A team of Rensselaer graduate students took home the top honors at the 39th Annual Student Design Competition of the Vertical Flight Society (VFS) for their “Oliwhoper,” an air taxi designed for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM).

This year’s competition challenged students to design an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) concept that takes into consideration a broad spectrum of travelers, including persons with disabilities of all types.

The “Oliwhoper” was chosen in the graduate student category for its “accessible cabin design, effective aerodynamic performance, and a user-friendly design for all passengers to travel comfortably and reliably to their destination,” according to VFS.