AVIATOR: DESIGN CHALLENGE

Task Design and make a fast, light, wireless remote controlled aircraft (using electric motors only), which can maneuver around the mentioned path and having a maximum payload fraction in the least possible time, before landing in the specified zone.

Figure 1: Path The specifics of the task: The following order of the task has to be followed: 1. Start from one of the launch zones (I or II). 2. Take a U turn from the line passing through a pole A. 3. Now, follow the path as mentioned in the diagram to make an Eight in the horizontal plane. 4. Enter the safe landing zone and land. Try and land as close as possible to the innermost spot of the spot landing zone. 5. Complete the whole task in the least time possible.

Arena Specification:

Figure 2: Arena Specification

Figure 3: Spot Landing Zone

Machine Specifications: 1. An aircraft is defined as an object that has the four forces of flight, namely lift, drag, weight (gravity) and thrust due to propeller acting on it at any point of time. 2. The aircraft is to be designed in such a way that it travels quickly in air, is easily maneuverable and has the maximum payload fraction. 3. The use of launching mechanisms is prohibited. The aircraft should be hand launched. 4. The use of IC engines is prohibited. Only electrical motors are allowed. 5. Teams must provide their own payload for all the portions of competition. 6. The participants are free to use the materials of their choice. However the use of Balsa wood/foam (sun board)/sunpack is advisable. Balsa wood is light, easy to handle and fabricate the aircraft making it the best choice. 7. Participants must make all parts of the aircraft themselves. Usage of Ready-to-Fly (RTF) and Almost-Ready-to-Fly (ARF) kits is strictly prohibited. However, the kit comprising of unassembled cut-pieces of Balsa wood is allowed. 8. Use of ready-made actuators/motors, remote controls and propellers is allowed. 9. Any dimension of the aircraft should not exceed 9000 mm i.e. maximum allowed dimension is 90cm, whether it is the wingspan or the length of the aircraft. Any exception to this rule will render the participant disqualified. 10. The weight of aircraft must not be more than 500 grams. 11. Use of gyroscopes (gyros) is prohibited. 12. Payload fraction is the ratio of the payload to the total weight of the aircraft, where Payload is the dead weight. a) which provides no addition to the strength of the wings and fuselage for e.g. steel rods to strengthen the wings are not allowed b) which provides no aerodynamic advantage in terms of lift for e.g. placing extra sets of wings to gain more lift is not allowed c) Max dimension of the payload should be 30% of the maximum dimension of the plane d) Payload should comprise a maximum of two identically shaped discrete bodies. e) Payload has to be brought by the teams for the competition. The organizing team is not responsible at any time in the competition for providing the payload. 13. Empty weight of the aircraft is defined as the total weight without the payload. The empty weight of the plane should not exceed 500 grams at any point of time during the competition. The empty weight of the plane would be checked by the coordinator before every run 14. Anyone found not following the above rules will be disqualified.

Game Rules 1. The participant will be considered for scoring only if his plane follows the mentioned path. Otherwise, his score stands at zero. 2. During departure and approach to landing, the pilot must not fly the aircraft in a pattern that will allow the aircraft to enter any of the no-fly zones. The run would be counted as null and void in the event the plane enters into any one of the no fly zones. The participant shall then have no further flying attempts. 3. All parts must remain attached to the aircraft during flight and landing. 4. Broken propellers are allowed, and will not invalidate a flight attempt. Note: The no-fly zone is the area excluding the rectangle of 140mX90m shown in the figure as seen from the top. Competition Rules 1. The time of flight for a run is defined as the time taken by the aircraft to follow the mentioned path, reach the Safe Landing Zone and land there. 2. A maximum time of 3 minutes will be given to complete the circuit. 3. The aircraft has to be hand launched i.e. the aircraft will be launched in the air with hand and no other launch devices. 4. The timer will start from the moment the aircraft is in the air. 5. The timer will stop only when the aircraft finally comes to a halt. 6. A minimum of 100 grams of payload would have to be carried for the round. The weight of the payload would be decided by the teams for their respective aircraft and should be notified to the coordinator. 7. The teams are expected to fix the payload tightly and should be intact during the course of the flight. 8. If any part of the plane detaches during the flight, the payload fraction will be calculated according to the weight of the plane left after landing. 9. However, if any part detaches after the landing, it will not result in any penalty. 10. As soon as the timer signals more than 3 minutes, only the points gathered by the aircraft up to that moment are considered. For example, if after following the mentioned path the plane is still in air when timer stops, it will be considered to have scored the structure quotient only and no more even if it lands after the allotted 3 minutes. 11. Each team will be given two runs and the better of the two will be considered for the calculation of points. a) Two chances would be given for each run, only if the plane lands before crossing a line passing through Pole A.

b) If the team thinks that the plane is not functioning properly they can use the second chance only by landing before crossing a line passing through Pole A. c) If the plane crosses pole A, the re-run will not be given. General Requirements during the game: 1. Radios: The use of 2.4 GHz radio is required for all aircraft competing in the competition. 2. Metal Propellers Prohibited: Metal propellers are not allowed. Abstract Submission: 1. All the participants need to submit an abstract on their aircraft. 2. For teams requiring accommodation, the last date of submitting the Abstract is 15th November 2013. Video Submission: 1. Participants have to submit a video of the working model before the competition. This video will be used to shortlist teams for the competition. Only short listed teams will be eligible to participate in the Aviator: Design Challenge at Techfest 2014. 2. The video should be an unedited clip, at least 1 minute in length, showing the aircraft taking off initially and taking a U-turn. 3. In the video, one of the participants from the team must demonstrate that he/she has decent flying skills for safety reasons. 4. The participants need to show their aircraft, the basic functions of their remote control, fly the aircraft with which they will be participating in the event and demonstrate its launch/take off, flight and landing. 5. The clip should preferably be in AVI or MPEG format. If any other format is used, please attach appropriate video plug-ins to ensure that the organizers can run the video properly. 6. The teams have to do either an online submission or an offline submission. For online submissions, participants need to mail us the soft copy of abstract (PDF format) and the video at aviator_design@techfest.org. For offline submissions, participants need to send us a printed copy of abstract and a CD/DVD containing the video. The CD and the printed abstract have to be couriered in a single envelope to the postal address: Techfest Office, Student Gymkhana, IIT Bombay, Powai, Mumbai-76, India. The last date of submitting the portfolio is 25th of November 2013. 7. An email will be sent to the team leader confirming the reception of the entry.

8. Techfest 2014 is not responsible for any postal/courier delays, so participants are encouraged to send their entries well in advance to ensure receipt before the last date. 9. The video submission is mandatory for all participants due to safety concerns. All participants who are able to show their basic flying skills in the video will be allowed to participate in the competition. Judging Participants will be considered for the scoring only if they are able to cross the line passing through Pole A, Otherwise his score will be considered as zero. Score= Structural quotient + Speed quotient + Landing

a) Structural quotient = 1000 X (Payload Fraction) Payload Fraction is the ratio of weight of payload to the total weight of the aircraft. b) Speed quotient = 180-Time Time is the time calculated by the organizer in seconds from the moment the plane is in the air to when it finally lands in the Safe Landing Zone. c) Landing = (Safe Landing) + (Spot Landing) Safe landing: Safe landing is defined as a smooth landing where the propeller of the plane is undamaged and also the remaining parts are intact after the plane touches the ground. The participant is allotted 50 points for Safe Landing in the Safe Landing Zone. Spot Landing: Spot Landing is defined as landing the plane in the Spot Landing Zone. 1. 200 points for landing in the Black Zone of radius 5 meters. 2. 100 points for landing in the Blue Zone of radius 10 meters. 3. 50 points for landing in the Red Zone of radius 15 meters. Note that the Safe Landing Zone includes the Spot Landing Zone, therefore Safe Landing in the Spot Landing Zone will reward in 50 points for Safe Landing added to the points for Spot Landing depending on the particular colour zone where he landed Certificate Policy Certificates of Excellence will be awarded to all teams who are in the top 3 positions. Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams that are able to cross a line passing through Pole A.

Team Specifications A team can consist of a maximum of 4 participants. Students from different educational institutes can form a team. Eligibility All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate in the Aviator: Design Challenge at Techfest 2014.