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Introduction In the Fall of 2018, five mechanical engineering undergraduate students chose a final project in which to apply and demonstrate the knowledge and concept implementation that they had learned during their previous years studying at the FAMU - FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida. Of the available choices, they were all drawn to an option that required innovation, organization, and a continued pursuit of improvement (not to mention a little patience). This project was concentrated around two aerospace contests: SAE's Aero Design Tournament and UTA's 3rd Annual 3D-Printed Aircraft Competition. Their challenge then became not how to do one or the other, but instead, both.

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Introduction

Competitions

Sponsors

Rules

NASA FSGC
NASA's FLORIDA SPACE GRANT CONSORTIUM

"The NASA Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC) was formed in 1989, when NASA implemented the national Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. It is a voluntary association of seventeen public and private Florida Universities and colleges... FSGC supports the expansion and diversification of Florida’s space industry, through providing grants, scholarships, and fellowships to students and educators from Florida’s public and private institutes of higher education."

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

"Since the program was established in 1983 (with only one full time faculty member), we have been working vigorously to increase the size and improve the quality of our educational and research programs. We are proud of the fact that the Department has grown to the current size of 19 full time faculty members. Their diverse backgrounds and internationally recognized research and educational expertise encompass all major fields in Mechanical Engineering." - Emmanuel G. Collins, Ph. D Department Chair

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

UTA 3DPAC
3RD ANNUAL 3D-PRINTED AIRCRAFT COMPETITION

"UTA will host the 3rd Annual 3D Printed Aircraft Competition July 13, 2019, at Maverick Stadium in Arlington, Texas. As 3D printing technologies have expanded, the design space for many applications, the challenge of leveraging this design freedom for improved performance while satisfying fabrication process constraints has likewise increased. This competition challenges students to: Integrate design and advanced manufacturing to maximize mission performance Design within 3D printing process and material constraints Develop lightweight, manufacturable airframe configurations Leverage direct digital manufacturing technologies Develop team and hands-on design experience"

LINK TO UTA's OFFICIAL RULEBOOK

SAE AERO DESIGN
COLLEGIATE DESIGN SERIES COMPETITION

"SAE Aero Design includes two regional competitions that challenge participating teams to conceive, design, fabricate, and test a radio controlled aircraft that can take off, land, and optimally meet the mission requirements. This exercise allows students to apply knowledge gained in the classroom in a real work environment. To help develop the students’ written and oral communication skills, a sizable percentage of each team’s score is devoted to the design report and oral presentation required in the competition. Teams may participate in one or more classes of competition, Regular, Advanced, and Micro – each presenting unique challenges." The team chose an emphasis on the Regular class. 2019's Eastern competition will be held from March 8 - 10 in Fort Worth, Texas.

LINK TO SAE's OFFICIAL RULEBOOK

"The Regular Class is an all-electric class intended to develop a fundamental understanding of aircraft design" All team members must be members of SAE. Team pilots are not required to be students but must be current members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) or the Model Aircraft Association of Canada (MAAC). Use of major components (wings, fuselage, empennage) from existing model aircraft kits is prohibited. Use of standard model hardware (engine mounts, control horns, landing gear) is allowed. A team is allowed to have an identical aircraft as a back-up, but the back-up must go thru inspection with the primary. If back-up is used, team forfeits all flight points earned with original. If 50% or more of the original craft is replaced with spare parts, flight points are also forfeited. Aircraft must display Team number and school name and must be at least 3 inches tall. No lighter-than-air methods (i.e. Helium) are allowed. Aircraft must be clearly marked on both sides with a classic center of gravity symbol as indicated in their submitted 2D drawings. Marker must be a minimum of 0.5" in diameter. Aircraft may not exceed 55 lbs. Max. wingspan of 144 inches Aircraft must be controllable in flight. If wheeled landing-gear is included, aircraft must have ground steering mechanism. Use of 2.4 GHz radio control system required. System must include a functional fail safe system that reduces the throttle to zero if radio signal is lost. Must utilize either a spinner or a rounded model aircraft type safety nut. Metal propellors are prohibited. Use of lead (including payload) is prohibited. Use of 'red arming plug' required. Regular class must successfully complete a minimum of one 360 circuit. (Rolling???) 120 sec for take-off 200 ft. take-off distance limit 400 ft. landing distance limit

All airframe components (aerodynamic surfaces, propellor, rotor) must be 3D Printed. Printing must be done using non-hybrid 3D printing technology. Hardware (hinges, actuators, system components) does not need to be 3D printed. There are no size, configuration, weight or material restrictions other than no lighter-than-air methods (i.e. Helium). May be unpowered or if powered, must be powered using a safe propulsion method (no rocket motors, external flames, or CO2 canisters) for max. duration of 5 seconds. (no pulsing or intermittent operation) Must be launched by hand or by their own power. (no catapults or other launching devices) May be controlled or uncontrolled. Flights must operate safely within a 300 x 160 foot area and remain under 30 feet. All design work must be performed by full-time students. Max. 6 members per team Aircraft must be presented for eligibility evaluation prior to 4 PM the day before the competition. Teams are allowed 3 flight attempts with the best flight time recorded as the official time. Aircraft repair is allowed between flights but tape is disallowed. (However, multiple identical designs are admissable) Timing begins when the aircraft is no longer in contact with the earth (or hand) and ends when it is.