How can we autonomously access and evaluate varied hazardous areas or situations that are inaccessible for humans? 

Does your mind go racing with ideas when reading this challenge? Do you want to dig deeper to understand the issue? Do you believe you can find an innovative solution together with other students? If you are a hbo or wo student from a Dutch university with wild ideas, a passion for technology and an interest in submerging yourself in this Unmanned Valley, NATO & Boeing challenge – we are looking for you! 

Unmanned Valley, NATO & Boeing are coming together to organise a student design project. The goal is to come up with a cooperative solution that can autonomously access and evaluate varied hazardous areas or situations that would be inaccessible to human life due to environmental or geographic conditions. 

To do this, Project X will start with a Design Sprint (1 week full-time), followed by a paid Student Challenge (12 weeks, 8-10h a week). We will select up to 35 students for the Design Sprint, and during the design sprint, Unmanned Valley, NATO & Boeing will select 10 students to participate in the Student Challenge. What’s more, the team that wins the Student Challenge will demonstrate their solution to world leadership at the NATO summit in Madrid on June 29th & 30th! It is not obligatory to also apply for the Student Challenge if you want to participate in the Design Sprint. 

Who, what, where? 

The challenge is open for students of all Dutch universities and programmes

Phase 1: Design Sprint > Jan 31st – feb 4th 2022

Phase 2: Student Challenge > feb 7th – Apr. 4th 2022

Final: NATO Summer event Jun. 29th & 30th 2022

What’s in it for you?  

• Get in touch with experts from Boeing and NATO; 
• Have fun with fellow students at Unmanned Valley and stay in a paid-for hotel during phase 1; 
• If selected for phase 2, get paid nearly €1500,- for the Student challenge; 
• The winners of the student challenge demonstrate their solution at the NATO summit in Madrid! 

Sign up! 

Google Forms (Google account needed) 

Questions? Reach out! 

Contact: challenge@vigorous-bouman.85-10-133-110.plesk.page