Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

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techmaster55
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by techmaster55 »

Does anybody know of any good times that people are getting at whatever hight? I am personally dumbfounded as to whAt the competition will be like at states.i would also like to put out my concern for states: our school had egg drop done out of a second story window, and the 2 most prevailant problems were strong gusts of wind and the helicopter hitting the side of the building upon decent. In fact, one of the best looking devices there hit the side of the building and collapsed due to it very lightweight design. In my opinion many of the best helicopters will be extremly fragile and will weigh under 35 grams. If am correct, droppi g them the length of an arm off the side of the bleachers might result in even more device failures. Hopefully the states building has a better spot than out a window or off the side of bleachers.
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by JimY »

I see rule 2c for HED as being up to so much interpretation that I don't know what to do. Because of this, my question is how will it be enforced at nats? For example, in one of our design ideas, the egg is resting inside a cylinder that has foam sides (the foam does give a bit when pinched, but not much). On the bottom is a piece of cardboard (not the corrugated type but rather the cereal box type). The egg would have room inside the cylinder to move around a bit, but not much. Also, the cardboard is at the bottom of the device rather than being above the bottom, and would therefore have no shock absorbing ability. So, if this can be pictured with the egg placed vertically inside the cylinder, will this follows rule 2c well enough to not get dropped into tier 3 or 4? I don't see an issue with the cardboard or the vertical placement of the egg. The foam cylinder is the main question since it gives a bit, although not much. The egg would just sit in the cylinder with maybe some tape attached to it to hold it in place and keep it from moving around as the device spins. Another option would be no tape and let it bounce around against the foam.

Since this is a nationals question, can someone from nationals please address it or pass along word that it is here, such as Chalker, Chalker 7, or Fleet 130? I've changed the post a bit after realizing that blue cobra was running the event in NY only and would not necessarily know about the national rules.

Rule 2c is a big issue to me, as pretty much any material that the egg touches or could touch inside the device could give a bit when pinched or pushed against, could therefore be accused of being a cushioning material by the event judge, and end up getting dropped into one of the lower tiers.
Last edited by JimY on April 20th, 2012, 4:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by techmaster55 »

JimY wrote:Blue Cobra,

I see rule 2c for HED as being up to so much interpretation that I don't know what to do. Because of this, my main question is how do you plan on enforcing it at nats? For example, in one of our design ideas, the egg is resting inside a cylinder that has foam sides (the foam does give a bit when pinched, but not much). On the bottom is a piece of cardboard (not the corrugated type but rather the cereal box type). The egg would have room inside the cylinder to move around a bit, but not much. Also, the cardboard is at the bottom of the device rather than being above the bottom, and would therefore have no shock absorbing ability. So, if you can picture this egg cradle with the egg positioned vertically inside the cylinder, to you think it follows rule 2c well enough to not get put in tier 3 or 4? I don't see an issue with the cardboard. The foam cylinder is the main question since it gives a bit. The egg would just sit in the cylinder with maybe a piece of tape over the top.

Thanks.
You might want to check the rules again, the egg will be put in a sandwich bag and then put into a cup (what kind though is not specified, however all of this will be provided by the event supervisor, so it doesent matter). The cup may be suspended or fixed to the helicopter(not much about this is specified, and I am currently wondering if I may use string and tape to suspend the cup from the helicopter)
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by JimY »

I heard that the NY competition uses cups and bags. This question is for the national rules on soinc.org. They don't mention either cups or bags at all, therefore the question.
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by lenkagamine »

i am trying to figure out the rules here, and after reading this scioly page... i am still slightly confused.
so does our device have to hold the cup that holds the egg or just an egg? how is our egg attached? is it supposed to be suspended from a string or tape on the bottom of our helicopter? or is it supposed to have a cup holder? if so, why do we have a string? or are we supposed to have a built-in cup? but doesn't that count as cushioning? :|
sorry if these are stupid questions, but im really confused...
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by JimY »

There are at least three different sets of rules for this event floating around out there (pun intended). Indiana had their own set which were fairly different than the national rules. Then NY has their own rules which are also different than the national rules with a cup to hold the egg. My guess is that they are trying to figure out how make this one of the 23 for next season while also removing all the confusing rules at the same time. So, they are trying out a few different ideas in different states to see how each goes.

My question on rule 2c is regarding the national rules only, since I'm helping out a team that is going to nats next month. I see no confusion with cups, as nationals is not using the NY rules. Regarding the above post on rule 2b of the national rules, to me it does not imply suspending the egg under the device using tape or string. Rather, you can use tape or string to secure the egg into the device (= rest the egg in the device and keep from moving with tape or string). Using nothing but gravity to hold the egg in the device would also be allowed. We will just have to wait for someone from nationals to thumb through this post and reply to our questions since there are no FAQs and rule clarifications for trial events that I'm aware of.
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by lenkagamine »

JimY wrote:There are at least three different sets of rules for this event floating around out there (pun intended). Indiana had their own set which were fairly different than the national rules. Then NY has their own rules which are also different than the national rules with a cup to hold the egg. My guess is that they are trying to figure out how make this one of the 23 for next season while also removing all the confusing rules at the same time. So, they are trying out a few different ideas in different states to see how each goes.

My question on rule 2c is regarding the national rules only, since I'm helping out a team that is going to nats next month. I see no confusion with cups, as nationals is not using the NY rules. Regarding the above post on rule 2b of the national rules, to me it does not imply suspending the egg under the device using tape or string. Rather, you can use tape or string to secure the egg into the device (= rest the egg in the device and keep from moving with tape or string). Using nothing but gravity to hold the egg in the device would also be allowed. We will just have to wait for someone from nationals to thumb through this post and reply to our questions since there are no FAQs and rule clarifications for trial events that I'm aware of.
thank you! that helped me out a lot :D good luck on your own helicopter! (i am quickly figuring out that this event is harder than it at first seemed...)
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by cant_think_of_one »

Is holding an egg in a string bag against the rules? Please reply as soon as possible.

"edit" a crocheted/knited bag
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by JimY »

cant_think_of_one wrote:Is holding an egg in a string bag against the rules? Please reply as soon as possible.

"edit" a crocheted/knited bag
Who knows. If it provides padding, it could be viewed as such.
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Re: Helicopter Egg Drop B [Trial]

Post by Mr Sarcastic »

Rule 2.b states that, "No energy producing mechanism of any type may be used to power the rotor(s) to slow the descent of the device." How will the blade begin to turn to slow the descent in the first place if it cannot be powered?
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