Aircraft Trim Design Challenge
Challenge Description
The challenge we were presented with was to complete 4 separate trials with the same paper aircraft, making changes along the way to complete each trial. The first trial was to make the paper aircraft travel 30 feet in a single direction while maintaining a height of at least 3.5 feet above the ground. After that, we then had to make adjustments so that the aircraft would travel 3 feet then make a 90 degree turn to the left. The third trial was to go under one beam then change direction and go above another beam. The final trial was to then travel 30 feet again with the same plane after all the previous adjustments had already been done. This challenge took the application of real life aircraft components and understanding how each component worked.
My Aircraft
Trials
As seen in my recorded data from my trials I attempted many changes to the aircraft to achieve each challenge. The first challenge was achieved after I changed the area I had initially launched it and by applying more force when throwing it. For the second challenge I had to add ailerons and a rudder as well as use more force and stand in a different location to gain success. The third challenge was the most challenging for me and took much time. The changes I made were the addition of a small elevator and the elimination of the rudder and ailerons, I also launched from a lower starting point and using a moderate amount of force. The fourth challenge didn’t take that much time and required few changes, such as the addition of vertical surfaces and the elimination of the elevator as well as much more force. Those were the primary changes made to help me succeed in each challenge after much observation.
Conclusion Questions
A. If you were to coach another student what advice would you share with the student who is struggling to complete a challenge?
If I were to help another student that was struggling with one of the challenges presented in this project I would advise them to look at their observations more closely and try to focus on important changes rather than quick easy ones that still fail.
B. What would you describe as an important consideration to design an effective trim feature?
An important consideration I would think to be effective as a trim feature would be some weight in the nose and less towards the tail of the plane to help with the difficult turns and maneuvers.
C. How would you approach a similar challenge in the future to apply the design process more efficiently?
I would take my time more and try to maximize how I use observations to help myself the most I can instead of becoming frustrated and having to take more time to try and clear my mind to think more clearly to find a solution.
If I were to help another student that was struggling with one of the challenges presented in this project I would advise them to look at their observations more closely and try to focus on important changes rather than quick easy ones that still fail.
B. What would you describe as an important consideration to design an effective trim feature?
An important consideration I would think to be effective as a trim feature would be some weight in the nose and less towards the tail of the plane to help with the difficult turns and maneuvers.
C. How would you approach a similar challenge in the future to apply the design process more efficiently?
I would take my time more and try to maximize how I use observations to help myself the most I can instead of becoming frustrated and having to take more time to try and clear my mind to think more clearly to find a solution.