South Dakota State University Wins NASA 2026 Blue Skies Competition with AR Glasses

Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.

South Dakota State University secured first place in NASA’s fifth annual Gateways to Blue Skies Competition, challenging students to develop innovative aircraft maintenance systems for commercial aviation by 2035. This year’s theme, RepAir: Advancing Aircraft Maintenance, focused on improving U.S. aviation maintenance and repair operations.

The winning entry, WINGMAN, is a pair of augmented reality safety glasses featuring voice-controlled manuals, automatic documentation, and photo recognition. These glasses assist aircraft mechanics during routine servicing and repairs by providing hands-free access to essential information and reporting functions—acting as a mechanic’s “wingman.”

The nine finalist teams, including SDSU's, presented their projects at the 2026 Gateways to Blue Skies Forum at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Panels included experts from NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, and representatives from Southwest Airlines and American Airlines. Attendees also networked with industry professionals, toured the research center, and explored career opportunities.

As winners, the WINGMAN team members will be offered internships at one of NASA’s four aeronautics research centers during the 2026-27 academic year. These include NASA Langley, NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, NASA Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, and NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.