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Unread 23-06-2002, 22:59
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#0047 (ChiefDelphi)
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Pontiac, MI
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Re: Helicopter propulsion

Posted by Justin Stiltner at 1/17/2001 12:31 AM EST


Student on team #388, Epsilon, from Grundy High School and NASA, American Electric Power, Town of Grundy.


In Reply to: Re: Helicopter propulsion
Posted by Michael Betts on 1/15/2001 9:29 PM EST:



: John,

: Tom is correct, but this needs further discussion.

: First of all, I note that you list your team as a high school with no corporate backing. I assume that this means you have no professional engineers, machinists or mentors on your team.

: As mentors, one of our primary jobs is to make sure our students leave the competition with the same number of eyes, fingers and toes as they had at the beginning.

: Imagination is wonderful. Think outside of the box and revel in your creativity. BUT, do a reality check before you build!

: That said, let's consider your problem.

: IF YOU COULD design a helicopter which fits the 30x36x60 package, is made from kit materials and can lift a good payload, a few things need to be true.

: 1. The blades are hinged and unfold at the beginning.
: 2. The RPM required would be truly astronomical.

: With the possible exception of some frightfully expensive titanium, you lack the space age composite materials to make a strong enough straight blade, much less a hinged one, and when the blades rip loose from your bot, it's not the bot I worry about. It's the hundreds of spectators who will be ripped to shreds.

: Regardless of what else might be said, FIRST would never allow anything resembling a helicopter to be used on stage. They would site Rule S6 and never give you the chance to compete.

: The reality is that you have less than 2 horsepower of motors available in the kit. You don't have enough power in your motors to airlift your "minimal system" (battery, control, light, et cetera) much less a payload. BUT YOU DO have enough power to cause some major damage to yourself and your friends!

: Trust me, if you try and build something on this scale, you, or someone on your team, could be seriously injured.

: Mike

Well Said!!


Justin Stiltner
Team #388
Grundy VA,
(still rembers the time he was picking himself up out of the ditch after seeing a model helecoptor crash and flop around like a dieing bird)


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