China Aeromodelling Design Challenge Contest Rules 2014 Page 1 of 14
LIST OF CONTENTS I VTOL AIR CARGO RACE... 3 1 OBJECTIVES... 3 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES... 3 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS... 3 4 SITE PLAN... 4 5 FLIGHT COMPETITION... 5 6 SCORING... 5 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY... 6 II LOW-ALTITUDE RECONNAISSANCE... 7 1 OBJECTIVES... 7 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES... 7 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS... 7 4 SITE PLAN... 7 5 FLIGHT COMPETITION... 8 6 SCORING... 9 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY... 9 III AIR CARGO DROP CHALLENGE...10 1 OBJECTIVES... 10 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES... 10 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS... 10 4 SITE PLAN... 11 5 FLIGHT COMPETITION... 12 6 SCORING... 13 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY... 14 Page 2 of 14
I VTOL AIR CARGO RACE 1 OBJECTIVES The radio-controlled aircraft with the payload of a number of table-tennis balls should takeoff from the takeoff and landing area. After that the aircraft flies 2 laps around the poles clockwise, and then drop the payload into the dropping area before landing in the takeoff and landing area. The model repeats the above actions until the round end. The winner is the team who drops the greatest number of table tennis balls into dropping area within a certain round time. 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES This competition is open to all students in full time education. Each team has no more than four students including a pilot, and maximum three teams are eligible to be registered. The group score is calculated by the sum of team scores. While in competition, the team manager and helpers are prohibited to give any coaching and help. 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS 3.1 The empty weight of the aircraft with batteries should not exceed 500g. 3.2 The teams can only use fixed-wing aircraft with VTOL function. 3.3 If the aircraft has two or more motors, the minimum length of wing chord should not be less than 200mm, the sum of the minimum wing chord length and the wing span should not be less than 1000mm 3.4 The aircraft can only take off by VTOL method. No external assisting force or device is allowed. The aircraft may land with driving power, but loading can only start after propeller rotation stops. 3.5 The level flight should be performed in the state of fixed-wing. It means that the wing contributes the most lift. The manner of flight attitude control is the same as the one of fixed-wing aircraft. The angle between the directions of thrust and flight path should not be more than 30 degrees. Only aircrafts passing flight verification can participate in the competition. Page 3 of 14
3.6 It is forbidden to put any equipment except aircraft involved into competition in the takeoff and landing area. 3.7 Each group may use as many as 2 aircrafts. The member of every group should be model designers and producers. The aircraft should be processed to participate in the competition. The aircrafts after heavy repair should be re-processed. 3.8 All joints used to fix payload are calculated into the empty weight of aircraft. 3.9 The payload will be table tennis balls provided by the organizer. The ball diameter is around 40mm, and the weight is about 2.7g. 3.10 There is no limitation on loading manner. But touching aircraft by hands or any other tools is prohibited. 4 SITE PLAN 4.1 Radio Controlling Area: It is a 2m 5m area. The pilot should control the aircraft in this area. 4.2 Takeoff and landing Area: It is a 4m 4m area that is bounded by 0.5m height fence. 4.3 Storage Area: It is a bucket of diameter 0.35m and height 0.3m. 4.4 Dropping Area: It is a bucket of diameter 0.5m and height 0.5m. 4.5 The poles: The poles are 3m high, and the distance between them is 20m. 4.6 The table-tennis balls will be stored in the storage area initially. Page 4 of 14
5 FLIGHT COMPETITION 5.1 Competition time This is a two-round competition, and the task is the same for both rounds. In each round, every team has 1 minute for preparation and 5 minutes for competition. 5.2 Competitors are allowed to enter the takeoff and landing area only if they apply to change the competing aircraft. 5.3 In case of changing aircraft, the team must get permission from the referee. After first takeoff, aircraft can t be changed in the round. If any team member breaks this rule, the game will be terminated, and the achieved score will be effective. 5.4 Teams can only start loading once the game start, the aircraft must be loaded inside the takeoff and landing area, touching aircraft by hands or any other tools is prohibited. 5.5 After takeoff and fly away from the takeoff and landing area, the team will get one takeoff score. 5.6 The payload should be dropped into the dropping area after flying 2 laps around the poles clockwise. 5.7 After drop the payload, land the aircraft safely in the takeoff and landing area, the team will get one landing score. 6 SCORING 6.1 The round score is calculated by the sum of total takeoff score, payload score and total landing score. Single takeoff score is 20 points. Total takeoff score is the sum of every single takeoff score earned. Payload score = 50 points/g the total weight of table-tennis balls in the dropping area (accurate to 1g). Single landing score is 20 points. Total landing score is the sum of every single landing score earned. 6.2 Penalties 500 points will be deducted from the round score everything time when competitors do the followings: 1. Touch aircraft by hands or any other tools during the game. 2. The aircraft touches the ground or any other objects outside the takeoff and landing area. Page 5 of 14
6.3 Each team has two rounds, the higher round score is taken as the final score. If teams score the same, compare the other round score. If the score is still the same, the rank tie. 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY 7.1 Safety is of paramount importance and pilots must be prepared to ditch their aircraft on the order of the flight-line director. 7.2 All competing aircraft must be fitted with a serviceable failsafe that returns the throttle to stop on loss or corruption of the radio signal. 7.3 The pilot of the aircraft should check before flight that all systems are functioning correctly. 7.4 The Competition Director reserves the right to ground any aircraft if in his opinion, or that of his appointees, the aircraft does not meet a safety standard of construction or radio installation. 7.5 The score will be denied when the followings occur: 7.5.1 External assisting force or device is contributed to the aircraft. 7.5.2 Parts falling from the aircraft during flight. 7.5.3 Flying out of the specified area. 7.5.4 Flight attitude control is not in the state of fixed-wing aircraft. 7.6 The team will be disqualified when the followings occur: 7.6.1 Use self-modified payload instead of standard payload. 7.6.2 Drops the payload to the audience area. 7.6.3 Using un-processed aircrafts to compete in the game. 7.7 Teams should compensation for site facilities damaged by their aircrafts. Page 6 of 14
II LOW-ALTITUDE RECONNAISSANCE 1 OBJECTIVES Contestants are to research, design and build a portable fixed-wing, radio-controlled aircraft to scout and identify several targets in an unknown area. Based on the accuracy of reconnaissance, the team completing the task in the shortest time will be the winner. 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES This competition is open to all students in full time education. Each team has no more than four students including a pilot, and maximum two teams are eligible to be registered. The group score is calculated by the sum of team scores. 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS 3.1 A model aircraft and all equipments including radio controller, tools, transmitter, etc., must be wholly loaded inside a rectangle non-deformable box. The sum of external length, width and height of the box must be less than 1600mm. In addition, the box must be durable enough so that it will not be damaged during the game. 3.2 Only fixed-wing aircraft is allowed. The aircraft should be driven by no more than two motors. There is no specific limitation on the control method and all equipments. 3.3 During the game, a bottle of 350ml water of dimension less than 60 60 180 mm must be entirely placed inside the model aircraft. The bottle should be prepared by the teams and examined by the referee before the game. 4 SITE PLAN 4.1 Starting area: There is a start line and a timer switch. 4.2 Obstacle area: This area is 50m long, 5m wide with obstacles. 4.3 Takeoff and landing area: It is 30m long, 10m wide and 50m from the start line. 4.4 Reconnaissance area: There are two pending sections A and B with the same distance from the takeoff and landing area. Section A is 100 meters apart from section B. In each section, there is a 3m(L) 3m(W) 2m(H) patio. On the four inner surfaces of the patio wall, there are 4 printed targets sized 500 500mm that consist of two letters and two Page 7 of 14
numbers. Only one character (capital letters or numbers 0~9) is printed on each target. The letters will always be placed on the opposite patio walls, as well as the numbers. Letters B, D, I, L, O, Q, S and Z will not be used. The background color of the targets is white, and the characters are black underlined. 5 FLIGHT COMPETITION 5.1 Competition time In each round, teams should complete the task within 4 minutes, and then land the aircraft within 1 minute. Fail to submit the task recording sheet in 4 minutes will score 0. 5.2 Before the competition starts, the power of the aircraft and all the equipments should be turned off except for laptops. The water bottle should be put into the aircraft under the supervision of the referee. Contestants should pack and hand in the box, the box will be sealed and won t be retrieved until their round. 5.3 The team will receive the task recording sheet from the referee when they enter the starting area. The reconnaissance section (A or B) will be randomly chosen and clearly stated on the sheet. 5.4 After starting the timer, the game begins. All the team members must run across the obstacles area while some of them carrying the sealed box. After arriving at the takeoff and landing area, members shall then remove the seal, deploy and control the aircraft to scout the target. Once the targets are identified, one member rushes back to the starting area, fills in the task recording sheet with the right target order, submit it to the referee and then stop the timer. The order to write target labels should be from east to north clockwise. The score will be denied if the timer is stopped before submitting the task recording sheet. Page 8 of 14
5.5 Any takeoff mode is permitted, and the aircraft should fly within specified area. 5.6 Under safety conditions, the flight altitude, speed and route are not restricted. 5.7 The water bottle will be checked after each flight, it should remain in the aircraft and no leaking is allowed. 5.8 After each flight, targets will be changed randomly. 6 SCORING 6.1 The round score S S=1000+(C-W) 200 C represents the quantity of right identification. W represents the quantity of wrong or blank identification. 6.2 Each team has two rounds, the higher round score is taken as the final score. If teams score the same, the team that spends less time ranks higher. If the finishing time is the same, the rank will be the same. 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY 7.1 Safety is of paramount importance and pilots must be prepared to ditch their aircraft on the order of the flight-line director. 7.2 All competing aircraft must be fitted with a serviceable failsafe that returns the throttle to stop on loss or corruption of the radio signal. 7.3 The pilot of the aircraft should check before flight that all systems are functioning correctly. 7.4 The Competition Director reserves the right to ground any aircraft if in his opinion, or that of his appointees, the aircraft does not meet a safety standard of construction or radio installation. 7.5 The score will be denied when the followings occur: 7.5.1 Cheating. 7.5.2 Parts falling from the aircraft during flight. 7.5.3 Flying out of the specified area. 7.5.4 Water bottle leaking or falling out of the aircraft through the whole game. 7.5.5 Reconnaissance the wrong section. 7.5.6 Stop the timer before submitting the task recording sheet. 7.5.7 Remove the seal before arriving at the takeoff and landing area. Page 9 of 14
III AIR CARGO DROP CHALLENGE 1 OBJECTIVES Contestants are to design and build a radio-controlled aircraft which takes off (be in air) in 40 m with the maximum payload possible and drop the payload precisely into the dropping area. The final score is calculated by the accuracy of payload dropping and weight of the payload. 2 REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITIES This competition is open to all students in full time education. Each team has no more than four students including a pilot, and maximum two teams are eligible to be registered. The group score is calculated by the sum of team scores. While in competition, the team manager and helpers are prohibited to give any coaching and assist. 3 AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATIONS 3.1 Any motor and ESC can be used. 3 cells LiPo battery must be used. The maximum voltage of the battery is 12.6V. 3.2 A current limiter provided by the organizer must be connected between the battery and the ESC to make sure the input current does not exceed 25A. The current limiter will be drawn by the competitors from 20 identical current limiters before the game. No changes to the current limiter are allowed. If the current limiter drawn functioned incorrectly, another one can be drawn to replace the previous one. The current limiter should be return to organizer after competition. 3.3 The radio receiver can be supplied by independent power, however, this power supply must be isolated from the motor driving power. The empty weight of the aircraft must below 800g. The weight of batteries and the current limiter will not be calculated into the empty weight of the aircraft. 3.4 Due to unpredictable matter, the empty weight of the aircraft may go beyond 800g. However, it is acceptable if the exceeding weight is less than 20g, but the exceeded weight will be amplified by 50 times and deducted from the loading weight, e.g. if the exceeding Page 10 of 14
weight is 20g, 1000g will be deducted from the loading weight. 3.5 The aircraft should take off from a specific area of the defined 40m long runway. No form of externally assisted take off is allowed. The model can be retrieved only after landing and the propeller stop rotating. 3.6 Each team has to use a transportation box for the aircraft. The box is limited in size, the outside dimensions sum of its length, width and height must not exceed 1800mm. All parts of the aircraft, including wing, tail, fuselage, landing gear, motor, propeller, ESC, batteries, transmitter, receiver and etc., must fit into this box at one time. The box is used while traveling. It is also recommended that each transportation box has handles on both ends. 3.7 Each group may use as many as 2 aircrafts. The member of every group should be model designers and producers. The aircraft should be processed to participate in the competition. The aircrafts after heavy repair should be re-processed. 3.8 All joints used to fix payload are calculated into the empty weight of aircraft. 3.9 Only water can be used as the payload and there shouldn t be any solute in the water, which can increase the density. The water should be filled in transparent plastic bags of 0.2mm (or less) thickness. A colored ribbon of 1m long, 0.1m width must be stuck to every water bag. The ribbons should be prepared by the teams. The weight of every water bag should be a multiple of 0.1 kg, exceeding weight will be neglected, e.g. 3.56kg will be regarded as 3.5kg. 3.10 The payload should be prepared by the teams and the payload will be processed and marked with the weight before the game. 4 SITE PLAN 4.1 Takeoff and landing area: this area is a 200 x 50 m runway. Only the competing members and the pilot are permitted to enter this area. 4.2 Dropping area: There is a target in the center of this area. The target has three rings and the diameter is 8m, 16m, 32m respectively. Only referees can enter this area. Page 11 of 14
5 FLIGHT COMPETITION 5.1 There are two rounds in the competition, and the task is the same for both rounds. 5.2 At the beginning of the first round, the referee will ask all the teams to report their loading weight. In 5 minutes time, all the team managers should submit a sealed envelope with the loading weight for this round written inside. Fail to submit the loading weight in 5 minutes will be regarded as abstention. The referee will read out the loading weight of every team. After that, the loading weight can t be changed in the first round. The starting order is sorted by the ascending order of the loading weight. For teams apply for the same loading weight, their starting order will be sorted by the computer. 5.3 For the second round, the referee will call from the smallest loading weight of the first round. The weight will be called in the increment of 0.1kg, and each weight will be read three times before go on to the next. The teams can apply to start their game when the desired loading weight is called. If two or more teams choose the same weight, their starting order will be drawn randomly. Every team can only choose one loading weight and have only one flight. The result of that flight will be the score for round 2. The round will finish when all the teams take their flight or waiver. 5.4 Preparation time of each round Before the competition, aircrafts and the payload should be weighed under the Page 12 of 14
supervision of the referee in the model processing area. The team will draw a current limiter and install it prior to the flight. Then pack everything back to the box. At the competition, each team has 10 minutes to assemble and load the aircraft to flight. If the aircraft is not ready in this time, the competition of the team terminates. 5.5 The round time is 5 minutes. The timing starts once the competing team enters the takeoff and landing area. Players should finish the flight procedure within that time. 5.6 Flight Procedure 5.6.1 Once the aircraft leaves the ground, it is considered to be a formal flight. Only one formal flight is allowed each round. 5.6.2 When dropping the payload, the altitude of the aircraft must be higher than 18m. A balloon will be floated in the field, and the top of the balloon is 18m from the ground. Meanwhile, the incident angle of the flight and the runway must be less than 45. 5.6.3 Players must apply and get permission before dropping the payload. Dropping can be applied repeatedly during one round. 6 SCORING 6.1 The round score is calculated by the sum of payload score, airdrop score and landing score. 6.2 Payload score is valid once the flight altitude is higher than 18m. One gram of payload worth 1 point. If the payload breaks or drop before reaching 18m, the payload score will be 0. 6.3 Airdrop Score: 6.3.1 In the dropping area, the middle circle of the target is regarded as area 1, the second ring is area 2 and the third ring is area 3. The Airdrop score will be 50%, 30% and 10% of the payload weight respectively when the payload is dropped into the above areas. No score if the payload misses the target. 6.3.2 The airdrop area for scoring is according to the first hitting point of the payload to ground. 6.3.3 If the payload is broken after earning payload score or it fails to be released, the airdrop score will be 0. 6.4 Successful landing in the takeoff and landing area will score 200 points as landing score for the team. The first touch to the ground of the main landing gear must be inside the takeoff and landing area. If crash landing or land outside the takeoff and landing area, Page 13 of 14
the landing score will be 0. 6.5 The final score is calculated by the sum of round scores. If the score tie, compare their total payload weight of two rounds. If tie again, the rank tie. 7 RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY 7.1 Safety is of paramount importance and pilots must be prepared to ditch their aircraft on the order of the flight-line director. 7.2 All competing aircraft must be fitted with a serviceable failsafe that returns the throttle to stop on loss or corruption of the radio signal. 7.3 The pilot of the aircraft should check before flight that all systems are functioning correctly. 7.4 The Competition Director reserves the right to ground any aircraft if in his opinion, or that of his appointees, the aircraft does not meet a safety standard of construction or radio installation. 7.5 The score will be denied when the followings occur: 7.5.1 External assisting force or device is contributed to the aircraft. 7.5.2 Structure breaking or parts falling from the aircraft during flight. 7.5.3 Flying out of the specified area. 7.5.4 Aircraft fails to takeoff in 40m. 7.6 The team will be disqualified when the followings occur: 7.6.1 Use self-modified payload instead of standard payload. 7.6.2 Drops the payload to the audience area. 7.6.3 Using un-processed aircrafts to compete in the game. 7.7 Teams should compensation for site facilities damaged by their aircrafts. Page 14 of 14