Agriculture focus for aerospace challenge

Drones, satellites and the latest computer technology are being employed by hopefuls in the second annual New Zealand Aerospace Challenge.

It was launched by Andrew Mathewson, the Australia Pacific managing director of aeronautical and space company Airbus which is sponsoring the event in partnership with economic development quango ChristchurchNZ .

The theme of this year’s challenge is sustainability in the agricultural sector – exploring ways of identifying water or soil pollution, and enhancing crop management or services using the latest satellite and drone aircraft technology.

Last year’s winner was GPS Control Systems for a navigation satellite system to help heavy tracked vehicles detect and avoid perilous ice shelf crevasses.

Up to 20 applicants will be invited into an incubator programme with access to Airbus data and technology, and mentorship from technology and agricultural specialists. The winner will receive $30,000 and access to other commercialisation support..

The challenge will culminate

a national demonstration in event hosted by ChristchurchNZ in October.

The NZ Space Challenge was the brainchild of space enthusiasts and entrepreneurs Eric Dahlstrom and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, who established educational company SpaceBase with fellow co-founder Rich Bodo.

The 2018 challenge sought technological solutions to navigating extreme environments of Antarctica, and outer space.

SpaceBase entrepreneurs who helped set up the Aerospace Challenge – Eric Dahlstrom (left), Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom and Rich Bodo – on a visit to Nasaowned Hangar One in Moffett Field in California.