October 2013 North Carolina Science Olympiad Coaches Clinic. Elastic Launch Gliders Rules

Transcription

1 October 2013 North Carolina Science Olympiad Coaches Clinic Elastic Launch Gliders Rules 1

2 Elastic Launch Gliders VOLUNTEER Anne Helm 1. DESCRIPTION 2. EVENT PARAMETERS 3. CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS 4. THE COMPETITION 5. SCORING 6. TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS 2

3 1. DESCRIPTION: Teams (of up to 2 students) will design, construct and test elastic-launched gliders to achieve maximum flight times. Build and test prior to the tournament. Competition Flight time: 5 minutes 3

4 2. EVENT PARAMETERS: Teams enter 1 or 2 gliders and their flight logs. Teams should bring any tools they need. Eye Protection - #5 rated ANZI Z87+. Event supervisor must provide all measurement tools and timers. No outside help once flights begin. 4

5 3. CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS: a) Design b) Construction c) Materials d) Mass e) Wingspan f) Blunt nose g) Launch Handle h) Identification 5

6 3.a. Design: Gliders may be constructed from: Published plans Commercial kits Student s Original Design 6

7 3.b. Construction: No pre-glued joints or precovered surfaces. No Metal components on the glider 7

8 3.c. Materials: Wood, foam, paper, plastic film, carbon fiber, tape, glue. No Metal: No metal wires, metal parts, or metal tape. Ballast from malleable non-metallic substance. Super glues, old fashioned model glue, tape, or thread can be used to fasten pieces together. No Metal. Composites of the basic materials (wood, glue, paper, plastic film) meet the rule. 8

9 3.d. Mass: Total mass/weight of the glider throughout the flight: More than 3 grams Less than 10 grams 9

10 3.e. Wingspan: Glider Wingspan: 28 CM or less 10

11 3.f. Blunt Nose of Glider: Safety issue for spectators The nose of the fuselage must be blunt, such that if inserted into a lip balm cap it will not touch the end of the cap. (See the rules) 11

12 3.g. Launch Handle: Launch Handle shorter than 1 Meter, excluding elastic Non-metallic elastic Elastic in contact with glider throughout launch 12

13 3.h. Identification Each glider must be labeled: School Name Varsity or Junior Varsity team level Glider name or number 13

14 4. THE COMPETITION: a. Event Location b. Eye Protection and Spectators c. Flight logs d. Practice Flights e. Self-check Inspection Station f. Check in and Flights g. Flight Launching h. Official Flights i. Flight Period j. Declaring Flight Status k. Time Aloft l. Timers and Timing m. Aiming Flights n. Steering o. Collisions 14

15 4.a. Event Location: The event must be held indoors. Tournament officials must announce the room dimensions in advance of the competition. (approximate length, width and ceiling height) Tournament Officials and Event Supervisors try to minimize the effects of environmental factors such as air currents (e.g., doors, fans) The larger the space the less of an issue this is. 15

16 4.b. Eye Protection and Spectators: Once competitors enter the cordoned off competition area to trim, practice, or compete, they must wear goggles and must NOT receive outside assistance, materials or communication. No help from parents or coaches! Teams violating these rules will ranked below all other teams. Spectators will be in a separate area. 16

17 4.c. Flight Logs: Each team must present a flight log of recorded data during inspection. Data must include at least 4 parameters for at least ten (10) test flights prior to the competition. Three required parameters are: Peak flight height after launch Length of the elastic band for the launch Flight time One additional data parameter. Suggested examples: launch angle orbit diameter cross section of elastic launch loop height at transition to glide pattern 17

18 4.d. Practice Flights: At the Event Supervisor s discretion: Multiple Official flights may occur at the same time. Test or Practice flights may occur throughout the event but must yield to any official flight. No test or practice flights will be permitted in the last half-hour of the event, except for teams actually in their 5 minute flight period. 18

19 4.e. Self-Check Inspection Station: Before Glider entries are measured by officials, a self-check station will be made available to competitors for checking: Gliders for legal measurements Launch handles for competition parameters Flight logs Equipment to bring into competition area 19

20 4.f. Check in and Flights: Team members must present their Gliders (1 or 2) Launch handles (1 or 2) Flight Log for official inspection immediately prior to competing. Event supervisors will return flight logs after inspection 20

21 4.g. Flight Launching: Gliders must be launched with a launch handle by a single competitor at floor level. No ladders or chairs Not one person holding the handle and one holding glider Not a launching catapult 21

22 4.h. Official Flights: Teams may make up to a total of 5 official flights using: One or two pre-inspected gliders One or two pre-inspected launch handles Timers will follow teams as they prepare and launch their gliders. 22

23 4i. Flight Period: Five (5) minute "Flight Period per team: Starts when the first flight after check in (trim or official) begins. Any flight beginning within the 5-minute Flight Period will be permitted to fly to completion. Competitors may make adjustments, repairs, trim flights or change gliders during their official 5-minute period. 23

24 4.j. Declaring Flight Status: A team may select either of two inspected and approved gliders and launch handles for each official flight. Teams must declare before any launch in their Flight Period whether it is an official flight or trim flight. If teams do not indicate the flight type before the launch, it will be considered official. Teams will NOT be given extra time to recover or repair their gliders. 24

25 4.k. Time Aloft Time Aloft for each flight: Starts when the glider leaves the launch handle Stops when any part of the glider touches the floor or stops moving due to an obstruction The judges otherwise determine the flight to be over 25

26 4.l. Timers and Timing: Event supervisors are strongly encouraged to utilize 3 independent timers on all flights. The middle value of the 3 timers will be the officially recorded time in seconds to the timer s precision. Middle value is used, NOT the average!!! 26

27 4.m. Aiming Flights: Gliders must only be launched while aimed at any point on the ceiling. Do NOT aim for the walls, spectators, low obstructions, etc. Think about where you are standing relative to obstructions. 27

28 4.n. Steering: Competitors must not steer the glider during flight. 28

29 4.o. Collisions: In the unlikely event of a collision with another glider, a team may elect a re-flight. The decision to re-fly may be made after the glider lands. Timers are allowed to delay a launch to avoid a possible collision. A delay by the Timers would extend the 5 minute period for the delayed team. 29

30 5. SCORING: A team s score is the sum of the team s three (3) longest flight times. Scores are reduced by 10% for teams with incomplete flight logs. Scores are reduced by 30% for teams without flight logs. 30

31 5. SCORING: Teams that violate a rule under Construction Parameters or The Competition will be ranked after all teams that do not violate any rules. Ties will be broken by the longest non-scored flight time. 31

32 Tips and Suggestions Make several gliders to test. Keep flight logs. Practice not hitting the launch handle with the glider. Practice not hitting your thumb with the glider. 32

33 Tips and Suggestions Your glider must be able to be launched. It will need to be sturdy. There is a big JOLT when it is launched. Parts fall off. Know how to hold the glider----this is tricky. Start slow and build up to a full shot. Try holding behind the wing from the top or bottom to keep from knocking off the tail Tilt the plane so it is not at straight vertical 33

34 Tips and Suggestions Build early and test a lot. Keep flight log records in a spreadsheet or notebook. Use small amounts of glue. Dry with a spray or hair dryer. Don t forget to label your gliders School; Glider Name; Varsity, JV1, JV2, etc. Bring two or more gliders, in case one gets stepped on, dropped, hung in the rafters, or fails inspection. Be prepared to make repairs on site. 34

35 Tips and Suggestions Test different weights and lengths of elastic Pre stretch all rubber bands to three times their length at least Color the tips of the rubber bands if you have more than one size to make them easy to identify Learn to tie knots in rubber bands Inspect the rubber to be sure there are no nicks or splits Bring two launch handles and extra rubber 35

36 Tips and Suggestions You want your plane to circle to the ceiling. Angle the plane so that it climbs, loops, and circles towards the ceiling. You need to be able to adjust the wings to get the launch and glide to work. Use CA glue (super glue) so you can make this adjustment on the horizontal stab (the little wing at the rear). Look up references for a good description of this subject. 36

37 Tips and Suggestions You want to twist the glider away from your hand and turn your hand to match so the pull of the launch is in a direct line. There is an in-depth article on this in the AMA on how to launch a free flight glider. 37

38 Tools Cutting mat or foam mat Hobby knives (lots of blades) Straight edge Emory boards Clear Packaging tape Brush and small cup Super glue and drying spray Fine tip permanent marker 38

39 Questions? Questions? See you at Regionals and STATES!!!!! 39