23 Sep 2005 Update

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
2006 Competition Specific

Please check the FAQ often during the competition.  Please note that rules interpretation questions are not answered by e-mail until after the entry date (when all participant e-mail address are known), so that all teams will have equal access to all rules information.

All Rulings In This FAQ Supplement The Official Rules!

General Notes:

·       Brushless motors are now legal.

·       Any purchased component, such as: wheels, propellers, motors, servos, control links, control horns

·       Team Pre-Fabricated spare parts are limited to: landing gear, control surfaces, hatches, linkages and mechanical actuator mechanisms.

All other aircraft components must be repaired, meaning they retain some reasonable portion of the original, or are completely re-fabricated by the on site team members using the same materials and techniques as the component they replace.

Payload Questions:

All payloads for this year will be provided by the contest administration.  Suitable payload definitions are given in the rules to allow teams to create their own practice payloads.

  1. Question: The rules say the aircraft must be capable of flying all missions.  If we only plan to fly lap 1 of mission #3, Incremental Payload, does the aircraft have to hold 5 bottles?  What weight will the wing tip test be done at?
    Answer: To be “physically capable” of performing all missions the aircraft must be able to hold each of the required payloads: 48 tennis balls (or more if you choose for the minimum RAC mission), the block of wood, and a minimum of 2 (two) up to the maximum of 5 (five) 2-Liter soda bottles.  The wing tip lift test will be done with the largest number of 2-liter bottles that the aircraft is designed to hold.
  2. Question: Can we insert the 48 tennis balls as a package  into the fuselage, all of them in one attempt?
    Answer: You can load the individual tennis balls into your payload insert, then install the “loaded” insert.  The time required to place the individual balls into the insert will then become part of your “loading time” and can not begin until directed by the flight line judge.
  3. Question: If a “payload insert” is used is it included in the aircraft weight?
    Answer: No, inserts are not part of the aircraft MEW.
  4. Question: Does the aircraft have to be able to fly without the “payload insert”?
    Answer:     You won’t have to fly the aircraft without any payload (empty) during the competition, but the aircraft must be able to fly without a “payload insert”, ie. It can’t be a required part of the aircraft structure.
  5. Question: Is the block of wood fully 4" x 4", or standard 3.5" by 3.5"?
    Answer: Read the rules carefully, “A single large rectangular wood block no larger than 4”x4”x24” weighing not more than 8 lbs”
  6. Question: Will the blocks center of mass coincide with it’s center of volume?
    Answer: The block will be essentially homogeneous.
  7. Question: In what format will the tennis balls be provided to the teams?
    Answer: They will be loose in a large bucket or box.
  8. Question: Are we allowed to pick up whatever container the balls are in and "dump" them into the plane/insert or does the container need to stay on the ground at all times?
    Answer: You may pick-up the bucket or box.

Flight / Mission Questions

  1. Question: Do we have to fly all of the different missions to get a score?
    Answer: No.  If you choose or are unable to fly more than 1 mission you will still get a score for that mission.
  2. Question: Is there a minimum altitude for flying the course?
    Answer: No. Altitude must be high enough for safe flight as set by the discretion of the Contest Director.
  3. Question: Can we tailor the configuration of the aircraft differently for the different missions?  For example, could we use different sized propulsion systems for each flight?
    Answer: You cannot change the hardware configuration of the aircraft for the different missions.  You could however run only 1 motor of a two motor aircraft for a no payload lap/flight, and run both motors for a with payload lap/flight, provided both motors and propellers are installed for all flights.  You can however change the propeller diameter/pitch for each flight attempt.
  4. Question: At what wind speed will the contest be called.
    Answer: It will be up to each team to determine whether they want to fly or not. The contest will be called if the wind speed exceeds 30 mph for a period of time sufficient to prevent all teams who are ready to fly from being assigned a flight time slot. The 30 mph limit is consistent with normal AMA competitions and is required to retain our contest insurance coverage.

Aircraft Configuration Questions

  1. Question: On the webpage it states that aircraft CANNOT be of rotary wing design. Rotary wing being somewhat defined in another section as 'vertical flight capability'.  However, thrust vectoring IS allowed, as are ducted-fan units.  Is vertical Take-off via ducted-fan units legal, or does that fall under the rotary aircraft definition?
    Answer: A ducted fan configuration capable of thrust vectoring for short take-off but not true vertical flight would be legal.

Report Questions

Report format rules are significantly changed for this year.  Be sure to follow the current rules.  Being allowed in prior years is not grounds for expecting the same item to be allowed this year.

  1. Question:.
    Answer:.

General Questions

  1. Question: Is it safe to assume that if the rules do not explicitly forbid something, it is allowed?
    Answer: The rules are intentionally designed to not impose too many limitations while allowing each team an equal chance. If something adheres to the "spirit" of the rules it is likely to be allowed. If you have any specific questions you would like clarified they may be addressed in a private e-mail to the contest administrator. Ideas will not be disclosed to other teams if they represent a legal and innovative approach. If it is deemed to be not legal, it may be added to this FAQ or posted to the other teams at the administrator’s discretion.
  2. Question: What would constitute “non-critical” versus “significant damage” on landing as described in the rules?
    Answer: The decision will be at the discretion of the flight line judges.  In general, “non-critical” damage would allow the aircraft to be easily returned to safe flight status. A couple of examples of “non-critical” damage would be a broken propeller, bent landing gear, sheared nylon bolts or minor scratches to the finish. If any component is structurally damaged and would be considered a hazard to safe flight then it will be considered as “significant damage”.
  3. Questions: Does the ten minute mission window apply to one flight attempt (chosen from Mission A, B or C) or to two different Missions flown in one uninterrupted sequence?
    Answer: The 10 minute window is for a single mission event (A, B or C).
  4. Question: Can there be thrust vectoring via rotating the engine, nozzles, blown surfaces etc.?
    Answer: Yes. Any of the above options is allowed, and may be varied during flight. However, "rotary wing" vehicles are not allowed, so you may need to consult the judges with your specific design and it's thrust levels to be sure it doesn't cross over the line into vertical flight capability.
  5. Question: Do all of the team members need to be student members of AIAA?
    Answer: Since the DBF is part of the AIAA competitions sanctioned by the Student Activities Committee and the AIAA Foundation, all team members should be student members of the AIAA.
  6. Question: What was the maximum number of people that can make-up a team.
    Answer: There is no specific limit on team size. It is up to the team itself to determine a size sufficient to meet the required tasks and small enough to remain manageable. It is expected most teams would fall in the 5 to 10 member size range, but this is only an estimated guideline.

    There is a maximum size of the flight crew (pilot and assistant) and ground crew (3) for this years competition. Please see the RULES section for more details on the limitations on the flight and ground crews.
  7. Question: Is it necessary to list all team members on the entry.
    Answer: Yes, we need to know all the team members to verify the under/upper classmen rule. Teams will be allowed to revise/update their official membership one time in February.
  8. Question: What is meant by "Upper and Under Classmen"
    Answer: Upper Classmen are (for purposes of the contest) seniors and/or graduate students. Lower Classmen are Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors.
  9. Question: Does the 1/3 under classmen rule apply to the people present at the fly-off site?
    Answer: No.  The 1/3 , 2/3 distribution applies to the team as a whole, from the entry date through the end of the contest.  Not all team members must be present at the fly-off.
  10. Question: Is it allowed to have/declare more then 1 pilot in a team (in case one of them can not go to the contest, or simply have a back-up pilot)?
    Answer: Yes, teams may register multiple pilots as long as each meets the requirements listed in the rules.
  11. Question: Can we have corporate sponsors? If so, can we put their logo on the UAV at any place that pleases them?
    Answer: Teams may solicit and accept sponsorship in the form of funds or materials and components from commercial organizations. All design, analysis and fabrication of the contest entry is the sole responsibility of the team members.

    Sponsor and university decals or logos may be placed as desired. Teams should make sure that the final color scheme of the aircraft provides good visibility of the aircraft location and orientation for the pilot.
  12. Question: Our team has completed our design calculations and we have found a manufacturer that carries wing components that will meet our design criteria. Can we purchase components (i.e. foam cores and skins) to construct the wing for our UAV, or are we required to build it from scratch?
    Answer: You may use unassembled components such as wing cores providing they are integrated in a way that results in the final configuration being an original design.  You may also have components of your design machined to your design specifications by an outside contractor if the team and/or university does not have the required machining facilities.
  13. Question: How is the radio fail-safe described in the safety supplement to be implemented.
    Answer: This is a feature available in many production RC radio systems. It is required that your radio system be able to provide this function.
  14. Question: When you check the CG, what kind of a point will you use? For example will it be checked with fingers or dowels or something even sharper?
    Answer: The CG check will be coincident with the structural verification test described in the Safety Requirements supplement to the basic rules. Specifically, two team members will be asked to pick the aircraft up by the wing tips using their hands (usually a clenched fist placed under the wing at the desired location works well). They will (gently) lift the aircraft at it's full contest weight by the wing tips at the marked axial CG location.

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