1/21/2012
2011
North Carolina
Science Olympiad
Coaches Clinic
Helicopter
Helicopter
1. DESCRIPTION
2. CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS
3. THE COMPETITION
4. SCORING
National Science Education Standard:
http://www.soinc.org/events/wrightstuff
1
1/21/2012
1. DESCRIPTION:
Teams (of up to two) will construct and test
free flight rubber-powered helicopters
“prior to the tournament”
to achieve
maximum flight times.
2. EVENT PARAMETERS:
Teams must bring up to 2 helicopters and their
flight logs.
Teams may bring any tools they need.
Event supervisor must provide all measurement
tools and timers.
2
1/21/2012
3. CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS:
a. Design:
b. Materials:
c. Mass:
d. Rotors:
e. Rotor Construction:
f. Power:
g. Identification:
3.a. Design:
Helicopters may be constructed from:

Published plans

Commercial kits

Student’s Original Design


No pre glued joints or pre-covered surfaces.
A flat balsa wood disc large enough to cover a
dime must be placed on the upper most part of
the helicopter. Time stops if it dislodges.
3
1/21/2012
3.b. Materials:
Boron filaments must not be
used anywhere on the
helicopter. Any other
materials may be used
anywhere on the helicopter.
3.b. Materials:
Super glues, old fashioned model glue (green tube) can
be used as a glue to fasten pieces together.
Bushings and bearings can be used. Plastic bushings may
be used and may also be commercially available.
Metal wires for motor hooks, prop shafts.
Plastic is acceptable for connecting tubes, film covering
and O-rings.
Composites of the basic materials (wood, glue, paper,
plastic film) meet the rule.
Tape may be used because they are a composite or
combination of glue and paper or glue and plastic film.
4
1/21/2012
3.c. Mass:
Total mass of the helicopter
throughout the flight,
excluding the rubber motor,
must be 3.5 grams or more.
3.d. Rotors:
Rotors are defined as surfaces that contribute lift by
rotating on a common path around a vertical axis.






Use up to three fixed pitch rotors.
35.0 cm Maximum Rotor diameter
No maximum number of Rotor Blades
No maximum Rotor Blade Chord Width
No other lifting surfaces are permitted.
There is an excellent discussion of lift and props on
line. Look up NY Helicopter Duration.
5
1/21/2012
3.e. Construction:
Competitors must construct the rotors
themselves.
Commercially available rotors or propellers
shall not be used in whole or part.
Rotor thrust bearings may be commercially
available items.
3.g. Power:
The helicopter must be powered by rubber motor(s)
OF ANY MASS
Motors must be removable from the helicopter for
check in.
Motors may be lubricated before and/or after check-in.
6
1/21/2012
3.h. Identification:
Each helicopter must be labeled so the Event
Supervisor can easily identify to which team it
belongs.
4. THE COMPETITION:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
Event Location:
Spectators:
Flight logs:
Practice Flights:
Self-check Inspection
Motor Winder
Check in and Flights:
Flights:
Flight Period:
Motors:
Timing:
Concurrent Flights:
Steering / Collision:
7
1/21/2012
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 are
urged 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.
4.b. Spectators:
Once competitors enter the cordoned off competition
area to trim, practice, or compete, they must not
receive outside assistance, materials or
communication.
Teams violating this rule will ranked below all other
teams.
There must be a separate area designated for
spectators.
8
1/21/2012
4.c. Flight Logs:
Each team must present flight log of recorded data during inspection.
Data must include at least 6 parameters for at least ten (10) test flights
prior to the competition.
The required parameters are:
1)
2)
3)
motor size before windup,
number of turns on the motor at launch,
flight time.
The team must choose 3 additional data parameters beyond those
required. (e.g. turns remaining after landing, estimated/recorded
peak flight height, estimated flight path diameter, the torque at
launch, Prop Pitch, etc.)
Event supervisors are strongly encouraged to return flight logs after
inspection. Bring a second copy to be sure.
4.d. Practice Flights:
At the Event Supervisor’s discretion, practice
flights may occur throughout the event but
must yield to any official flight.
Multiple practice flights may occur at the same
time.
No trim (practice) flights will be permitted in the
last half-hour of the event.
9
1/21/2012
4.e. Self-check Inspection:
A self-check inspection station may be made
available to competitors for checking their
helicopters prior to being checked by the
judges.
4.f. Motor Winder:
The use of any type of motor winder is
permitted. Electricity may not be available.
10
1/21/2012
4.g. Check in and Flights:
Team member must present their event materials
(helicopters, motors, and logs) for inspections
immediately prior to a team’s two official flights.
Event supervisors are strongly urged to return flight
logs after inspection.
Timers must follow and observe teams as they are
winding their motors.
4.h. Flights:
Teams may make up to a total of 2 official
flights using one or two helicopters.
11
1/21/2012
4i. Flight Period:
Teams will be given an 8 minute "Flight Period", starting when their
first flight after check in (trim or official) begins.
Any flight beginning within the 8-minute period will be permitted to
fly to completion.
Competitors may make adjustments/repairs/trim flights during their
official 8-minute period.
During their 8-minute flight period, all flights must be considered an
official flight unless they are declared a trim flight prior to
launch.
Teams must not be given extra time to recover or to repair their
helicopter(s).
4.j. Timing:
The timing official will measure and record the
“Time Aloft” in hundredths of a second for
each flight.
Flights start when the helicopter leaves the
competitor’s hand and stops when any part
of the helicopter touches the floor, the
rotors no longer support the weight of the
helicopter, or the judges otherwise
determine the flight to be over.
12
1/21/2012
4.k. Timers:
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. Not the average!!!
4.l. Concurrent Flights:
The Event Supervisor may permit other official flights
during the flight of another team’s helicopter.
13
1/21/2012
4.m. Steering / Collision:
Competitors must not steer the helicopter
during flight.
In the unlikely event of a collision with another
helicopter, a team may elect a re-flight.
The decision to re-fly may be made after the
helicopter lands.
The eight-minute period does not apply to such
a flight.
4. SCORING:
The base score is the team’s longest single flight
time.
Ties will be broken by the longest non-scored flight
time.
 Teams with incomplete flight logs must have 10%
of their flight time deducted from each flight.

Teams without flight logs must have 30% of their
flight time deducted from each flight.
14
1/21/2012
4. SCORING:


Teams with a helicopter with non-coaxial rotors
whose axes of rotation are separated by at least
the radius of the rotors must have their recorded
flight time multiplied by 3 for scoring purposes.
Teams that violate a rule under “Construction” or
“The Competition” that does not have a specific
penalty must be ranked after all teams that do not
violate those rules.
Tips and Suggestions




Balance the props.
Balance the helicopter and then add a small
amount of weight at the bottom of the device
to lower the center of gravity.
Pre Stretch all the rubber bands.
Inspect the rubber to be sure there are no
nicks or tares.
15
1/21/2012
Tips and Suggestions






Build early and test a lot.
Use small amounts of glue.
Be prepared to make repairs on site.
Don’t forget to label your helicopters.
Bring two, just in case one gets stepped on or
hung in the rafters.
Bring two winders (winders are your friend,
do not put them in your pocket!)
Tips and Suggestions








Spray glue can be used to install wing covering.
Test a lot of rubber.
Lubricate all rubber motors, (Armorall)
Pre stretch all rubber bands to three times their
length at least.
Color the tips of the rubber bands is you have more
than one size, it make them easy to identify.
Learn to tie knots in rubber bands.
Have both team member count when winding.
If you have a lot of winds left when you land, go up
to a thicker rubber band.
16
1/21/2012
Tools








Cutting Mat
Hobby knifes (lots of blades)
Straight edge
Emory boards
Clear Packaging tape
Brush and small cup
Super glue
Fine tip permanent marker
Pictures
17
1/21/2012
Pictures
Pictures
18
1/21/2012
Pictures
Pictures
19
1/21/2012
Pictures
Pictures
20
1/21/2012
Pictures
21