This page is only a summary and may not be an accurate reflection of the rules in their most up-to-date form. Official rules can be found at the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada website:

https://www.aerialevolution.ca/annual-student-competition/

Tasks and Milestones

https://www.aerialevolution.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-AEAC-Competition-RFP-v2.2-15-February-2023.pdf

Registration

Due: Nov 28, 2022 @ 5:00pm

• Submit expression of interest to competition@aerialevolution.ca

• Register ($600 + tax)

Phase 1 - Design Proposal

Due: Jan 15, 2023 @ 5:00pm

• Describe the technical and programmatic details of the aircraft development and demonstration.

Submit Team List

Due: Mar 31, 2023

• Submit team list

• $300 + tax / person

Proof of Flight

Due: Apr 11, 2023

Video proof of previous successful flight of the aircraft in its planned configuration must be presented

• Takeoff

• Fly by, circle, and (if applicable) hover to demonstrate stability

• Approach

• Full-stop Landing

Phase 2 - Flight Assessment

Due: May 5, 2023 - May 7, 2023

• Tasks will be conducted within 5km of airfield.

• Only 1 vehicle may be used for each Task, different vehicles may be used for the different tasks, provided the passenger cabin is the same.

• Maximum Aircraft weight of 15kg, no size restriction.

• Vehicles must look like realistic air taxis

Presentation

Sales pitch to other competitors and assessment judges.

• Presentation outlining:

  • Composition of Bidder Team

  • Expertise of team members

  • Aircraft design

  • Execution of each Task

  • Why the aircraft should be chosen

• Length not exceeding 8 minutes

• Minimum 1 slide presented in french

• Presentations uploaded (due) May 4, 2023 11:59pm

Task 1 - Long-Range Passenger Transport

Transport 2-6 passengers (barbie dolls) over a long-range route & respond to a routing change.

• Given QR code specifying the route & waypoints

  • Route will be 10-30km long

  • Aircraft must stay within 50m of the designated route

  • An area bounded by way points will be identified during the flight to be avoided.

• Minimum of 2 passengers must be carried, additional points for additional passengers (max 6)

  • Aircraft cannot be moved while loading passengers, and the cabin must be enclosed

  • There should be a loading ramp or some entrance mechanism

  • passengers should be restrained

• An arm / flight readiness button must be used to activate the flight mode

• Landing Pads are 32in. Blue pads are operational, orange are not. There may be obstacles.

• Additional points for autonomy

Task 2 - On Demand Passenger Transport

Optimize transport requirements, delivering passengers between route of different lengths.

• Landing pads may have obstructions within 2m or a weight restriction of 5kg

• QR code with list of transport routes (# passengers, way points, max weight, pad conditions, etc.)

  • Will be received May 5, 2023 @ 3:00pm

  • Flight plan (with route orders) due within 60 minutes @ 4:00pm

  • Flight Plan must include at least 50% of provided routes

  • Use of automated algorithms will earn additional points

  • There will be a maximum of 50 routes (50 point to point routes)

• If a route requires moving more passengers than can be carried, multiple flights must be completed

• Most landing pads will be BVLOS

• When passengers are ‘on board’, green ‘Pax aboard’ light must be illuminated, visible from 360deg around aircraft

• A landing only counts if the aircraft is fully on the pad and rotors are off for 15 seconds

• Batteries may be swapped at launch point if there are no passengers (Waypoint Alpha)

Flight Preparation

Points will additionally be awarded for flight preparation

Post-Flight Report

A report must be submitted within 90 minutes of the teams last flight window. It must contain:

• Title Page

• Overview of the required tasks

• Details results of each task.

  • how technology worked

  • the success of optimization

  • route planning and diversion

  • etc.

• Overall comments on the flights

  • How well they went

  • lessons learned

  • etc.

Flight Readiness Review

• Provided a copy of the Advanced RPAS pilot certificate for Canadians?

• Provided copies of: proof of training (a), flight review (b), and SFOC(c) for Non-Canadian RPAS Pilots?

• Provided a copy of the RPAS registration? * additional note from @Megan Spee

  • proof of drone registration

  • pilot certificate

  • proof of recency (24 months max after license)

  • your drone’s operating manual

• Provide a copy of the email where the proof of flight was submitted to AEAC.

• Weight under 15 kg, pass list of weights to Chief Judge

• Demonstrate that the flight termination system is functional at all times and in all flight modes. Propellers should have been removed already. Make the motor(s) spin, and show that at all times, it is possible to kill the aircraft in all flight modes. Also show this kill mechanism has already been activated if the datalink for the kill switch is lost (this is often the RC controller, based on previous years).

• Demonstrate operation of the Flight Readiness Button – drone may not be capable of operating until the button is pushed.

Safety Requirements

• Safety Flight Termination System that can be activated automatically or remotely.

  • If the flight termination system is not functioning, it must terminate itself

  • Parachute / aerodynamic termination / 2m/s decent

• Transmitters may not be used outside of flight window

• GCS must always show the aircraft and competition flight area

• An electrical or mechanical way to prevent props from spinngin when aircraft is not in takeoff position

• Each pilot must hold Advances RPAS Pilot Certificate

• RPAS must be registered properly

• Insurance may be required

Other Requirements

• Only electric propulsion (including solar cells, batteries or fuel cell)

• A single aircraft must be used for both phases

• There must be 2 square inches of flat surface for a GPS tracking device provided by the competition on top of the bodywork

• Must look good: No wires hanging, should have exterior labelling, windows, etc.

• Data links may be radio, infrared, etc. but no tethers

• Needs a flight readiness button to allow UAMS to operate once passengers are loaded.

• Licenses for licensed radio frequency bands.

• Each flight window will be approximately 30-45 minutes (subject to change)

• ‘Flight crew’ is maximum of 5 members, who are the only ones that may be present during the flight window

• Pilots must remain at the launch point for the task

• Pilots must hold an Advanced Pilot certificate

Outstanding Questions

See Competition Questions