NE North Dakota News

A team of aviators from the University of North Dakota (UND) has claimed first place at the Federal Aviation Administration's 2024 Data Challenge. Their research aims to improve communication between air traffic controllers and pilots, potentially enhancing flight safety in the national airspace.

The FAA Data Challenge, now in its second year, is designed for aviation, computer science, and engineering professionals to propose solutions that help the FAA adapt to technological advances. UND's team presented their award-winning research in Washington on March 20, focusing on how air traffic controllers can more effectively communicate with pilots under stress.

The UND team won first place and received $25,000 for the University. Their submission included a poster and an academic paper, both highly regarded by judges. "The team’s presentation was stellar, well thought out and rehearsed, their poster was great, and the technical paper submitted was highly regarded by the judges,” said Brandon Wild, associate professor of Aviation and the team's advisor.

HeroX, the organization coordinating the Data Challenge on behalf of the FAA, praised the team’s final presentation. In an email to Wild, they said, “Thank you also for an outstanding final event. Your presentation was thoughtful, innovative and a true highlight of the 2024 FAA Data Challenge.”

The UND team, advised by Wild, includes Caroline Kelley and Zachary Hoff, both double majoring in Commercial Aviation and Aviation Safety and Operations, and Andie Akenson, a Master of Science in Aviation graduate student. Their project centers on an AI-powered method to help air traffic controllers recognize pilots' attitudes during stressful situations.

These attitudes, as defined by the FAA, range from overconfidence to helplessness. By providing real-time information, the AI solution assists controllers in responding swiftly. Kelley noted, "My favorite part of the challenge was seeing the potential for the project to impact the industry at all levels."

The project also sparked discussions on how the AI solution could be adapted for other aviation contexts, such as flight training debriefs.

For more details about the team's research, further information is available on the UND Today website.