Opening New Science Prospects: TsAGI’s Project Wins Sky.Tech 8th Aerospace Innovative Project Competition
18 December 2023
Innovative projects implemented scientifically and industrially allow for national technological sovereignty. Traditionally organized by TsAGI (a part of NRC “Zhukovsky Institute”), Sky.tech Annual National Aerospace Innovative Project Competition aims to find best ideas in science. This year, the Competition has been held for the eighth time; its final was timed to TsAGI’s 105th Anniversary, and took place at International Aeronautics Congress.
In his opening speech, Kirill Sypalo, Director General at TsAGI and Corresponding Member of the RAS, emphasized the role of Sky.tech in innovative project promotion. ‘Before the final, large amount of work is carried out by our experts for several months; they represent Skolkovo Foundation, Inconsult K Company, and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises. Apart from winning awards, the finalists get into spotlight in the industry. Authors of best projects will be able to cooperate with corporation and aerospace foundations,’ said Kirill Sypalo.
A project by TsAGI team was among the winners. It deals with prompt repairing of impact damage in polymer composite structures. The team proposed a revolutionarily new repairing technology which uses special metallic inserts. They developed and manufactured integrated tool demonstrator for prompt repairing of impact damage in polymer composite units in non-stationary aerodrome conditions with single-sided access to damaged structure.
As for other winners, the second prize went to the project by SPUTNIKS Company, Zorkiy 2M 12U-CubeSat high-resolution remote-sensing spacecraft, and the first prize went to project by CARBONTEX Company, Smart composites: usage of 3D weaving for production of polymer composite materials in aerospace industry.
The following projects went into the final: Engines of super-small spacecraft by D‑Start Company, Development of hardware-and-software complex for automatic data measuring system for dynamic bench tests by CIAM, and Embedded strain monitoring system for aircraft structures based on amorphous ferromagnetic wires by IMET RAS.
This year, over 50 projects were submitted to the competition; 23 projects were accepted after content expertise. These are commerciable projects by university teams, research organizations and industrial enterprises. The projects dealt with such areas as concept design of aircraft and spacecraft, aircraft engine design, strength, smart structures, and production technologies for aircraft units.
For more details on the competition, follow the link: http://innovation-contest.tsagi.ru/.
Sky.Tech Aerospace Innovative Project Competition has been held since 2016, involving so far 53 teams from enterprises, universities and research organizations representing over 25 Russian regions. Over 300 projects were submitted to the Competition from 2016 to 2023. The Competition aims to search, support and promote industrial innovative projects based on successful R&D.
The Competition is organized with the aid of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the NRC “Zhukovsky Institute”, the UAC, CIAM, Yakovlev; Skolkovo Foundation, the cutting-edge cluster in production, nuclear and space technologies; PFRC UB RAS, Kronstadt company, Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises, etc.