Wind Tunnel

[Erin Rapacki]

Originally Posted by ultramrw21

If i remember correctly the SpaceShipOne team mounted the model to the front of a truck to test its drag.

Many things are tested by being mounted on top of SUVs and trucks. Testing tensions and forces is possible by (as simply) attaching a force guage - to a string - to the item being tested. You could also mount a video camera up there too. When determining airspeed keep in mind that if you are facing a headwind (which is preferred) you add the speed of the car + the speed of the wind. [ex: 5 mph headwind + 30 mph car speed = 35 mph airspeed] Who needs a wind tunnel when you have the whole outdoors?!

[russell]

A robot that flies would not be possible to build within the rules unless you are talking about a hovercraft. A hovercraft would be reasonably easy this year if I am interpreting the rules right. The biggest problem (besides not getting any traction, and dificulty of control) would be generating enough air flow to get it to hover. You would need to build an air pump, and it is unclear to me whether that is allowed. There is no way the compressor can handle the volume of air necessary for making a robot hover properly.

[dez250]

Originally Posted by Wayne Doenges

Hello all FIRST'ers

Team T.H.R.U.S.T. is in need of the use of a Wind Tunnel to quantify a Proof of Concept design for our robot.
If you know of one, we can use, within driving distance of Huntington, IN, let me know.
Thanks

Wayne Doenges
CAD Mentor

Lets try to keep this thread on topic. If anyone knows of a usable wind tunnel within driving distance to Huntington, In., I would think Wayne and team T.H.R.U.S.T. would still be looking to test in it.

[Matt Leese]

When I first saw this post, the only thing I could think of was a question that was posed to FIRST a very long time ago:

Can our rotor downwash knock tubes off the goal?

Matt