Challenge Winner Will Be Awarded a $25,000 Prize!

One winning team will be selected for each of the four categories. The four finalist teams will be invited to demonstrate their concepts at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey in late June 2022. A travel reimbursement of up to $6,000 will be awarded to each of the four finalist teams to help offset the cost of traveling to New Jersey to demonstrate their concepts. Student participants of each finalist team will receive certificates.

Four (4) $10,000 cash prizes will be offered – one (1) for each category winner. An additional $15,000 will be offered to the best overall submission. Finalist teams will also be invited to an awards ceremony where the prizes will be presented to the lead university of the winning teams.

A presentation at the William J Hughes Technical Center


The Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is the Federal Agency sponsor of the prize. The Prize Administrator (National Institute of Aerospace, or “NIA”) will administer the award of a single dollar amount to the designated lead academic institution of the winning team. The lead academic institution is solely responsible for allocating any prize funds among its team members as they deem appropriate. The FAA retains sole discretion to select the winning team. The FAA reserves the right to not award the prize if the Steering Committee believes that no submission demonstrates sufficient innovative scientific and engineering potential and/or achievements.