Keynote Speakers:

 

Todd Reichert obtained his B.A.Sc. from University of Toronto Engineering Science (Aerospace Option) in 2005, and his Ph.D. in 2011 from the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS). Cameron Robertson obtained his B.A.Sc. from U of T Engineering Science (Aerospace Option) in 2008, and his M.A.Sc. in 2009 also at UTIAS. Todd and Cameron led the team that designed and built the Snowbird Human-Powered Ornithopter. On August 2nd 2010, the Snowbird became the first human-powered flapping-wing aircraft to sustain flight (as overseen and certified by the FAI). Todd and Cameron were named co-recipients of the CASI Trans-Canada McKee Trophy, one of the most prestigious awards in Canadian Aerospace. The two have also spent the past several years with the University of Toronto Human-Powered Vehicle Design Team, competing in the annual ASME Human-Powered Vehicle Challenge. The team also travels to Battle Mountain, Nevada, for the World Human-Powered Speed Challenge each year and currently holds the Collegiate World Speed Record at 116.9Km/h.

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More recently, Todd and Cameron established AeroVelo Inc, a company dedicated to lightweight engineering design and efficient human-powered transportation. Their current focus is the Atlas Human-Powered Helicopter Project with the aim of capturing the 30-year old Sikorsky Prize, for the first flight of a human-powered helicopter to exceed 60 seconds duration and reach 3m in height. The helicopter itself is 160ft across, yet weighs only 120lb The team is largely comprised of undergraduates from U of T Engineering and several other Canadian universities. For this project AeroVelo was awarded the FAI's Prince Alvaro d'Orleans Borbon Grant, for the fostering of aerospace education and increasing the exposure of sporting aviation.

Initial flight testing on the Atlas was conducted in Vaughan in the end of August, with successful flights up to 15 seconds achieved, making it only the 4th human-powered helicopter in history to achieve flight. In early 2013 the team has carried out ongoing testing and is very close to achieving the prize.
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