The Aviator

An aero modelling competition which will test your knack for making remote controlled aircraft.

1.1 Introduction

Welcome to the dense forests of X, situated on the coasts of

river Z. Owing to your brilliant manoeuvring skills, Chief Y has
made you a part of a 10-member special rescue and
operations team. Due to incessant rainfall for the last 2
weeks, river Z has flooded and along with it a lot of
fishermen villages have been swept away as well.
Approximately 1 lakh people have been left homeless and
are being shifted to the camps. The area is near about
inaccessible in terms of air-transport. Chief Y has given the
SOS signal to his specialized team on whom depends the lives
of a lakh people. It is time to prove your might and carry out
the task given to you with courage and precision.

You will have to manoeuvre through the dense forests over the roaring river and have to deliver food packets
and medical aid to the affected people.

1.2 Problem Statement:

Design and make a wireless remote controlled aircraft, which has all three degrees of freedom including yaw,
pitch and roll and that can complete a specified path and drop a packet of given weight at some specified
location in the minimum possible time.

Arena and Path Specifications:

2.1 Launching Zone

 Participants will have to hand-launch their aircraft from within the launching zone.
 The gliders should be launched in the direction shown in the figures.
 The launching zone would be a circle of 10 meter radius.

2.2 Specifications of path to be followed

 Distance between center of launching zone and pole 1 = 25 meters

 Distance between pole 1 and pole 2 = 20 meters.
 Distance between pole 2 and pole 3 = 20 meters.
 Distance between pole 3 and center of drop zone = 30 meters
 Height of pole 1, pole 2, pole 3 = 6 meters
 Height of pole 4, pole 5 = 3 meters.
 Ribbons tied between the poles will be taut.

Figure1:Isometric view of the Path

Figure2: Top view of the Path

Figure3:Drop Zone

Figure4: Arena with Dimensions

Machine Specifications
3.1 Glider 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 can carry a packet (block) of 70-75 gms, and can release it
midway during its flight.
3. The Block will be a solid block of dimension 50mm x 30mm x 18 mm. No additional carrying feature such as
hooks etc. will be provided with the block. However, participants are expected to devise their own slot, hook
or any other mechanism to carry and dispatch the block. Mechanism, wherein some part of the aircraft also
gets dropped with the packet is also allowed.
4. The use of launching mechanisms is prohibited. The aircraft should be hand launched. At the time of
launching there must be some mechanism to accommodate the packet.
5. The use of IC engines is prohibited. Only electrical motors are allowed.
6. The participants are free to use the materials of their choice. However the use of Balsa wood or foam (sun
board) or sun pack 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. Also use of readymade actuators/motors, remote controls and propellers is allowed. Refer to
figure 1 and 2.
8. Use of gyroscopes (gyros) is prohibited.
9. If anyone found not following above rules will be disqualified

3.2 Judging of Design

1. Designing of an aircraft is a very important part of this competition. The tasks in competition include
aerobatics, sharp turns, accurate dropping off the payload and speed. So your aircraft should be such that it
can perform the given tasks effectively. The tasks for the competition are:
a. Aerobatics (manoeuvring).
b. Packet Dropping
c. Safe landing.
d. Flying as fast as you can in addition to taking sharp turns to complete the run in minimum possible time.
2. Each entry will be judged before the start of the task. The judging will be based on the following criteria:
a. Functionality of Design.
b. Innovation of Design.
3. There will also be prizes for Best Design, Innovative Design, etc. which will be announced later. But these
prizes will be awarded depending on your performance of your aircraft in round 1 (qualification round).
Rules:
4.1 Competition Rules

Round 1:

1. In this round participant has to hand launch the aircraft from the launching zone and has to perform the
following manoeuvres :
a. Square circuit: The participant has to make a square shaped circuit in air.
b. Vertical loop: The aircraft has to make a vertical loop.
c. Roll: The aircraft must perform a complete 360 degree roll.
2. The manoeuvres will be subjectively judged. The performance of a team in Round 1 will determine its
selection for Round 2. Since we have subjective judging, completion of even one manoeuvre out of these
three may get you selected for the next round.
3. A maximum time of 2 minutes per run will be given to perform these moves.
4. The participants will be given 2 runs to perform these tasks.
5. The aircraft has to be hand launched from launching zone which is behind the finish line.
6. The participants will be allowed a total of 3 chances to launch the aircraft in every run i.e. if the aircraft
doesn't fall out of the launching zone in an attempt to launch it, then they can re-launch their aircraft.

Round 2

In this round the participant has to launch the aircraft from a specified launching zone.

1. Launching zone is a circle of radius 10m.

2. Participant has to accommodate the packet (dimensions, weight and figure given below) in the aircraft while
launching.
3. A run will be considered complete if the aircraft crosses the launching zone, completes the task along the
way and lands after the finish line.
4. A safe landing will be given special credits in scoring (see judging criteria). For instance if during landing, the
fuselage of the aircraft breaks, then points for safe landing will not be awarded to the team. Safe Landing
will be judged subjectively.
5. The time of flight for a run is defined as the time taken by the aircraft to finish the tasks given, reach the
finish line and land.
6. The timer will start from the moment the aircraft is hand launched and is in the air.
7. The timer will stop only when the aircraft finally comes to a halt.
8. If in any run the aircraft does not complete the tasks at hand in the order in which they're meant to be
followed, the run will not be awarded any points.
9. Each team will be given two runs and the better of the two will be considered for the calculation of points.
10. The participants will be allowed a total of 3 chances to launch the aircraft in every run i.e. if the aircraft
doesn't fall out of the launching zone in an attempt to launch it, then they can re-launch their aircraft.
 11. Participants will be given maximum of 4 minutes to complete Round 2 from launching of aircraft to landing.
If participant fails to complete the task in 4 minutes then no Time points, PT (see scoring) will be awarded.
12. The aircraft will be judged on the basis of time of flight, accuracy in dropping, safe landing, weight of the
craft and dimensions of the craft.

4.2 Path for Round2

The total task of aircraft is to launch, complete the task and then land. The path here is given point wise:

 Step 1: The aircraft will be launched from launching zone.

 Step 2: It transects the plane containing pole 1 and pole 2 below the ribbon and then takes a turn and
transects the plane containing pole 2 and pole 3 above the ribbon (see arena).

 Step 3: After crossing pole 3, it should move forward and transect the plane containing pole 4 and pole 5
below the ribbon and drop the packet in the drop zone. The aircraft can fly below this ribbon at most 2
times. Dropping and crossing of plane below the ribbon need not to be simultaneous.

 Step 4: It should then return back to the finish line and land safely.

Points for dropping will only be given if the aircraft completes the specified manoeuvring and doesn’t touch the
ground at any instance before dropping.

If the aircraft touches the ground after dropping and before reaching the finish line, then Time points (PT) and
points for safe landing will not be awarded.

Participants are allowed to devise some mechanism wherein some part of the aircraft also gets dropped with
the provided weight.

The timer will stop only when the plane has returned back to the finish line and came to a halt.

4.3 General Rules:

1. The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. The teams must not damage the opponent's
aircraft in any way. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any team indulging in misbehaviour.
2. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the competition automatically.
3. The aircraft would be checked for its safety before the event and would be discarded if found unsafe for
other participants and spectators.
4. The organizers reserve all rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in any rule,
will be highlighted on the website.

4.4 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 1st December 2010.
4.5 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 at
Techfest 2011.
2. The video should be an unedited clip, at least 1 minute length, showing the aircraft taking off initially and
perform basic turns using different control surfaces 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 because there is a speed factor in the race.
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 participants should also demonstrate their dropping mechanism.
6. 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.
7. It is not necessary to explain the mechanisms in the video.
8. The CD has to be couriered in a single envelope to the postal address of Techfest:
Techfest Office
Students' Gymkhana
IIT Bombay, Powai
Mumbai - 400076.
9. An email will be sent to the team leader confirming the reception of the entry.
10. Techfest 2011 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.
11. 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 Criteria:
5.1 Judging Criterion

1. Time of Flight:

Maximum time for journey (run) is 4 minutes.

Let T1 be the time taken in seconds for a run.

PT = 240 – T1

PT = Points acquired in time system.

2. Points for dropping the packet:

PD be the points awarded for dropping

 Dropping Distance in meters from the center PD

Within 1m 100

Within 2m 75

Within 3m 50

Within 4m 25

Greater than 4m 0

3. Safe Landing Points: PL

PL = 20

PL will be awarded for safe landing. A landing is considered to be safe if none of the parts of the aircraft
gets detached or broken. This does not include the part that may get detached while dropping the packet.
For eg. If during landing, the fuselage of the aircraft breaks, then points for safe landing will not be awarded
to the team. There will be subjective judging for safe landing.

4. Points for lightness of the aircraft

PW = (1500 – W)/ 10

PW = Points for weight of the aircraft.

W = Weight of the aircraft in grams at the time of launch excluding the block weight.

In case the weight of the aircraft exceeds 1500 grams then negative PW will be awarded.

5. Points for dimensions of the aircraft

PL = 90 – L

PL = Points in accordance to dimensions of the aircraft.

L = Maximum distance (in cm) between any two points of the aircraft which need not be the wing span of
aircraft.

In case L exceeds 90 cm then negative PL will be awarded.

6. Total Points in a run (P) = PT + PS + PD + PL + PW

Dropping points PD will only be given if the aircraft completes the specified manoeuvring and doesn’t touch
the ground at any instance before dropping.
 Points for weight (PW) and dimension (PL) of the aircraft will be awarded only when the aircraft successfully
drops the block travelling the specified route.

If the aircraft touches the ground after dropping the block and before reaching the finish line then points for
time (PT) and safe landing (PS) will not be awarded.

If the participant successfully drops the block travelling the specified route within 240 seconds but is not
able to return back to finish line then points for time (PT) and safe landing (PS) will not be awarded.

Every team will get two runs. Best of the Total Points (P) in two runs will be considered for judging.

In case of a tie, team scoring more in dropping (in the run having maximum P) will be given advantage.

5.2 Certificate Policy

Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to all winners.

Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams that have positive score in the second round.

5.3 Team Specifications

A team must consist of a maximum of 4 participants. Students from different educational institutes can
form a team.

5.4 Eligibility:

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate in
The AVIATOR at Techfest 2011.