2021 Conops summary

Owned by Anthony Berbari (Deactivated)
Last updated: 2021-03-22
6 min read

The conops are the documents that completely describe the USC competition. Everything from rules to scoring.

The complete document is attached to this page. (Pls google how to access confluence attachements is you can’t find it right away).

 

Overview

The competition consists of 2 tasks. In each, we will be given a fixed time to do as much of the task as we can. We by no means have to try to do everything, we don’t even have to do both tasks. Things are worth points, and the team with the most points wins.

Timeline

Register online by the 9th of November 2020.

Phase 1: A design report due the 12th of January 2021

Submit list of team members attending competition by 26 March 2021

Submit proof of flight video by 11 April 2021

Zoom presentations 30 April 2021

Phase 2: The actual competition, happening April 30th –May 2nd in Southport, Manitoba

Flying site:

We need something flat and unobstructed for 100mx60m (I think WREST should work)

4 pylons mark a 3mx3m square, with 1 side designated as the door.

qr codes are provided, we need to take them out of the envelope right before the task

The clinic is 75m from the depot

 

Task 1: (1 hour)

Layout:

  • 4 packages must be arranged in a row, inside the depot with no less than 30 cm between the packages (and between the packages and the walls).

  • It’s not specified where the depot is relative to the takeoff location.

  • A QR code (with a dimension between 1 and 4 inches) is placed on the front and on the top of the package.

  • We don’t know exactly where the clinic is ahead of time. (Its location, as well as the path Spike needs to follow to complete laps, will be specified about a day before competition). We’re going to need to go out to the field and figure out waypoints ourselves.

  • The clinic is 75 meters from the depot.

  • In this task, things are visual line of sight. (so we can do things manually if need be)

  • Inside the clinic, and right outside, will be a 50 cm square “target”. The object is to drop the package onto the inside one (outside one is for wastemanz).

  1. Take off from starting location.

  2. Enter the depot and identify via a qr code, which package is ours. This can be done manually but max points awarded for autonomously.

  3. Attach the package to our aircraft. Again, this can be done manually but max points awarded for autonomously.

  4. Fly as many times as possible, in the given time around some set course (the more laps the better). Path will be given to us y the judge just ahead of time..

  5. Once we complete enough laps, travel to the clinic and remotely release the package. There are 2 possible targets, one inside a tent, and one outside. To reach the one inside, we would need a ground vehicle to transport the package. This ground vehicle may either be carried by the aircraft, or be placed at the depot ahead of time (worth less points). The most points are awarded for a package dropped off completely inside the lines. Both targets are a 50 cm square that looks like this:

5. Return home and land safely.

Video contents of task 1 (edited video, not stream)

 

  • Flight Readiness Review: Show RPAS pilot certificates for Canadians

  • Show UAV being weighed, max 10 kg;

  • Demonstrate that the flight termination system is functional at all times and in all flight modes. Make the motors spin, and show that at all time, it is possible to kill the aircraft. An example is that turning off the RC automatically kills the aircraft in all flight modes.

  • Quick scan of the entire layout of the competition area, to show that all elements are set up per the provided diagram

  • Time of starting the flight window

    • Opening of the sealed envelope and affixing the QR codes to the box, and placing the boxes in the ‘tent’;

    • e.QR code reading at the Depot, at a minimum of the package to be transported. This includes showing the method of locating the QR code and reading it and ‘output’ of the QR code, to prove the correct package was chosen;

    • Pick-up of the package at the Depot that will be transported;

    • One complete lap of the required path, then a clip of every time the system passes the Clinic (i.e., completes a lap);

    • If a UGV is transported to the clinic location by UAV, the pickup and drop-off

    • Package drop off at the Clinic;j.Safe landing at the GCS;k.Time of finishing the flying;

    • At least one ‘bad’ moment –your best crash, UAV running into the truck, you know..

Task 2: (1 hour)

Layout

  • 1 visual observer for safety reasons, but the pilot will always be facing away from the field.

  • Clinic numbers are written on both the internal and external targets.

  •  

  1. Fly from the launch location to a remote depot.

  2. At the depot, identify via a QR code, which package needs to go to what clinic. This may not be done manually. If our aircraft can’t do it, we’d be delivering each package randomly, without knowing each’s intended destination. The QR code outputs a number, which corresponds to a particular depot.

  3. Attach the package to the aircraft. We can position a team member at the depot to do this manually, but max points awarded for doing things autonomously.

  4. Fly the package directly to a clinic, then return to pick up the next one.

  5. Do this for all packages, and as many bonus packages as possible in the 1 hour window.

  6. Return to land safely at the takeoff location.

 

Video contents of task 2 (edited video, not stream)

  • Opening of the sealed envelope, affixing of the QR codes to the boxes, and placement of the boxes in the Depot

  • Time of starting the flight window

  • QR code reading at the Depot, for all packages being transported to the Clinics. This includes showing the‘output’ of the QR code, to demonstrate where the packages should be transported to

  • Pick up of packages at the Depot, including the location and mechanism of package pick-up (e.g., inside the Depot, automatically)

  • Package drop off at a specific location at the appropriateClinic

  • If a UGV is transported to the clinic location by UAV, the pickup and drop-off;g.Safe landing at the GCS

  • Time of finishing flying;

  • At least one ‘bad’ moment –your best crash, mid-air between the relay plane and the delivery UAV, you know.

Payload

For both Tasks, packages will be made of cardboard, and have dimensions of 4x4x4 inches. They will contain nothing (or as many things as we want so we can afford an extra pound or so or other stuff on the aircraft). They will be covered by a layer of packing tape. Here is a link to the exact packages that will be used.

Design constraints

  • Maximum takeoff weight (not including payload) 10 Kg

  • Aircraft must have a flight termination system to end flight safely.

  • Aircraft must be painted with a bright color and display our team name

Team size

  • Max 5 People on the flight deck

  • As any as we want can attend the competition though

  • The person who will be placed at the depot in task 2 does not count towards the 5 person limit.

Safety constraints (These mechanisms will be checked pre-flight):

  • Must be equipped with a kill switch that can be activated remotely or automatically

  • The action of killing must be controlled (parachute or max flaps + max elevator aerodynamic panic).

  • If flight termination system breaks, the aircraft should have terminated flight already, i.e. fail in a safe state

  • In case of a crash, we need to have a corrective action plan, explaining what has been done differently, before being allowed to fly again.

  • There must be an electrical or mechanical way to prevent propellers from spinning before takeoff.

  • We will be asked to demonstrate fly-by, circling and controlled landing prior to flight.

  • The main pilot must hold an advanced RPAS certificate