National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration 

NASA Glenn Research Center 

UNIVERSITY STUDENT DESIGN CHALLENGE 

2023–2024

INSTALLED BOUNDARY 

LAYER INGESTION 

(BLI) CAPABILITY 

TRUE ZERO-EMISSION UNIFIED POWERTRAIN ARCHITECTURE FOR ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT 

2023–2024 USDC–8 

www.nasa.gov
GRC—University Student Design Challenge

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Table of Contents 

1.0 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2

2.0 Challenge Overview .......................................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Aeronautics Challenge: True Zero-Emission Unified Powertrain Architecture for Electric 

Aircraft....................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1.1 Problem/Research Background ....................................................................................... 3

2.1.2 Challenge Goal and Objectives........................................................................................ 3

2.1.3 Mission Performance Requirements............................................................................... 3

2.1.4 Key Considerations.......................................................................................................... 3

2.1.5 System Design.................................................................................................................. 5

2.1.6 Literature Resources (As Needed)................................................................................... 5

3.0 Challenge Details............................................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Schedule and Milestones .......................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Judges and Judging.................................................................................................................... 6

3.3 Challenge Scoring ...................................................................................................................... 6

3.4 Final Submission and Final Presentations (Virtual Culmination) .............................................. 7

3.5 Culminating Event ..................................................................................................................... 7

4.0 Competition Rules and Requirements.............................................................................................. 7

4.1 Eligibility and Registration......................................................................................................... 7

4.2 Rules and Considerations.......................................................................................................... 8

5.0 Data Submission................................................................................................................................ 8

5.1 Format....................................................................................................................................... 9

5.2 Method...................................................................................................................................... 9

6.0 Presentation Package........................................................................................................................ 9

7.0 Roles and Responsibilities................................................................................................................. 9

7.1 Role of Faculty Advisor.............................................................................................................. 9

7.2 Role of Technical Experts .......................................................................................................... 9

Appendix A—Acronyms and Abbreviations.............................................................................................. 11

Appendix B—Presentation of Written Report .......................................................................................... 12

Appendix C—Submission Release Form.................................................................................................... 14

 
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1.0 Introduction 

The University Student Design Challenge (USDC) hosted by the NASA Glenn Office of STEM 

Engagement (OSTEM) coordinates with Center scientific and technical staff to identify priority 

research and technical areas for academic-year-long design challenges. The challenges involve 

junior and senior student teams of undergraduates in multidisciplinary majors at accredited U.S. 

universities and colleges. The USDC is an extracurricular opportunity. NASA staff serve as mentors 

to students during the design process and as judges to select the strongest solution entries for 

recognition. Research and technology (R&T) development of innovative aerospace- and 

aeronautics-related technologies at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) dates back to 1941. The 

Center cordially invites student teams to participate in its R&T efforts in the eighth-year 

implementation of its sponsored USDC (USDC–8) during the 2023–2024 academic year. 

Students will use nonconventional approaches to solve problems to benefit NASA mission needs. 

The USDC–8 consists of one aeronautics-themed project, True Zero-Emission Unified Powertrain 

Architecture for Electric Aircraft. 

Eligibility for the USDC–8 competition extends to full-time junior- or senior-year 

undergraduate students at accredited U.S. academic institutions. Students must be enrolled in 

multidisciplinary majors in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). 

Equally eligible are students majoring in economics, marketing, graphic arts, or other disciplines 

that would aid in successful execution of the Challenge projects. Each team of participating 

students is required to have an on-campus faculty advisor. The team of students will have access 

to GRC subject matter experts (SMEs) as off-campus technical mentors to complement 

on-campus faculty advisors. 

As with past-year offerings, the USDC–8 encourages participation by multidisciplinary teams 

of students with STEAM majors to address societal needs for an optimal use of technical and 

employable skills to drive and sustain workplace productivity. Application of students’ diverse 

knowledge and resourcefulness is expected to increase team ability and creativity. These 

applications are also expected to foster teambuilding and communication skills, which will 

ultimately enhance workplace productivity. The Design Challenge seeks a multidisciplinary view 

of knowledge to yield varied ideas and feasibilities. 

2.0 Challenge Overview 

The USDC–8 presents the following Design Challenge option, which focuses on aeronautics: 

 Aeronautics Challenge: True Zero-Emission Unified Powertrain Architecture for Electric 

Aircraft 
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2.1 Aeronautics Challenge: True Zero-Emission Unified Powertrain Architecture for 

Electric Aircraft 

2.1.1 Problem/Research Background

NASA recently invented a new closed-cycle turbogeneration technology that can achieve true 

zero emissions while also saving up to 50% fuel consumption. This project will develop a detailed 

engineering model of the Closed Strayton Quad Generator. 

2.1.2 Challenge Goal and Objectives 

The goal of this challenge is to design a 70% efficient, 6-kW/kg 

Closed Strayton Quad Generator system for a 10-MW electric 

aircraft. The objectives are as follows:

1. Complete the closed Strayton cycle design. 

2. Complete the acoustically cooled turbine (Fig. 1). 

3. Complete the acoustic quad loop test. 

4. Complete the rotating heat exchanger model (Fig. 2). 

2.1.3 Mission Performance Requirements

The Closed Strayton Quad Generator concept enables a common electrified aircraft 

propulsion (EAP) architecture, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, that can save at least 30% fuel 

burn with a multi-fuel zero-emission power generator, as shown in Figure 5. 

A study by the University of Michigan’s Michigan Initiative for Sustainable Aviation (MISA),

“Conceptual Design Studies of Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Powered by a Strayton Combined 

Cycle Propulsion System,” shows significant fuel burn savings compared to fuel cells and opencycle turbines: 

Table 1. Fuel per passenger-mile (lb/nmi)

H2 Strayton Fuel Cells Kerosene Strayton H2 Turboprop Kerosene Turboprop

0.015 0.0254 0.0371 0.0409 0.0852 

2.1.4 Key Considerations

This technology enables zero-emission aircraft without compromising safety or range. The 

technology is described in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) paper, 

“True Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Propulsion Transport Technology” by Rodger W. Dyson (AIAA 

2023–3987), selected as AIAA Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS) Conference Best 

Paper in 2023. 

Figure 1. Acoustic Turbine Cooling

Figure 2. Rotating Heat Exchanger
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Figure 3. Common Powertrain

Figure 4. Closed Turbogeneration With Counter-Rotating Fan (CRF) 
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Figure 5. System-level benefit is >30% FBR with convenience of drop-in replacement of existing turbofans

2.1.5 System Design

NASA has established a new electric aircraft propulsion technology category for achieving 

true zero greenhouse gas emission with transport aircraft. This new category is enabled by a 

recently invented Closed Strayton Quad Generator and recently developed megawatt-scale 

electric propulsor motors that enable staged counter-rotating ducted fans in a single nacelle. The 

new electric aircraft propulsion system described is quiet, clean, efficient, reliable, and safe, and 

it supports the global transition from jet fuel and sustainable aviation fuel to future green 

hydrogen fuel with the goal of achieving truly zero impact on the environment. A design of this 

propulsion system is to be developed. 

2.1.6 Literature Resources (As Needed)

Dyson, R.W., True Zero Emission Electric Aircraft Propulsion Transport Technology,” AIAA 

2023–3987, ntrs.nasa.gov. 

NASA Video: Closed Strayton Quad Generator

3.0 Challenge Details 

The following information applies to the aeronautics-themed Design Challenge project. 

3.1 Schedule and Milestones 

Students must register for the Design Challenge competition between October 12, 2023, and 

November 3, 2023, the registration deadline. Registered students are required to participate in 

the following scheduled activities and submit the following deliverables: 

11/3/2023 Registration Deadline 
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11/3/2023 Submission Release Form Deadline 

11/6/2023 to 11/10/2023 Aeronautics Project Kickoff Presentation and Introductory 

Workshop I 

11/20/2023 to 11/21/2023 Aeronautics Project Virtual Student Team Meeting I with GRC 

SMEs 

1/15/2024 to 1/19/2024 Virtual Preliminary Design Review and Team Photo 

2/19/2024 to 2/23/2024 Virtual Pre-Culminating Design Review and Team Action Photo 

3/22/2024 Final Design Report and Team Project Video Deadline 

4/8/2024 to 4/12/2024 Final Presentations – Teams Present Final Outcomes 

4/26/2024 Winners Announced 

6/21/2024 GRC On-Site/Virtual Culminating Event – Winning Teams Invited 

3.2 Judges and Judging 

Each USDC–8 Challenge project will have three independent judges: two subject matter 

experts (SMEs) and one GRC Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) technical staff member with 

expertise regarding the Challenge projects. The final report and presentation by each team will 

contribute heavily to the selection of the Challenge winners. The judges, with their collective final 

decision authority, will select the winning team based on the following: 

 Challenge scoring (Section 3.3) 

 Compliance with USDC–8 rules and requirements (Section 4.0) 

 Compliance with USDC–8 data submission guidelines (Section 5.0) 

Judging will be conducted via videoconference using standardized criteria on a scale of 1 (low,

poor) to 5 (high, superb). Judges will provide scores to each team within 3 weeks after the final 

presentations. 

3.3 Challenge Scoring 

Challenge scores will be based on the judges’ assessment of each team’s creativity and 

ingenuity, as well as the feasibility and practicality of their approach, in addressing and/or solving 

the challenges and issues presented in the USDC–8. Each team’s final submission should reflect 

a high level of quality and effort. Judges are allotted considerable discretion in Challenge scoring. 

Where data support in a presentation is evident, its inclusion will be factored into the final score 

for any team.
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3.4 Final Submission and Final Presentations (Virtual Culmination) 

Each participating team of students shall email their Final Design Report to grc-universitydesign-challenge@mail.nasa.gov no later than March 22, 2024. Team Project Videos are also due 

on March 22, 2024; see Section 4.2 for details. 

Each team shall make a 20- to 30-minute virtual final presentation on their design to the 

USDC–8 judges between April 8 and April 12, 2024. 

3.5 Culminating Event 

Winners will be announced on April 26, 2024. Each of the winning teams and their respective 

faculty advisors will be honored during an event hosted by the NASA Glenn Research Center 

(GRC). The teams will also make their winning Challenge presentations to an audience of GRC

senior leadership and Center personnel, including subject matter experts (SMEs); summer 

student fellows and interns; and faculty fellows. Please note, meals will not be provided during 

the Culminating Event or duration of the teams’ visit to GRC. Teams are responsible for 

purchasing their own meals. 

4.0 Competition Rules and Requirements 

The Final Design Report by each team must reflect attention to the following considerations: 

 For Aeronautics Challenge: 

– Design a 70% efficient, 6-kW/kg Closed Strayton Quad Generator system for a 10-MW 

electric aircraft. 

– Complete the closed Strayton cycle design. 

– Complete the acoustically cooled turbine (Fig. 1). 

– Complete the acoustic quad loop test. 

– Complete the rotating heat exchanger model (Fig. 2). 

Student teams must follow USDC rules regarding eligibility, registration, design, deliverables, 

monitoring, and review. 

4.1 Eligibility and Registration 

Each team must 

 Be composed of full-time undergraduate students in their junior or senior year. 

 Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. (including Puerto Rico) academic institution. 

 Have a United States (U.S.) citizen as Team Lead/Point of Contact (POC). Other members 

of each team must be U.S. citizens or a combination of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent 

residents of the United States. 
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 Attend the Virtual Kickoff Meeting of their focused Aeronautics project. 

 Be composed of no fewer than 3 individuals and no more than 6. 

 Have Team Leads/POCs register all team members through their academic institution no 

later than 11:59 p.m. EST on November 3, 2023. 

 Have an on-campus faculty member volunteer to serve as advisor for the complete 

duration of the USDC–8. 

 Have all team members complete the Submission Release Form for University Student 

Design Challenge, located in Appendix C, and return the completed form via email to 

grc-university-design-challenge@mail.nasa.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on 

November 3, 2023. 

4.2 Rules and Considerations 

Each team participating in the USDC–8 agrees to: 

 Grant NASA unimpeded visitation to its operations and/or worksites to allow inspection 

of its conceptual design, if needed. NASA may use such visits (virtual or in-person) to verify 

any team’s compliance with stated USDC–8 rules. 

 Permit NASA to review any USDC-related information and/or data the team has withheld. 

NASA may use such data to validate a team’s final submission. 

 Provide the following in support of social media and press releases: 

– Two photos: One photo of the team with the faculty advisor and one photo of the 

team in action (e.g., creating design drawings, charts, or quantitative figures). 

Photos should be at least 1200 pixels wide by 600 pixels high. Photos cannot be blurry 

or low resolution. No file sizes greater than 3 MB. Stationary team photo with faculty 

advisor is due no later than January 19, 2024. Team action photo is due no later than 

February 23, 2024. 

– Team Project Video: A 2- to 3-minute video that shows the team building or 

developing their design from start to finish. Use creativity to tell the story of the 

project. Avoid having one person speaking to the camera the entire time. Do not send 

a video version of a PowerPoint presentation. Send video as an MP4 file to a medium 

that will be identified at a later date (e.g., Dropbox or Google Drive). Due date is 

March 22, 2024. 

5.0 Data Submission 

Each team must follow the submission guidelines below. 
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5.1 Format 

Each team’s written report must not exceed 12 pages (excluding appendices and references) 

and must be received via email by the GRC Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) at grc-universitydesign-challenge@mail.nasa.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on March 22, 2024. The report 

shall follow the template in Appendix B. 

Presentation and document submissions shall be in Adobe portable document format (PDF) 

or Microsoft PowerPoint (PPT), although PDF is preferred. Any handwritten or drawn 

document(s) shall be scanned and delivered via PDF with a minimum resolution of 400 by 

400 dots per inch (dpi). 

5.2 Method 

All USDC–8 materials, including each team’s final submission, shall be sent to this email 

address: grc-university-design-challenge@mail.nasa.gov. 

6.0 Presentation Package 

Each Presentation Package shall include a cover page bearing the title of the Presentation, 

each team member’s name, the faculty advisor’s name, the academic affiliation, and location. 

The Presentation Package shall express reference to “2024 GRC University Student Design 

Challenge (USDC–8).” POCs for each team shall place their initials next to their name.

7.0 Roles and Responsibilities 

There are distinct roles and responsibilities for on-campus faculty advisors and GRC-based 

technical experts, as noted in the following subsections. 

7.1 Role of Faculty Advisor 

The on-campus faculty advisor 

 Advises students on the Design Challenge project and is available on campus to meet with 

students 

 Guides students to achieve goals of the Design Challenge 

 Refers students to appropriate institutional resources 

 Confirms his or her support via email to grc-university-design-challenge@mail.nasa.gov 

7.2 Role of Technical Experts 

GRC’s highly skilled workforce includes world-renowned researchers, among them rocket 

scientists, engineers, physicists, and chemists, as well as aviation specialists and others, many of 

whom will serve as technical experts throughout the Design Challenge. Students will be 

immersed in NASA-related research and engineering through interaction with these talented, 
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dedicated, and passionate employees. With countless specializations in numerous fields, the 

employees at GRC share one goal: working for the public in support of NASA’s mission. 

Technical experts have the following roles and responsibilities: 

 Serve as content specialists 

 Serve as Design Challenge judges 

 Respond to team questions 

 Review Design Challenge project submissions 

 Debrief teams if requested 

 
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Appendix A—Acronyms and Abbreviations 

AATT Advanced Air Transport Technology

AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

CRF counter-rotating fan

CST Commercial Supersonic Technology

DC direct current 

dpi dots per inch 

EAP electrified aircraft propulsion 

EATS Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium

FBR fuel burn rate

FC fuel cell

GRC Glenn Research Center 

kg kilogram

kW kilowatt 

MISA Michigan Initiative for Sustainable Aviation

MW megawatt 

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

OSTEM Office of STEM Engagement

PAI propulsion airframe integration

PDF portable document format

POC point of contact

PPT PowerPoint 

R&T research and technology 

RVLT Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology

SME subject matter expert 

STEAM science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics 

STEM science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

TF turbo fan

TTBW Transonic Truss-Braced Wing

U.S. United States

USDC University Student Design Challenge 
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Appendix B—Presentation of Written Report 

Title of Report (Cover Page)

First A. Author, Second B. Author, Jr., Third Author

Academic Affiliation, City, State, Zip Code

Faculty Advisor/Academic Affiliation

2023–2024 GRC University Student Design Challenge (USDC–8) 

NASA Glenn Research Center

Cleveland, Ohio
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Title of Report (Title Page)

The title of your paper should be typed in bold, 18-point type, with capital and lowercase letters, 

and centered at the top of the page.

Abstract

The abstract should appear at the beginning of your paper. It should be one 

paragraph long and complete in itself (i.e., not an introduction). It should indicate 

subjects dealt with in the paper and state the objectives of the investigation. 

Newly observed facts and conclusions of the experiment or arguments discussed 

in the paper must be stated in summary form; readers should not have to read 

the paper to understand the abstract. The abstract should be bold, indented 

(1/2 in.) on each side, justified, and separated from the rest of the document by 

two blank lines. 

Keywords: Five to seven subject keywords should be listed and separated by commas. 

Nomenclature:

Body of Paper

For uniformity, 12-point Calibri font is recommended. 

Major report headings should be bold, centered, and numbered with Roman numerals. 

Subheadings should be bold, flush left, and numbered with capital letters. Sub-subheadings 

should be italic, flush left, and numbered. 

Reports should include the following sections:

I. Introduction/Background

II. Methodology/Approach

III. Discussion of Results/Findings

IV. Conclusions/Recommendations

Appendices (if any)

Acknowledgments

References
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Appendix C—Submission Release Form 

SUBMISSION RELEASE FORM FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENT DESIGN CHALLENGE

Title of Submission:______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________ (“Submission”)

Submitter’s Name: ____________________________________________________ (“Student”) 

Submission Team Members (if applicable) (“Student’s Team”): 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Faculty advisor(s) (if applicable): ___________________________________________________

Name of School ________________________________________________________________

School Address _________________________________________________________________ 

City _______________________ State _________ Zip _________ Phone__________________

Grade/Level of Study _____________ 

I, the Student, certify that the above Submission, including any text and illustrations, and any 

ancillary or attendant material, was made, created, or otherwise developed by the Student or 

the Student’s Team and was not copied from another work, photograph, illustration, or website 

or made, developed, or created by any other person or entity. I understand that the Submission, 

including any text and illustrations, and any ancillary or attendant material, will not be returned. 

I give permission to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to use, reproduce, 

publish, perform publicly, display publicly, prepare derivative works from, and distribute copies 

to the public of the Submission, including any text and illustrations, and any ancillary or attendant 

material, and the Student’s name, photo, school, and grade/level of study for any and all 

purposes deemed appropriate by NASA. NASA may distribute the Submission, including text and 

illustrations, and any ancillary or attendant material, through a variety of media, including, but 

not limited to, print, television, websites, or any other means, digital or otherwise. NASA may 

also permit a third party to exercise NASA’s rights, including, but not limited to, the right to 

display or distribute the Submission, including text and illustrations, and any ancillary or 

attendant material, in a manner NASA deems appropriate. If information from any other person 

or entity is included in the Submission, including text and illustrations, and any ancillary or 

attendant material, it is the Student’s responsibility to obtain the appropriate permissions for use 

of such information as provided herein. 
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Student unconditionally releases, discharges, and agrees to save harmless NASA from and against 

any and all claims, liabilities, demands, actions, causes of action, costs and expenses, whatsoever, 

at law or in equity, known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, suspected or unsuspected, 

which Student ever had, now has, or may, shall, or hereafter have by any reason, matter, cause, 

or thing whatsoever, arising out of Student’s participation or efforts in making, creating, or 

otherwise developing the Submission, including text and illustrations, and any ancillary or 

attendant material. 

This release and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter 

or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed 

in accordance with the laws of the United States of America, and the Student agrees that the 

courts of the United States of America shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or 

claim that arises out of or in connection with this release. 

If any provision, or portion thereof, of this release is, or becomes, invalid under any applicable 

statute or rule of law, it is to be deemed stricken, and the rest of this release shall remain in full 

force and effect. 

Student hereby affirms that he/she is over the age of 18 and has the right to contract in his/her 

own name. Student has read the above release prior to its execution and fully understands the 

contents thereof. This release shall be binding upon Student and his/her heirs, legal 

representatives, and assigns. 

________________________________________________ __________________

(Participant’s Signature) (Date) 

OR

I, __________________________________, am the parent or legal guardian of the Student and 

have the right to contract for him/her. I have read the above release prior to its execution and 

fully understand the contents thereof. This agreement shall be binding upon me and my heirs, 

legal representatives, and assigns and those of the subject(s) listed above. 

________________________________________________ __________________

(Signature of Parent or Legal Guardian) (Date)