Prototypes H-EPIC and ANN-2 Receive ‘Best Innovative Real-World Project’ Awards
Khalifa University’s Future Aviation Leadership Center and Outreach Network (FALCON) program has won two awards at the Bader initiative – Innovate in the Aviation Sector – part of UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Promising Futures Career Fair in Civil Aviation at the Etihad Museum in Dubai for groundbreaking contributions to the air transportation industry.
The competition brought together key players from industry, government, and academia to showcase the most promising technologies for future aviation and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM).
The FALCON Program’s H-EPIC (Hybrid-Electric Prototype Integration Concept) drone and ANN-2 subscale prototype each received the ‘Best Innovative Real-World Project’ awards.
H-EPIC, a hybrid-electric drone incorporating both Vertical Take-Off and Landing and fixed-wing flight technologies, tackles sustainability challenges by minimizing emissions and noise, while enhancing operational range and efficiency. It also functions as a platform for Artificial Intelligence based Mission Management Systems and hybrid-electric propulsion technologies critical to advancing Urban Air Mobility.
The ANN-2 prototype, developed in collaboration with Manta International, emphasizes scalability and adaptability in AAM operations. It supports piloted, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous missions, featuring state-of-the-art systems such as Guidance, Navigation, and Control, Sense-and-Avoid, and Human-Machine Interface.
The Bader initiative recognizes advanced projects with real-world applications, inspiring students and professionals to shape the future of aviation.
Khalifa University’s FALCON has established itself as a trailblazer in the realm of flight systems research and innovation. Partnering with both national and international stakeholders, FALCON has excelled in transforming research into impactful, real-world solutions.
Professor Roberto Sabatini, Director of the FALCON Program, said: “The awards at the prestigious BADER Competition are a testament to the innovation and excellence demonstrated by our extraordinary team of students, researchers, and collaborators. The recognition of FALCON’s prototypes highlights their technological sophistication and alignment with national and global sustainability goals. The groundbreaking H-EPIC and ANN-2 prototypes address some of the most critical global challenges in advanced air mobility and intelligent flight systems, exemplifying Khalifa University’s pursuit of cutting-edge research and industry-focused engineering solutions. These pioneering efforts align seamlessly with the UAE’s ambitious goals to lead the way in net-zero aviation and intelligent mobility, fostering a thriving, knowledge-based economy.”
Alisha Roy
Science Writer
