speed enables it to easily enter rooms through small windows and to send back photos from a miniature camera. Eight students, under the direction of Prof. Benjamin Landkof, built the Dragonfly.
Now in its 50th year, the Technion Faculty of Aerospace Engineering is the sole source of aerospace engineers in Israel. More than 2500 graduates have been educated in the Faculty, with many having actively participated in inter-departmental programs. The contributions of the Faculty are acknowledged in Israel and abroad, and their impact is reflected by their election to Israeli, USA, French, British and international academies and scientific societies. The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is Israel's leading science and technology university. Home to the country's first winners of the Nobel Prize in science, it commands a worldwide reputation for its pioneering work in nanotechnology, computer science, biotechnology, water-resource management, materials engineering, aerospace and medicine. The majority of the founders and managers of Israel's high-tech companies are alumni. Based in New York City, the American Technion Society (ATS) is the leading American organization supporting higher education in Israel, with offices around the country. |
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