Team: 24
School: Los Alamos High
Area of Science: Engineering
Interim: Team Number: 34
School: Los Alamos High School
Area of Science: Engineering
Project Title: An Innovative Military Tool to KeepService Pilots out of Dangerous Combat Situations
Problem:
The fundamental reason for this project is the major problem of the number of deaths that have occurred in aviation accidents and because of the dangers of a combat situation. During the years of 2013 through 2017, 133 pilots for the United States Military have died from accidents occurring in planes. Flying planes can be extremely dangerous, especially in combat situations, the pilot’s life is on the line, along with their crew members. Often the weak point in fighter jets is the pilots. And most of the time, their safety is the number one thing companies invest in.
Another important reason is the fact that fighter planes can be costly. The F-35 Lightning II costs 94 to 122 million dollars per unit. The cost of the program is a staggering 1.5 trillion dollars.
Computational Plan:
We will be using C++ to create code for the Arduino Uno. The code will be able to grab the data from the motor and create an accurate graph. We also have begun testing various sensors and coding them for the data logger for the rocket flight computer.
Solution
The UAV (Unmanned aerial vehicle) program within the United States Air Force has been a growing program. UAVs have several benefits over standard jets. First, they are very cheap and easy to build. Second, they do not risk the life of the pilot, and if they crash, it is less of a problem. Also, they are lighter, faster, and more agile because many of the heavy life support systems are not needed. Finally, they are hard to detect on radar. We plan to make a small and compact UAV because that will be harder to detect on radar, can be easily deployed, and they can be flown in packs, so if one gets shot down, there are many more to replace it. Our goal will be to determine if it is possible to launch a model rocket off of a drone. Unfortunately, FAA regulations prohibit actually doing this, so we will instead be using a series of tests to determine if it is possible. Our first test will be to measure the amount of thrust the rocket engine generates. We will be doing this using a rig that holds the engine under a scale, with an Arduino recording the data from the scale. Our next test will be to determine if the drone is capable of handling the thrust. We will go full throttle on the drone and record the acceleration it experiences. We will then use that to determine if it provides enough support to handle the rocket when it launches.
Progress to date
So far we have constructed the test rig, wired it up to the Arduino, coded, and tested the rig. After reviewing the data and comparing it to data from the supplier, we confirmed that the test stand works perfectly. Also, we have assembled the rocket, and we have started construction of the drone. We have also started designing the rocket flight computer. This flight computer will give us data such as altitude, speed, acceleration, and temperature, and it will contain a reaction wheel for roll control.
Expected Results:
We expect to develop a cheap, fast, and easy to use UAV that has the capability to launch a very powerful rocket off of it. We also expect to get lots of data from the motor test stand, so we know if the drone will fail if there is an anomaly with the rocket motor.
Copp, T. (2018, April 8). The death toll for rising aviation accidents: 133 troops killed in five years. Retrieved October 2, 2019, from https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/04/08/the-death-toll-for-rising-aviation-accidents-133-troops-killed-in-five-years/.
Opfer, C. (2018, March 8). Can drones replace fighter jets? Retrieved October 3, 2019, from https://science.howstuffworks.com/can-drones-replace-fighter-jets.htm.
“Learn More - Beyond the Basics of FPV Drone Racing.†The Drone Racing League, thedroneracingleague.com/learn-more/.
“Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations.†FAA Seal, 13 Aug. 2019, www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/.
Omega. (n.d.). The UAV - The Future Of The Sky. Retrieved October 9, 2019, from https://www.theuav.com/.
Steven, H., & Joel. (2012, October 28). Will UAVs displace fighter jets soon? Retrieved October 10, 2019, from https://migflug.com/jetflights/uav-replace-fighter-jets/
“Drones and Weapons, A Dangerous Mix.†Federal Aviation Administration, 22 Aug. 2019, www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=94424.
Team Members:
Sponsoring Teacher: NA