At NASA’s fifth annual Gateways to Blue Skies Competition in 2026, a team from South Dakota State University won first place with their project titled WINGMAN. Their design featured augmented reality safety glasses equipped with voice-controlled manuals, automatic documentation, and photo recognition to assist mechanics during routine servicing and minor repairs. This hands-free system intended to streamline line inspections and maintenance tasks, addressing workforce shortages and enhancing flight safety.
The competition focused on advancing aviation maintenance technology and strengthening the future workforce. NASA experts evaluated proposals for their potential practical implementation, highlighting the WINGMAN project’s innovative approach to improve efficiency in daily aircraft maintenance operations by leveraging emerging technologies.
Source & further reading
NASA Announces Winners in University Aeronautics Competition ↗Source published 2026-05-20. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.