Picture a future when electric autonomous aircraft, radically designed and powered by futuristic batteries, populate the skies, and artificial intelligence helps guide drones that fly well beyond line of sight to serve humanity in the most remote habitats.
A stirring look at what lies ahead, presented by some of the leading players on this exciting stage, awaits those who will attend the initial Lindbergh Innovation Forum at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 24.
“The Lindbergh Innovation Forum is an expert-curated forum to showcase the leading edges of aviation innovation at major international aviation gatherings,” the foundation said in a news release. “It will feature key breakthroughs and innovations that will shape aviation for decades to come. It will show how coming changes will affect us all. It will also introduce customers, partners and members of the aviation community to major innovators and create unique, engaging content for the public.”
John Petersen, chairman of the Lindbergh Foundation, will open the forum at AirVenture, followed by remarks by aerobatic pilot Sean Tucker. The forum will feature 12-minute, live-streamed presentations “designed to be inspiring and provocative,” headlined by Mike Sinnett, Boeing vice president of product strategy and future airplane development, and including leaders from Uber Elevate, Argonne National Laboratory, ZAL Center (Europe’s premier aviation research organization), and several startups.
The participants will present their work on leading-edge concepts including the transformative capabilities of autonomous commercial aircraft; the future of urban air transport; how “additive manufacturing” is radically changing aircraft development and maintenance; futuristic and ultra-efficient aircraft designs; the impact of electric flight on transportation’s future; and advanced battery technology. From the unmanned aircraft sector, Robert Hannaford, co-founder of Air Shepherd, will present on “artificial intelligence, night and beyond visual line of sight.” A complete list of presenters and panel moderators is available here.
At the event’s conclusion, attendees will be able to interact with the presenters over lunch.
The Lindbergh Innovation Forum will take place on July 24 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. All forum events will be held at the Aviation Gateway Park Forums Tent on the EAA AirVenture grounds at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
Additional presentations on aviation’s future will follow the AirVenture debut of the Lindbergh Innovation Forum.
“In this time of great change in aviation, the Lindbergh Foundation’s Innovation Forum will play another positive role at major aviation conventions and conferences worldwide, showcasing promising breakthroughs that will fuel this new revolution and highlighting the individuals and their discoveries that will shape the emerging world,” the Lindbergh Foundation said.
For more information, visit the Lindbergh Innovation Forum website.