Rules and Registration Instructions
The RAF Engineering Competition 2019 is open to: RAF Regular and Reserve Service Personnel across all RAF Trades and Branches; MOD Civil Servants, Whole Force (Permanent Contractors) and Joint Participants in teams comprising a majority of RAF personnel; the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS); and University Air Squadrons (UAS). These comprise the ‘Senior Competition’ teams.
The 2019 competition is extending eligibility for youth organisations to include the RAF Air Cadets, Combined Cadet Force (RAF), the Air Scouts, the Explorer Scouts and Girlguiding. These are ‘Youth Engagement’ teams.
There is no restriction on team size: individuals, friends, Sections, Units etc are all eligible to enter.
The challenge is to design an engineering solution relating to air and space activities, or the applications and processes that support them. The scope extends across the diversity of ways the RAF delivers its outputs in any aspect of Flying, Engineering, Logistics and/or People. Ideas should be based around one or more of the following broad categories:
a. Space. The RAF uses satellites to observe, locate, communicate and pass information around the globe, and we can ‘look’ into space using telescopes and radar. But how could the RAF evolve its activities in space in the future? Could we put RAF astronauts into orbiting space stations? Are there uses for satellites that we haven’t considered? Could we better link together space-borne, airborne and land-based technologies? Will the RAF develop its own launch capabilities to support its space activities?
b. Air Power: What features will characterise the next generation of RAF aircraft? Could they fly higher, further, faster or for longer? What roles could unmanned aircraft play in RAF activities? Could the RAF employ autonomous air vehicles for logistic air drops or surveillance in hazardous areas?
c. Technology: How could technology be used to improve the way we do business? Whether it’s administration, logistics, flying, training or catering, all the functions that we undertake in our everyday lives have the potential to be improved upon with the support of technology. Wearables, gadgets, apps, the ‘Internet of Things’, virtual/augmented reality each offer opportunities to change the way we live and work.
d. The Information Age: ‘Big Data’, ‘Cloud Computing’, ‘Artificial Intelligence’ are all terms associated with the massive amount of information that we create and store on a daily basis. If that information could be organised and investigated, how could it be used to help us to recognise trends and perhaps anticipate future events?
Phase 1 requires the submission of the concept and a draft design, submitted on no more than 3 sides of A4 using Arial 11 font. The concept must address the questions of ‘What’s the idea?’, ‘Why does it make a difference?’ and ‘How does it work?’.
How to Enter: Register for the competition by completing an online form HERE or by sending an e-mail to the Competition Mailbox at RAF-Engineering-Competition@mod.gov.uk Latest date for registration is 25 October 2019. When registering by email the team should include the word ‘Registration’ at the start of the Subject Header. In the Text Field, teams should enter the following details: Team name; parent station or organisation (or composite team, if applicable), contact e-mail address; primary point(s) of contact; telephone contact.
Latest date for submission of entries is 8 November 2019. Entries should complete the online form HERE which requires you to upload you entry. It can also be completed by sending your entry to the Competition Mailbox: RAF-Engineering-Competition@mod.gov.uk Teams should include the word ‘Submission’ at the start of the Subject Header.
Entries will be sorted into the 2 groups: Regular Service teams and Youth Engagement teams; then judged and sifted by a representative panel of judges against the criteria of innovation, originality and practicality. Entries from each of the 2 groups will be selected to proceed to Phase 2 of the competition, culminating in the Finals Event in June 2020.
Entries that progress to Phase 2 will receive a budget of up to £2000 to help produce concept demonstrators and (optionally) a prototype.
The Finals Event will take place at the RAF Cosford Air Show in Jun 2020 and will be of a ‘Dragons Den’ format. The judging panel will consist of engineering specialists from Service and civilian backgrounds, and inspirational figures involved in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Further details relating to Phase 2 of the competition will be sent to those teams progressing from Phase 1.
Ownership of the concepts and designs submitted in Phase 1 remains the exclusive property of the teams concerned. Details for Intellectual Property Rights matters relating to entries proceeding to Phase 2 will be sent to those teams progressing from Phase 1.
