Reduce aviation emissions by 70% — here’s how | Rod Badcock | TEDxChristchurch

In order to meet the targets set by the Paris climate agreement, jet engines will need to be massively more efficient. Rod Badcock and the team at the Robinson Research Institute in New Zealand have been working on a solution: superconducting electric motors — which could increase airplane fuel efficiency by 70% or more.

Dr Rod Badcock is the Deputy Director, and a Principal Engineer, at the Robinson Research Institute and has focussed on the development and implementation of pilot machines and processes. He draws on his multi-disciplinary experiences in science, engineering and industrial manufacturing to bring together international teams that deliver substantive outcomes aimed at drastically changing energy usage and production. More recently Rod has been one of the NASA / IEEE Electric Aircraft roadmap team members looking to solve the challenges of emission and fuel use in commercial aviation. Dr Rod Badcock is the Deputy Director, and a Principal Engineer, at the Robinson Research Institute and has focussed on the development and implementation of pilot machines and processes. He draws on his multi-disciplinary experiences in science, engineering and industrial manufacturing to bring together international teams that deliver substantive outcomes aimed at drastically changing energy usage and production. More recently Rod has been one of the NASA / IEEE Electric Aircraft roadmap team members looking to solve the challenges of emission and fuel use in commercial aviation. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx