ORNITHOPTER
Aeronautical & Aerospace
An ornithopter is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. Designers sought to imitate the flapping wing flight of birds, bats, and insects. Though machines may differ in form, they are usually built on the same scale as flying animals.
Event Overview
Design Specifications:
1. Ornithopter must be constructed using any light weight wood and barbeque skewers.
2. Materials such as carbon fiber, Kevlar and boron are not allowed.
3. Metal or plastics may be used in wing hinges and crank shaft hooks only.
4. Usage of ready to fly kit is strictly prohibited.
5. Rubber bands can be used to power the ornithopter.
6. The rubber band, stick and the tail boom should consist on a single piece of wood.
7. Only mono plane configuration is allowed to design, that is only a single pair of flapping wings, one on right and other on left.
8. Any stabilizer or lifting surface other than flapping wings must be located aft of the rear hook.
9. Joints can be reinforced with tissue paper soaked in glue.
Round 1: Qualifier round
1. A maximum of 3 hours to fabricate the ornithopter.
2. All the ornithopters will be selected for the second round.
3. Technical detailing for improving flight time will be an added advantage.
Round 2: Flying round
1. Models are hand launched.
2. A stopwatch will be used to time each flight. The timing begins with the launch and ends with the touchdown.
3. Each individuals is allowed three timed flights. The best one counts as the score.
4. If the ornithopter is decorated in a manner that makes it look more like a real bird, an additional ten seconds will be added to the flight time.
5. If the flight ends prematurely because of hitting an obstacle, the time shall stand. If, an ornithopter gets caught on an obstacle for more than 10 seconds, the flight shall be redone.
Team requirement
1. Individual Event.
2. Students from any stream can participate.
3. Any number of individuals from a college can participate in the event.