Dallas College Engineering Team Places Third in National Innovation Challenge with LiDAR Aviation Safety Technology

Dallas College Engineering Team Secures Third Place in National Innovation Challenge with LiDAR Aviation Safety System

A team of engineering students from Dallas College has achieved third place in the 2025 Community College Innovation Challenge, earning national acclaim for their development of a LiDAR-based aviation safety system aimed at reducing aircraft fatalities. Their project, Alerts VIA Detection and Ranging (AVIADAR), is designed to provide pilots with real-time alerts about obstacles in their flight path, potentially setting new standards for aviation safety.

Innovation and Competition

The Dallas College team—comprising Mang Cin, Khai Huynh, Taylor Hill, and Christopher Zuniga—competed in Washington, D.C., from June 9 to 12, having been selected as one of only twelve finalist teams nationwide. The competition, co-organized by the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Science Foundation, included an Innovation Boot Camp featuring sessions on business planning, stakeholder engagement, and marketplace dynamics. Their project attracted significant attention for its potential to enhance pilot situational awareness and prevent accidents.

Mang Cin highlighted the motivation behind AVIADAR, stating, “There have been so many unfortunate accidents lately involving plane crashes. We have AVIADAR sensors on the plane that detect hazards in the flight path, providing real-time alerts to pilots.” The system utilizes light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology to map an aircraft’s surroundings in real time, a capability increasingly vital as private aviation and autonomous aircraft become more prevalent.

From Classroom Project to Startup Potential

The AVIADAR initiative began as a classroom project in Fall 2024 and has since evolved into a promising startup concept. The team’s work was further enhanced through their participation in NASA’s Technology Transfer University (T2U) program, making them the first team from North Texas to integrate NASA-developed technologies into their innovation. Professor L. Taylor Starr, who mentored the team, praised their dedication: “Their relentless commitment to research and continuous improvement is quite remarkable. As an engineering professor with an MBA and aerospace industry background, I love nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in our student innovators.”

Despite the promise of AVIADAR, the integration of LiDAR technology into existing aviation systems faces potential challenges. Regulatory approval processes and competition from established industry players may slow widespread adoption. Nevertheless, the aviation market has demonstrated growing interest in technologies that enhance runway and in-flight safety, and innovations like AVIADAR could prompt accelerated advancements across the sector.

Industry Context and Recognition

Industry experts, as noted by Aviation Week, emphasize the importance of collaboration among technology developers, operators, and regulators to ensure that new safety solutions can be effectively and safely incorporated into aviation infrastructure. The Dallas College team’s achievement places them just behind Bergen Community College in New Jersey, which won first place for its Pop-Up Hydroponic project. This recognition not only highlights innovation emerging from North Texas but also underscores the increasing significance of advanced safety technologies in shaping the future of aviation.