Let's Build Airships in the works!

We've changed our name to "Let's Build Airships!", and that's exactly what we're doing!

Target and Objective

Target:
The University of Washington's Environmental Innovation Challenge.

Objective:
Designing the modern dirigible: a helium-filled rigid airship with fuel source (traditional or alternative/solar) that can carry a payload and be navigated.

Basic Questions

There are five basic questions that we hope to answer in the EIC:

1- What would the modern dirigible look like? What is it's shape? For this, we need an aeronautical engineer.

2- What would it be made out of? What are the latest advances in ultra-light, ulta-strong materials?

3- How would it run? What sort of engines are the most efficient and most practical?

4- How would it be powered? What is the best fuel source for the modern dirigible?

(4b- As a bonus question, could it run on solar power? Could the top of the dirigible be covered in ultra thin PV panels?)

5: How would it be controlled? What sort of instrumentation is needed? Can it be controlled by an iPhone?

5- Finally, given the parameters set in these questions, how big would it be? What's the smallest size possible (possibly for research purposes, if not for toys)? What's the optimal size? How big would it have to be to carry 500lbs?

Those are the questions we're hoping to challenge in the University of Washington Dirigible Challenge.

Who We Are

The team (so far):

-A Civil Engineer with an PhD from MIT
-A Microsoft program manager with a MS in Computer Engineering working on his MBA
-PhD and MS candidates in Mechanical Engineering
-A junior in Aero/Astro Engineering with five years experience as a helicopter mechanic for the Marines.
-Me (that's "me", not "M.E.")

What is the EIC?

The Environmental Innovation Challenge is an event hosted every year by the Foster School of Business and the UW Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The Intent to Submit deadline is Thursday, Feb 17th (which I intend to do).

Seminars are held everything Thursday through February and into March.

The final big event will happen March 31st, and is scheduled to take place all day. It's a pretty big deal with lots of VIPs present.

Main Page:
http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/cie/eic/Pages/eic.aspx

Timeline:
http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/cie/eic/Pages/timeline.aspx

Judging Criteria:
http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/cie/eic/Pages/judgingcriteria.aspx

Event Schedule for Business Plan Competition:
http://www.foster.washington.edu/centers/cie/businessplancompetition/Pages/schedule.aspx#resource

How the EIC is Judged

Taken straight from the EIC website:

* Environmental Innovation Challenge
o Course
o Team Preparation
o Timeline + Deliverables
o Prizes + Sponsors

* Course
* Team Preparation
* Timeline + Deliverables
* Prizes + Sponsors

Judging Criteria

UW Environmental Innovation Challenge

UW Environmental Innovation Challenge judges come from many sectors of business, industry, government, education and policy.

Maximum number of points that any team can earn during the Challenge is 100 points.

We break them out this way:

5 to 7-page business summary 20 points
1-page business summary 10 points
Pitch to audience at the Challenge 10 points
Demo (prototype, simulation) at the Challenge 40 points
Potential for impact 20 points

Each 5-7 page Business Summary (due from teams on March 3, 2011 at midnight) will be judged on:

* Definition of the Problem
What is the size of the problem? How difficult a problem is this to solve? What attempts have already been made to solve this problem?

* Team
Who are the individuals on the team? Do they have the skills to solve the problem? Have they engaged advisors, mentors, experts from the community or industry?

* Business Summary
Does it define the problem?
Does it describe the solution?
What will the demo consist of (prototype, simulation, proof of concept, poster, video)?
Is the solution original/a novel application of an existing product/off the shelf?
Has the team researched and described the market opportunity, the competition?
What is the scope of the opportunity (dollars, units produced, global impact)?
Does the solution fit the problem? Does it demonstrate an appropriate balance between the cost of the solution and its impact on the problem?
What would it cost to produce?

The Challenge teams that present on March 31, 2011 will be judged on their 1-page business summary, their pitch, their demo of the prototype, and the potential for impact.

* 1-page business summary: same criteria as for the 5- to 7-page summary (above)

* 1-2 minute pitch to the judges:
How motivated, enthusiastic is the team?
Have they been able to convey the essential elements of the problem, the solution, and the market opportunity?
How well do they understand the problem/solution (from both technical and marketing perspectives)?
Have they generated enthusiasm to see their demo?

* The demo of the prototype:
Does the Demo work? If it is not yet complete, could it work?
Has the team provided test results and validation?
Can the team describe the process and how it works?
Can they describe how it could be improved?
Is this solution efficient? Does it make optimal use of resources?
How practical is this solution? What would it cost to make?
Is this original work? Is it a novel application of an existing product? Is it off-the-shelf?

* Potential for Impact:
Could this team and this solution have a substantial impact in the market? In the world? In people’s lives?

Best single article on dirigibles!

Nothing like a feature article in a British newspaper, citing Lockhead Martin and Northrup Drummond, to bring legitimacy to an idea!

It does an excellent job giving historical reference, modern developments, and some technical information.

DailyMail Online, Feb 20, 2011: The pioneering Brits who are heralding the dawn of the new Zeppelin age