RC Airplane

Robert Schuld
Aakash Soni
Alan Strimbu

Table of Contents

Timeline
Gantt Chart
Problem Statement
Background
Customer
Scope
Customer Requirements
Deliverables
Brainstorming
Research
Identify Criteria & Constraints
Explore Possibilities
Pros and Cons
Select an Approach
CAD
Bill of Material
Build Process
Test Criteria
Test Plan
Prototype
Test Results
Lessons Learned
Summary

Timeline

Gantt

Problem Statement
Students lack proficiency in
Engineering

By creating an RC airplane:
Gain knowledge
Gain experience for college environment

Background
Gain knowledge in Aeronautics and
Material Sciences
Implement calculus and physics for
advanced calculations
Recognize properties of different
materials balsa wood, foam, etc.

Customer
Mr. Pritchard

Mrs. Brandner

Scope
Create RC airplane to takeoff, fly, and
land
Consist of fuselage, wings, motor,
servos
Documented in engineering notebook
Presented in technical report and
Powerpoint presentation

Scope (contd)
Experts
Mr. Pritchard
Mrs. Brandner
Mr. Cotie

Built of balsa wood and foam

Held together with various glues
Create lightest prototype as possible

Scope (contd)
Requirements

12-step design process

Strength tests
Cost estimates
CAD drawings
Data for 3 diff. materials
Calculations for plane (thrust, drag, lift)

Scope (contd)
Expected cost to be $100
Limitations with various clubs and
sports

Customer Requirements
Mr. Pritchard
3 tests on 3 different materials
Strength test on material/prototype

Mrs. Brandner
Complex calculations using physics and calculus
Submit engineering notebook

Additional
Must fit in technology room
Must be tested outside school property

Deliverables
Mr. Pritchard

RC Airplane prototype
Final Report
Design Notebook(s)
Powerpoint Presentation

Mrs. Brandner
Calculations

Brainstorming
Construction
What building materials will be used?
What bonding materials will be used?
What prefabricated materials will be
used?
What tools will be used?

Brainstorming (contd)
Plane characteristics
How will the airplane be powered?
How will the airplane be maneuvered?
What weather conditions are required to
fly the plane?
What wing structure will be used?
What aesthetics will we consider?
What is the optimal center of gravity?

Brainstorming (contd)
Testing
Where will we fly the airplane?
What if the airplane crashes?
Will we need permission to fly the
airplane?
How will we test the airplane?

Research
Looked heavily into materials
Balsa vs. Basswood
Foam vs. Metal vs. Fiberglass

Structure of plane
Skeleton build with thin covering
Solid build

Research (contd)
Motor types
Electric, nitro engine, jet engine

Servos
Move surfaces of plane
Provide turning capabilities

Propeller/Landing gear
Propeller needs to fit with motor
Proper size wheels

Research (contd)
Plane channels

Ailerons for roll

Elevators for pitch
Throttle for speed
Rudder for yaw
Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
3-channel system most practical

Research (contd)
Wing position
High, mid, and low-wing
High is most stable and easiest to fly

Tail
V-tail and T-tail
T-tails better with low speeds for control

Transmitter
Prefabricated at 72 MHz frequency band

Identify Criteria & Constraints

Criteria
Applications of Calculus
Calculations for d(t), v(t), a(t)
Calculations for lift force
Calculations for engine torque
Calculations for thrust
Calculations for types of materials
Optimization with different materials and
structures
Submit engineering notebooks

Identify Criteria & Constraints

Criteria
Applications of Technology
Application of the 12 step design process
Testing procedures for different types of materials
and their strengths
Submit final report and Power Point
Submit airplane prototype
Submit CAD drawings

Identify Criteria & Constraints

Criteria
Control Panels
Flying tests must be outside school
property

Constraints
Must fit inside technology room
3 ft. wingspan for detail, but not too
large

Explore Possibilities

Pros and Cons

Materials

Pros

Porous
Less glue required
Lightweight
Cheap
Widely available
Stiff
Easy to sand
Wont crush
Lightweight

Foam

Very lightweight

Plastic

Strong
Rigid

Metal

Very strong
Rigid

Fiberglass

Very strong
Very lightweight

Balsa wood

Basswood

Cons

Varying strength

Hard to sand
Not widely available
More expensive
Hard to work with
Not very strong
Rigid
Hard to work with
Expensive
Relatively heavy
Very heavy
Expensive
Hard to work with
Not widely available
Very expensive
No previous experience
Not widely available

Pros and Cons (contd)

Tails

Pros

Cons

V-Tail

Lightweight
Less drag
Sturdy

Less aerodynamic

T-Tail

Keep airflow behind wing

Creates clean airflow
Better pitch control

Can break at landing

T-tail best choice

Aerodynamics
Cleaner airflow

Pros and Cons (contd)

Wings

Pros

Cons

High wing

Most stable
Easiest to fly
Easy to build
Easy to roll

Not as acrobatic

Low wing

Mid-wing

Easy to turn

Hard to fly
Top-heavy
Hardest to fly
Wings at bulk of mass

High wing best choice

Easiest to fly/build
Stable
Makes sustained flight easiest to attain
Acrobatics not necessary

Pros and Cons (contd)

Adhesives

Pros

Cons

Wood Glue (Urea)

Easiest to use
Low cost
Light color

Poor heat resistance

Poor moisture resistance
Bond not very strong

Hot Glue

Quick cooling time

Relatively easy to use
Low cost
Very light
Expands while setting
Best for wood than other
materials
Waterproof
Expands when dry
Less glue required
Cheap
Water-resistant
Strong flexible bond
Easy to peel off
Not brittle
Very strong bond
Often used for model aircraft
Versatile
Water resistant

Bond not strong

Leaves residue
Visible on plane
Hard to work with
Contains air bubbles
Somewhat expensive

Heavy

Flammable
Highly toxic
Expensive
Expensive
Can become brittle
Long cure times

Gorilla Glue

Pro-bond Glue

Rubber Cement
Super Glue

Pros and Cons (contd)

Propellers

Pros

Cons

Dual Blade

Easily available
Very efficient
Easy to use
Fairly cheap

Larger diameter

Multi Blade

Smaller diameter

Less available
Less efficient

Wood Blade

Very rigid
Efficient
Light

Breaks easily

APC Blade (Metal)

Dont break as easily

Efficient

Heavy

Pros and Cons (contd)

Motors

Pros

Cons

Electric

Cheap
Easy to run
Clean
Doesnt require gasoline
Lightweight

Low power / torque

Nitro

Relatively cheap
Wide availability
High torque and power

Special mixture of fuel

Heavy

Gas

High torque and power

Not as available
Heavy
Special mixture of fuel
Expensive

Jet

Extreme power

Extremely expensive
Not as available

Select an Approach
High
I
M
P
A
C
T

Design 1

Design 2

Design 3

Low
Low

High
Effort

CAD

Bill of Material
PART

PART DESCRIPTION

COST PER UNIT

QUANTITY

TOTAL COST

Power 15 Brushless
Outrunner
Motor

950 Kv, 575 Watts

$79.99

$79.99

3-channel controller

Hitec Neon SS 72
MHz

$67.99

$67.99

Landing Gear

Elite Mini UltraStick

$12.95

$12.95

Servos

HS-311 6.0 Volt

$11.99

$23.98

Carbon fiber tube

0.210 outer diam. x

0.132 inner
diam. x 40

$7.99

$7.99

EPS Foam

x 14 x 48

$9.49

$9.49

Propeller

Speed 400, 5.25 x 6.25

$2.13

$2.13

Pushrods

Fiberglass

$8.95

$17.90

Balsa Wood

x 36

$0.89

$1.78

TOTAL COST

$224.20

Build Process
Part A
Layer four sheets of EPS foam on top of each
other.
Use four very thin dowel rods or four vise grips
and stick it through all four layers in each of the
four corners of the stack in order to hold it in
place.
Using a Sharpie, mark a rectangle that is 4 x
23 on the top of the stack.
Using a hot wire, carve out the resulting box.

Build Process (contd)

Remove the cut out pieces.
Clamp these four pieces together so that all of the
edges are flush.
Using a box cutter, shave out the shape of the
fuselage.
Remove the vise grips and glue the four sheets
together.
Sand Part A so that it is smooth.

Build Process (contd)

Part B
Obtain one sheet of EPS foam.
Using a Sharpie, trace the side of Part B on the
end of the foam sheet.
Using a hot wire, trace this line and cut out the
shape of Part B.

Build Process (contd)

Build Process (contd)v

Build Process (contd)

Build Process (contd)

Build Process (contd)

Test Criteria
Test Criteria for Prototype

Safety
Functionality (in air/on ground)
Ease of use
Aerodynamics
Velocity
Weight/Size
Strength

Test Criteria
Test Criteria for Materials
Foam

Strength
Safety
Compression/Tension
Flexibility
Weatherability (ability to withstand outdoor
conditions)

Test Criteria
Test Criteria for Materials
Adhesive
Weatherability
Holding strength
Drying time
Motor/Propeller
Thrust
Torque
Voltage (if necessary)
Weatherability
Weight/Size
Functionality

Test Plan
Overall Plane

Test Criteria

How Tested

Expected results

Aerodynamics

Look at the overall body of the plane

and determine if any parts of
the plane will decrease
aerodynamics.

The plane will have

sound
aerodynamics
and will have
minimal drag.

Functionality

Move all surfaces (rudder, elevators)

and check for responsiveness.

All motorized parts of

the plan will
respond well.

Safety

Check if the plane flies consistently in

the air and doesnt wobble.

The plane will be safe

and wont
wobble.

Strength

Hang weights on the wings and see if

the flex too much or break.
Put weights on other critical
structures of the plane.

The plane will be able

to support the
weight and will
not fracture.

Velocity

While in the air, look at distance/time

to determine the speed.

The velocity will be

high enough to
sustain flight.

Weight/Size

Measure the overall planes

dimensions. Put the whole
plane on a scale.

Planes weight will be

in proportion to
its size.

Actual Results

Prototype

Test Results

Lessons Learned

Summary