Ceiling at Nationals

[cupcakefacex]

Also, tethering is allowed and described in the rules if a team is that concerned about the environment...

The rules state that "competitiors must not steer the helicopter"...
Also, the rules state that a cieling without obstructions is preferred over a high ceiling.
Most importantly, such conditions are actually unfair to some teams: Evidently, a chinook helicopter is more likely to get stuck in the rafters than a coaxial helicopter, simply due to its geometry.
Could the competition site be possibly changed to omit good/bad luck from competition?

I apologize, I forgot that we did not include official language about tethering in the printed rules. Nonetheless, the statement about ceilings are clearly a preference, not a requirement (so as to not disqualify sites, we would prefer the event be run in an less than ideal location than not run at all, which are often the options.)

I fundamentally disagree about the fair/unfair argument. All teams will be presented with the same conditions by the supervisors. Whatever the teams bring is up to them. It is not the job of the supervisors to provide ideal conditions for every potential design (I can think of multiple other designs that might be more likely to hang up than a chinook,) that would be impossible. Instead, it is the job of the supervisor to provide a fair competition that follows the written rules closely. A secondary goal is giving every team the most favorable conditions possible, but we have to settle for consistency when perfection is impossible. And trust me, I take perfecting sites extremely seriously. I was once threatened with having the police called on me when I tried to turn the air conditioning off at a tournament.

And no, we can't change the competition location this late, however we will definitely try to make things as favorable to all of the competitors as possible (but will obviously settle for consistency.)

does this mean that tethering will be allowed?

[gcruz24]

Spectator-Friendly < Testing Helicopter's to it's full potential

[danyalukin]

Spectator-Friendly < Testing Helicopter's to it's full potential

The gym is what it is, there is no reason to continue this discussion. Besides, we should have already understood that the gym was selected wisely and no better option that suits all of NSO and the campus of the university exists.

On that note, sorry again for the inconvenience, chalker7, and thanks for clarifying things. We meant no harm and only wanted to do the best

~Daniil

[chalker7]

does this mean that tethering will be allowed?

Submit an official clarification.

[Lily Essence]

I have previously submitted an FAQ earlier in the competition year... This was my post about it.

Re: Helicopter Testing
by Lily Essence on Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:55 pm

Not sure if this is the right thread to mention this, but tethering isn't allowed. (Or at least, if you do tether, you'd be put behind other teams that don't)

I just wanted to mention this since I e-mailed my FAQ to SciOly and they've responded, but haven't changed the FAQs yet. I kept being told by my coach and others that tethers were being allowed this year, but when I read the rules, I couldn't see how they could allow that since the rules specifically say that teams cannot steer their helicopter. (therefore, teams that do would be tier two'd) And (to end this confusion on my end) I submitted a FAQ.

Have you guys been told differently about the tethering question? I hope that SciOly updates their FAQ to reflect this, since I foresee a lot of confusion if they don't...

Notice the date: November 13. Even then, I was already worried that the FAQ wasn't updated after my question. Here is the complete e-mail as well as my carefully phrased questions:

Helicopters Reply from Science Olympiad
Inbox
x


[email protected] via tourmaline.tilted.net
11/13/11

to me
Yes, teams with tethers for their helicopters will be in tier 2.

The original question is included for your records; there is no need to
respond unless you feel there is an error.
=========================================================
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

The rule state that "competitors must not steer the helicopter during
flight". Does this put teams that use tethers in second tier, as specified by
5. Scoring d. since they are controlling their helicopter from reaching the
roof/obstacles?

Helicopters

(section: 4 / paragraph: m / sub-paragraph: / line: 1)

[email protected] via tourmaline.tilted.net
11/13/11

to me
Correction to the last reply, teams with tethers for their helicopters will
be ranked behind all other teams which is essentially the same as tier 2 even
though it is not listed as tier 2 in the rules.


[email protected] via tourmaline.tilted.net
11/13/11

to me
Tethers are not allowed for first tier flights. The printed rules supersede
any training materials or information other than official SO clarifications
or posted FAQs.

The original question is included for your records; there is no need to
respond unless you feel there is an error.
=========================================================
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

If a tether is allowed on a first tier helicopter, may the competitor be
holding onto a spool containing the tether, controlling the amount of string
being released, or must the tether be a one-length string, touching only the
helicopter and the holding base?

Five months later, I'm still waiting on the FAQ update. Since it does seem like this is a problem that needs to be addressed directly to the wide audience, I ask that everyone ask this as an FAQ so that it does actually become a FREQUENTLY asked question. I would be disappointed if great teams placed behind other teams that tethered but were judged with a helicopter that didn't break the rules (aka, second tier).

As Mr. Chalker has said in a previous post (that I'm too lazy to find), most event supervisors WILL NOT ACCEPT a printed e-mail, since it is so easy to fake. This MUST go on the official FAQs since it has been asked several times; that (IMHO) is enough to warrant a FAQ.

To those with some official standing or contact, please see that my e-mail and the answers and questions get posted on the FAQ.

Thanks for reading.

[chalker]

As Mr. Chalker has said in a previous post (that I'm too lazy to find), most event supervisors WILL NOT ACCEPT a printed e-mail, since it is so easy to fake. This MUST go on the official FAQs since it has been asked several times; that (IMHO) is enough to warrant a FAQ.

Just a minor clarification to this: the national event supervisors are usually the ones who generate the responses to questions submitted to the website. At a minimum they are provided copies of them. You can safely assume that regardless of whether a response was posted as a FAQ, at Nationals the supervisors will abide by it and likely are very aware of it.

[chalker7]

As Mr. Chalker has said in a previous post (that I'm too lazy to find), most event supervisors WILL NOT ACCEPT a printed e-mail, since it is so easy to fake. This MUST go on the official FAQs since it has been asked several times; that (IMHO) is enough to warrant a FAQ.

Just a minor clarification to this: the national event supervisors are usually the ones who generate the responses to questions submitted to the website. At a minimum they are provided copies of them. You can safely assume that regardless of whether a response was posted as a FAQ, at Nationals the supervisors will abide by it and likely are very aware of it.

And as my brother said above, I will know what we said throughout the year for helicopters and will definitely abide by that.

[Lily Essence]

Just a minor clarification to this: the national event supervisors are usually the ones who generate the responses to questions submitted to the website. At a minimum they are provided copies of them. You can safely assume that regardless of whether a response was posted as a FAQ, at Nationals the supervisors will abide by it and likely are very aware of it.

And as my brother said above, I will know what we said throughout the year for helicopters and will definitely abide by that.

Thank you for the prompt responses.

PS: WOAH, there are two Mr. Chalkers?! =.= Now I wonder which one I've met and talked to/about all this time... *facepalm*

[chalker]

PS: WOAH, there are two Mr. Chalkers?! =.= Now I wonder which one I've met and talked to/about all this time... *facepalm*

Generally my brother (chalker7) posts about helicopter / aviation stuff since he's the national event supervisor for those events. I chime in occasionally though. I'm more active on the physics type events since I'm the national committee chair for those. Regarding meeting us, I'm the older and more handsome one;)

[chalker7]

Regarding meeting us, I'm the older and more handsome one;)

And I'm the less geriatric one with the full head of hair.