BlackBird

Introduction
Arena
Machine Specifications
Rules
Judging Criteria
Resources

Last date of registration for accommodation is 20th December 2009.
Last date of abstract and video submission is 5th January 2010.
Registrations for BlackBird close on 5th January. Click here to register.
Post all your queries on our forum and get them answered. Click here.

1.1 Introduction

Soar up into the skies with the wings of creativity.

If the designer in you wishes to soar high up in the sky, your wait is over! BlackBird - the first-ever aeromodelling competition of Techfest 2010 - awaits you. The challenge demands wishful design coupled with efficient execution for the aircraft to perform the three basic type of acrobatics - rolling, pitching and yawing. The race being still against time, the BlackBird aircrafts need to go vroom vroom as well! Be a part of the long-time quest of man for free flight - design, create and maneuver your own aircraft as it performs unimaginable feats from simple rolls to the oh-so-awesome vertical loops!

Techfest 2010 welcomes all aero enthusiasts in its first-ever aeromodelling challenge. Do you believe that the sky is the limit?

1.2 Problem Statement

Design and make a wireless remote controlled aircraft, which has all six degrees of freedom including yaw, pitch and roll and that can complete a specified path in the minimum possible time.

» Download the PDF version of the Problem Statement

Prizes worth INR 40,000 to be won.

Register here for BlackBird

View the Arena »

For further queries contact:

Anand Pareek
Manager, Events
Techfest (2009-10)
+91 99301 25367
anand[at]techfest[dot]org

2.1 Launching Zone

Participants will have to hand-launch their glider from within the launching zone.
The gliders should be launched in the direction shown in figures of section 2.2.
The launching zone would be a circle of 15 meter radius.

Top View of the Arena

2.2 Specifications of path to be followed

Distance between pole 1 and pole 2 = 15 meters.
Distance between pole 2 and pole 3 = 15 meters.
Height of the ribbon of the limbos above the ground is 6 meters.
Lap start line will merge in pole 3 on extension.
Distance between the center of launching zone and axis of the poles(axis which passes through all poles) is 20 meters.


Figure 1	Figure 2


Figure 3	Figure 4

To watch the video of path please click here.

View the Machine Specifications »

3.1 Glider Specifications

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.
The wingspan of aircraft cannot be more than 3 feet.
The potential difference, between any two points on the machine, must be lower than or equal to 12V (recommended voltages 7.2V, 7.4V, 8.4V, 9.6V, 11.4V or 12V) at any point of time during the competition.
The use of launching mechanisms is prohibited. The aircraft should be hand launched.
The use of IC engines is prohibited. Only electrical motors are allowed.
The weight of aircraft should not exceed 1.5 Kg.
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.
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.


Figure 1	Figure 2

Use of gyroscopes (gyros) is prohibited.
If anyone found not following above rules will be disqualified.

3.2 Judging of Design

- Designing of an aircraft is a very important part of this competition. The tasks in competition include aerobatics, sharp turns and speed. So your aircraft should be such that it can perform the given tasks effectively. The tasks for the competition are:
  
  a. Aerobatics (maneuvering).
  
  b. Safe and accurate landing.
  
  c. Flying as fast as you can in addition to taking sharp turns to complete the lap in minimum possible time.
- The participants are supposed to design an aircraft with a maximum allowed wing span of 3 feet.
- 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.
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).

View the Rules »

4.1 Competition Rules

Round 1:

In this round participant has to launch the aircraft from the launching zone and has to perform the maneuvers in the order given below:

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.
The maneuvers 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 maneuver out of these three may get you selected for the next round.
A maximum time of 2 minutes per run will be given to perform these moves.
The participants will be given 2 runs to perform the tasks.
The aircraft has to be launched from launching zone which is a circle of diameter 15m.
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.
The Participant can do at most 3 continuous laps.
There will be one line which will be called Lap Start Line. Time will start once the aircraft crosses the Lap Start line.
A lap will be considered complete if the aircraft crosses the Lap Start line, completes the tasks along the way and reaches the Lap Start line for a second time.
If in any lap the aircraft does not complete the tasks at hand in the order in which they're meant to be followed, the lap will not be counted. The time is not reset to zero which means the time for the next counted lap would be the sum of the times of the lap(s) not counted and the lap completed successfully.
The aircrafts will be judged on the basis of time of flight and landing distance of aircraft from center of the launching zone.
Each team will be given two runs and the better of the two will be considered for the calculation of points.
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.
A safe landing is compulsory for scoring. For eg. If during landing, the fuselage of the aircraft breaks, then that run will be considered over but not used for scoring.
The time of flight for a lap is defined as the time taken by the aircraft to cross the lap start line, finish the tasks given and reach the lap start line for a second time.
Landing distance is the distance from the flag post(which is at the center of launching zone) to the nose of the aircraft. This distance will be measured from the position where aircraft finally comes to a halt.
Participant will be given maximum of 5 minutes to complete Round 2 from launching of aircraft to landing.
The aircraft can't land before completion of at least one lap of the specified path and if it does so then the team will not be given points for landing.

4.2 Path for Round 2

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

Step 1: The aircraft will be launched from launching zone and then it goes straight and crosses lap start line.
Step 2: It then takes a U Turn and crosses pole 3 and pole 2 below the ribbon and then takes a turn and crosses pole 2 and pole 1 above the ribbon.
Step 3: Then takes a U turn and crosses pole 1 and pole 2 below ribbon and then takes a turn and crosses pole 2 and pole 3 above the ribbon.
Step 4: It Then crosses the Lap Start line again. Once it crosses the Lap Start line, the lap is considered complete and the time is noted.
Step 5: After such 3 laps, the aircraft has to land in the launching zone near the flag.

The path is also shown in images and in the video under arena specifications.

Note: The path to complete laps from the launching has to be followed in the order given above and also shown by arrows in images and the video. However any path can be taken from lap start line to landing after completion of laps.

4.3 General rules

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.
Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the competition automatically.
The aircraft would be checked for its safety before the event and would be discarded if found unsafe for other participants and spectators.
The organizers reserve all rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in any rule, if any, will be highlighted on the website.

4.4 Abstract Submission

All the participants need to submit an abstract on their aircraft. Click here to download abstract format.
For teams requiring accommodation, the last date of submitting the Abstract is 25th December 2009. For teams not requiring accommodation, the last date is 5th January.

4.5 Video Submission

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 BlackBird at Techfest 2010. For teams requiring accommodation, the last date of submitting the video is 25th December 2009. For teams not requiring accommodation, the last date is 5th January.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It is not necessary to explain the mechanisms in the video.
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.
An email will be sent to the team leader confirming the reception of the entry.
Techfest 2010 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.
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.

4.6 Accommodation

Due to the limited accommodation facilities, teams will be short listed for accommodation based on the following abstract provided by the team. Please note that even if your abstract does not get short listed, you are still eligible to participate in the competition.
All participants who want accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest should fill the abstract form and rename the .doc file as ".doc" and email the form to blackbird[at]techfest[dot]org. The abstract should reach us latest by 2359 hrs on 10th December 2009. No more requests for accommodation will be entertained thereafter.

View the Judging Criteria »

5.1 Judging Criterion

Time of flight:
T1, T2, T3 are the times taken in seconds for 1st, 2nd and 3rd laps respectively.
PT = 120 - Best of (T1, T2, T3).
PT = Points acquired in time system.

Points for landing:
PL = 100 - z. Where 'z' is the zone given by the following table. The landing score will be zero if the aircraft's nose lies 15 metres outside the launching zone when it stops completely.

Landing distance:range in meters	Zone(z)
Within 1.5 meters	00
1.5 - 3.0 meters	10
3.0 - 4.5 meters	20
4.5 - 6.0 meters	30
6.0 - 7.5 meters	40
7.5 - 9.0 meters	50
9.0 - 10.5 meters	60
10.5 - 12.0 meters	70
12.0 - 13.5 meters	80
13.5 - 15.0 meters	90
Outside 15.0 meters	100

The Total points will be equal to PT+PL.
In case of a tie, the team with maximum average score (average of the two runs) will be declared as winner. If average scores are also the same, the one with maximum points in the first run will be declared winner.