Hi AutoQuadders,
looks like Larry aka LPR is planning to join the contest and grab the first prize for the aerial challenge.
https://avc.sparkfun.com/2013
The course is pretty simple but with some tricky parts.
Here are the rules: https://avc.sparkfun.com/2013/rules
The aircraft must be started and flown autonomously, race around the course in the shortest possible time and land at a spot - either manually or autonomously.
Bonus points will be given for certain actions:
25 - autonomous landing
25 - autonomous landing within bonus box
50 - successful payload drop
50 - passing under wicket
So all in all there are 150 bonus points that a successful operator can gather. The wicket and the auto landing will be no big deal since every crew has 3 trials. The challenging part will be the payload drop (a tennis ball) on the small peninsula.
And flying over water most of the time bares the risk of losing the AQ if it hits the water. I hope there are some divers around.
The time factor will be a benefit for fixed wing aircrafts i.m.o. which can be compensated by precise maneuvering and gathering of bonus points.
Now that we have a month for preparations we could try to help Larry and his team getting on the track.
I was thinking of other AQristas who could help to develop the tennis ball release mechanism and function and maybe plan a "dry run" over ground with the given shape of the course.
I wish Larry and his team all the best and a great success!
What ya guys think?
Norbert