PROJECT HISTORY
June 2013 – Brief written for tender to identify research partner to assist in developing outdoor shuttlecock.
December 2014 – Tender processed closed. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore identified as best potential partner.
December 2014 – Initial criteria set for development of outdoor shuttlecock and its design parameters. MoU signed with NTU to commence development of prototype shuttlecocks for testing.
February 2018 – 30 prototypes created between 2015 and 2018. Patents posted on key design elements of outdoor shuttlecock.
April 2018 – First phase of testing at University of Alicante in Spain. Analysed surfaces and physical demand of game. Received qualitative feedback from participants. Participants included Olympians, national team players, students, club players and teenagers.
July 2018 – Second phase of testing also hosted at University of Alicante. Tested game format, scoring system, net height and court dimensions. Also tested competition rules on sand court with Spanish National Team players.
November 2018 – Presented project update to BWF Council Members at BWF Council Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, including first exhibition match.
December 2018 – Presented to potential manufacturers at meeting in Guangzhou.
January 2019 – Third phase of testing at Universiti of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. Analysed the performance of the outdoor shuttlecock and tested both hard and sand surfaces.
February 2019 – Meetings to select production partner of outdoor shuttlecock.
March 2019 – AirBadminton and AirShuttle names and logos selected.
May 2019 – AirBadminton project revealed and launched in Guangzhou in partnership with BWF’s Global Development Partner, HSBC.
May 2019 – AirBadminton project presented to BWF’s Member Associations at Annual General Meeting in Nanning, China.
December 2019 – First HSBC BWF AirBadminton Community Project launched in Guangzhou.
March 2020 – BWF introduced the shuttlecock to the global market.