Abstract:

The current trend of fully exploiting the potential and positive effects of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) led to the emergence of numerous applications in academic research. It becomes an opportunity for the aviation students and at the same time a challenge to acquire an auxiliary specialization during the studies: UAV operator. Starting from this reality, we have initiated within the ”Management of aerial robotic systems” laboratory a research project in order to find alternative solutions in the field of aerial imagery acquisition.
The aim of the methodology is to stimulate the act of creative thinking of aviation students in academic research. Thus, a three-stage creative process was designed: identifying the problem (replacement of electro-mechanical stabilizer with a technical or procedural solution that meets the technical and legislative requirements imposed for UAVs and aerial photogrammetry); producing new ideas and sorting them; solution identification (assessment of applicable solutions and final decision).
For the steps of generating ideas and identifying the solution, it is necessary to acquire and practice specific techniques such as brainstorming and multi-criteria analysis. Thus, the paper has a strong applicative character by enhancing the student's creative act and capitalizing on ideas that will constitute the integral solution of an identified problem. The results demonstrate that inventions do not require extraordinary capabilities, and research activity in any field can help improve life by enhancing creativity at youth.

Keywords:

Aviation students, creativity, brainstorming, multi-criteria analysis, academic research.