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**Science Olympiad Helicopter Designs:** Explore Winning Strategies and Techniques

Learn about designing helicopters for Science Olympiad competitions, including trial and error methods, recommended kits, and key design principles. Gain insights on rotor angle jigs, protractor angle gauges, and maximizing efficiency for lasting flight duration. Expert advice on weight considerations, power optimization, and essential equipment. Discover the art of building successful models for ceiling heights and national contests.

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**Science Olympiad Helicopter Designs:** Explore Winning Strategies and Techniques

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  1. Helicopter Duration atScience Olympiad Nationals 2010 Thomas Stokes, Jackson Amodeo 11th Place, 2010 Nationals Kenwood Trail Middle School, Lakeville MN Hap Stokes, Mentor, hapstokes@gmail.com MN Science Olympiad 2010 Student & Coach Workshop 13-Nov-2010

  2. Typical Science Olympiad Designs Wright Bat – 1 rotor means time bonus Parlor Copter – 2 Rotors Whirlibird – 2 rotors Adding a center spar on top allows the helicopter to rise to the ceiling and spin freely, making it a “Ceiling Walker”

  3. Early rejected designs Penni Helicopter Heavy, Complex, Gimmicky Parlor Helicopter with tube motor stick Difficult to wind, Very heavy

  4. Our helicopters Designed for trial and error with adjustable rotor pitch. 6.1 gm helicopter and 2 gm rubber motor = 8.1 gm

  5. Helicopter Design

  6. Math – Lift Equations • www.aerospaceweb.org • “The Propeller Propulsion Science Olympiad” by Lew Gitlow • For 6th graders, this math is too complicated. • We chose “Trial and Error” strategy

  7. Recommendations • Buy a kit, build it • One source A2Z Corp, Englewood, CO, USA • Learn about building jigs, balsa strength, glue types, glue techniques • Fly the kit, try not to break it, learn from it • We couldn’t get the kit to fly. Why not? • We broke the kit before we could really learn why • Read Blogs • scioly.org, soinc.org • look for Jeff Anderson, Livonia, MI • Learn about the ceiling, design for the ceiling • center mast for “ceiling walker” vs. slow climber because of rafters • Decide what you can design with math • Weight is everything (target 4 grams total) • Power is everything else. More winds for better duration don’t matter if it doesn’t fly. • Build a stooge to hold the copter during winding • To make sure partners are clear, write commands for winding & launching • KISS (keep it simple stupid) • Fix some variables • Don’t sweat the fine tuning the blogs talk about. Focus on weight and power to getting it flying first. • Plan to build more than one, as you will break them

  8. Design for the Ceiling Nationals 2010Univ Illinois Armory - 98ft ceiling Minnesota State 2011McCarthy Gym, St. Thomas

  9. Support Equipment Design Regular Pins Push Pins Jigs (foam core board) Carriers Travel Bin Winding Stooge (below) Misc Winder Scale 1 • Rotor angle jig • Protractor Angle Gauge • 1:1 scale rotor patterns (below) 3 5 6 4 2

  10. The Ultimate Goal • Light = 4 grams • Variable pitch rotors = higher efficiency • Heavy motor stick to allow many winds • Center spar to allow long ceiling walks

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