2024-25-ARC-National-Championship-Rulebook-Rev-A.pdf

2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Aerospace Robotics Competition Revision A Table of Contents Table of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.1 What is the Aerospace Robotics Competition? .................................................................... 5 1.2 What are the Benefits of ARC? ............................................................................................ 6 1.2.1 For Students ................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.2 For Volunteers ............................................................................................................... 6 1.2.3 For Sponsors .................................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Season Overview .................................................................................................................. 7 1.3.1 Mission Background ...................................................................................................... 7 1.3.2 Rulebook Overview ....................................................................................................... 8 2. Competition Overview ................................................................................................................ 9 2.1 Competition Venue ............................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Team Roles ......................................................................................................................... 10 2.3 Event Schedule.................................................................................................................... 11 2.4 Season Schedule.................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Eligibility Requirements ..................................................................................................... 13 2.5.1 Season Participation Eligibility.................................................................................... 13 2.5.2 National Championship Eligibility .............................................................................. 14 3. 2024-25 Season Challenges ...................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Component Descriptions ..................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Mission 1: Cubic Conundrum ............................................................................................. 16 3.2.1 Tasks ............................................................................................................................ 16 3.2.2 Field Layout ................................................................................................................. 18 3.3 Mission 2: Count on Me ..................................................................................................... 20 3.3.1 Tasks ............................................................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Field Layout ................................................................................................................. 21 3.4 Flight Procedure .................................................................................................................. 24 3.5 Technical Presentation ........................................................................................................ 26 3.5.1 Team Logistics ............................................................................................................. 26 3.5.2 Engineering Process ..................................................................................................... 27 3.5.3 Final Product ................................................................................................................ 27 3.5.4 Presentation Style......................................................................................................... 27 3.5.5 Procedure ..................................................................................................................... 28 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 2 3.6 Scoring Equations ............................................................................................................... 29 3.6.1 Possible Scores............................................................................................................. 29 4. Drone Requirements ................................................................................................................. 31 4.1 Mechanical Requirements ................................................................................................... 31 4.1.1 Structure ....................................................................................................................... 31 4.1.2 Mechanism Design....................................................................................................... 31 4.1.3 Controls ........................................................................................................................ 32 4.1.4 Batteries ....................................................................................................................... 32 4.1.5 Budget Requirements ................................................................................................... 35 4.1.6 Supplies and Sources ................................................................................................... 36 4.2 Safety and Legal Requirements .......................................................................................... 37 5. Competition Rules .................................................................................................................... 38 5.1 Logistics .............................................................................................................................. 38 5.2 Conduct Requirements ........................................................................................................ 39 5.3 Competition Day Supplies .................................................................................................. 40 6. Awards ...................................................................................................................................... 41 Appendix A: Scoring Sheets ......................................................................................................... 42 Appendix B: Technical Inspection Rubric .................................................................................... 47 Appendix C: Example Budget ...................................................................................................... 49 Appendix D: Resources ................................................................................................................ 51 Appendix E: Recommended Supplies .......................................................................................... 52 Appendix F: Mission Diagrams .................................................................................................... 54 Revision History ........................................................................................................................... 64 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 3 Table of Figures Figure 2.1 Field Zones .................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 3.1 Mission 1 Field Layout ................................................................................................ 18 Figure 3.2 Mission 1 Field Measurements .................................................................................... 19 Figure 3.3 Mission 2 Field Layout ................................................................................................ 22 Figure 3.4 Mission 2 Field Measurements .................................................................................... 23 Figure 3.5 Flight Procedure Locations.......................................................................................... 25 Figure 4.1 Drone Electronics Zones ............................................................................................. 33 Figure 4.2 Drone Mechanism and Tether Mount Zones ............................................................... 33 Figure 4.3 Drone Mechanism Extension Zone ............................................................................. 34 Figure 5.1 Flight Round Routes .................................................................................................... 38 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 4 1. Introduction 1.1 What is the Aerospace Robotics Competition? The Aerospace Robotics Competition (ARC) is a high school drone competition offered by the non-profit organization STEM-ED INC. STEM-ED INC has the mission of providing hands-on, accessible, and relevant opportunities for students to encourage them to join STEM. This mission is accomplished through three major focus areas: ARC is currently offered in 5 regions: • Antelope Valley, CA: AntelopeValley@stemed.org • New England: NewEngland@stemed.org • Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia@stemed.org • Mid-Atlantic, VA: MidAtlantic@stemed.org • San Diego, CA: SanDiego@stemed.org • Other: Support@stemed.org Each region consists of up to 30 teams, with volunteers providing local support and events. Regions with up to 18 teams will host a Saturday-only competition. Regions with 19-30 teams will host a 2-day competition from Friday through Saturday. Event schedules will be finalized and published after registration is closed. The top 3 champions from each region will also be invited to the ARC National Championship. The National Championship rulebook is released approximately 30 days before the event, with further details distributed throughout the season. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 5 1.2 What are the Benefits of ARC? 1.2.1 For Students ARC seeks to ignite a passion for aerospace-related STEM work in high schools around the nation. The competition is built upon three pillars: A. Hands-on flying of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) B. Developing knowledge of unmanned and autonomous systems C. Learning basic aerospace engineering principles High school students thus gain valuable experience with hands-on designing, building, testing, and flying of quadcopter drones. They are encouraged to use the engineering process, complete independent research, and practice communication and teamwork skills. 1.2.2 For Volunteers STEM-ED INC is 100% volunteer-operated, which supports the mission of an affordable competition. All volunteers are passionate about promoting accessible STEM opportunities to students of all backgrounds. ARC needs a wide variety of skill sets for these events to be possible, and volunteers are encouraged to learn and grow in any topics of interest. Please contact your local region or Support@stemed.org if you are interested in receiving more information about supporting STEM-ED INC as a volunteer. 1.2.3 For Sponsors Robotics events require an extensive list of supplies, which must be purchased with either team registration fees or sponsorships. As STEM-ED INC aims to provide an affordable event to all students, sponsorships are critical for reducing team participation costs and creating a fantastic competition experience. Donors can support STEM education in their community and nationwide by providing financial assistance through the registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization STEMED INC. Please contact your local region or Support@stemed.org if you are interested in receiving more information about supporting STEM-ED INC as a donor. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 6 1.3 Season Overview 1.3.1 Mission Background While drones are exciting and fun, there is a greater purpose to the skills learned through ARC. As the season progresses, challenges are focused on developing several areas of students’ lives. Engineering: • The engineering process develops vital critical thinking skills useful in all aspects of engineering and life. • Hands-on skill development improves coordination, experience, and confidence in handson projects. • Completing ARC challenges promotes creativity in designs, develops an understanding of successful structures, and boosts problem-solving abilities. • Troubleshooting skills are important for all aspects of life, promoting a logical process of patiently working through issues to find a solution. Drones: • Since drones are a growing technology with a wide variety of functions, students develop an understanding of real-world problems and solutions through getting hands-on experience with cutting edge technology. • ARC challenges are related to positive applications of drones, giving students the opportunity to ponder the humanitarian benefits of their skills. Communication: • Teamwork is required for all engineering roles, so ARC provides challenges which encourage teamwork for success. • No matter how impressive a design is, if the engineer cannot communicate properly, the design cannot be used. ARC requires both verbal and written communication, so students build these critical skills through practice. Ethics: • Ethics is central to the competition, guided by STEM-ED’s core values of Integrity, Excellence, and Respect. Volunteers and students are expected to uphold these principles throughout the event. • STEM-ED has partnered with the Saint Anselm College Center for Ethics in Society to illuminate the need for students to consider the ethical implementation of technology development. • Through humanitarian challenges, students learn to apply their skills to improving the world. • ARC prioritizes safety, urging teams to consider the well-being of others, including opponents and spectators, rather than solely focusing on winning. • Humility and admitting mistakes are vital for engineers to prevent dangerous, costly errors. ARC fosters a supportive environment in which students feel safe asking questions and seeking help. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 7 1.3.2 Rulebook Overview We are excited to have you join us for the 2025 Aerospace Robotics Competition! Jumping into this competition may be daunting, so we want to ensure you have all the resources needed for success. This rulebook is large, but it is full of important information for teams to reference throughout the season. We highly recommend you read through the entire rulebook at least once, getting familiar with the requirements and noting any questions you may have. We also recommend printing a copy for your team to have on hand during meetings. Once you have read the entire rulebook, the Table of Contents will be a useful tool for you to return to key sections as needed. We will also be releasing specific smaller documents, including: • • • • • 2024-25 Field Kit Assembly Guide 2024-25 Safety and FAA Compliance Guide Scoring calculation sheet Sample budget and schedule spreadsheets Sample Technical Presentation slides Please see https://www.stemed.org/arc to find these documents as they are released. If you have any questions about the rulebook, you are always welcome to contact Support@stemed.org for assistance. We look forward to a great season! Sincerely, STEM-ED INC Volunteers Support@stemed.org 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 8 2. Competition Overview 2.1 Competition Venue Each ARC competition venue will use standardized specifications for safety and field setup, which will be described further in this section. Teams must be sure to learn all safety requirements and follow volunteer instructions for a successful event. Figure 2.1 below shows the flying field boundaries. These boundaries will be marked with soccer cones (or similar items) and keep all personnel outside of the drone tether range. The red zone around the field is for the pilots and copilots of the current round only. Their teammates, coaches, mentors, and parents/guardians may spectate from the team support zone. Students and spectators from other teams not currently participating must stay outside of both zones and should watch from either the bleachers or the team pits. See Section 5.2 for details on this rule. Figure 2.1 Field Zones Team technical presentations are completed indoors. A projector will be provided, and the judging panel will display the teams’ virtually-submitted presentation slides. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 9 2.2 Team Roles Teams comprise of students and a coach, and they may also be supported by mentors, parents/guardians, school administrators, friends, and more. Table 2.1 gives further details about the roles and requirements of each team. Table 2.1 Team Roles Role # Requirements Recommendations Team Captain 1 (Req’d) • Must be a high school student • Be a responsible student chosen during the 2024-25 school year* by teammates • Must respond to emails and share • Be committed to leading and information with teammates teaching • Must submit virtual tasks Teammates 1-4 (Rec’d) • Must be students 1 (Req’d) • Must be a student • May be a team captain • Identify pilot(s) early and • May rotate role amongst multiple practice throughout season students (only one at field during each match) 1 (Req’d) • Must be a student • May be a team captain • Identify copilot(s) early and • May rotate role amongst multiple practice throughout season students (only one at field during each match) Pilot Copilot • Must be adult legally responsible for students • Be prepared to guide students in • Must submit registration matters such as teamwork, but paperwork and fees do not worry about having 1 technical skills • Must commit to attending the Coach (Req’d) competition • Begin planning logistics (funding, recruitment, meetings • Must respond to emails and share spaces, etc.) before the season information with students begins • Must allow students to do all work at the event *Middle school students may compete, but teams with two or more middle school students will not be eligible for awards (see Section 6). Note: “Rec’d” = Recommended. “Req’d” = Required. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 10 2.3 Event Schedule See Table 2.2 Table 2.3below for an example Regional Competition event schedule. Exact event schedules will be distributed to teams at the competition. Competition start and end times will be emailed to teams at least 1 week before their Regional Competition. Teams should anticipate competitions beginning as early as 7 a.m. and ending as late as 5 p.m. Times will vary based on factors such as the number of teams competing and venue size. Table 2.2 Example Event Schedule Time Block Event Approx. Start 0 Setup 5:30 a.m. 1 Team Check-In 7:00 a.m. 2 Opening Ceremony 8:00 a.m. 3 Tech. Inspection 8:15 a.m. 4 Mission 1 Rounds Tech. Presentations Notes Volunteers set up venue. Teams may not enter premises until check-in begins. Teams MUST check in before participating. Teams MUST complete Tech. Insp. before flying. Mission 1 & Tech. Pres. occur simultaneously. 8:30 a.m. Each team will receive at least 15 minutes between any events on their individual schedule. Free lunches for all registered students and coaches. 5 Lunch 11:30 a.m. 6 Mission 2 Rounds 12:15 p.m. 7 Score Calculations 4:30 p.m. Volunteers calculate final scores. 8 Closing Ceremony 4:45 p.m. Awards presented. 9 Cleanup 5:00 p.m. Volunteers clean up event/venue. Teams may assist if desired. 2.4 Season Schedule See Table 2.3 below for the 2024-2025 season schedule. Note that the ARC season will be beginning in the fall and will include virtual tasks throughout the season. All deadlines are final, so be sure to complete all submissions in a timely manner. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 11 Table 2.3 Season Schedule Date Event August 17, 2024 Drone Order #1 Due Aug 17 Sept 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept 28 Location Information Session #1 Information Session #2 Drone Order #2 Due Kickoff & Rulebook Release Coach Training Registration Due Oct 26 Registration Fee Due Nov 9 Drone Order #3 Due Jan 18, 2025 Feb 15 Mar 29 Mar 29 April 12 April 26 May 3 May 10 May 17 June 6-7 Accountability Task #1 Accountability Task #2 Accountability Task #3 Student Waivers DUE Antelope Valley Reg. Comp. Mid-Atlantic Reg. Comp. Philly Reg. Comp. New England Reg. Comp. San Diego Reg. Comp. National Championship Notes Teams may choose to order through STEM-ED INC during any of three https://www.stemed.org/purchase-kit windows, or they may order from a third party at any time. Anyone interested in ARC may attend an Virtual (https://www.stemed.org/events) Information Session to learn more. https://www.stemed.org/purchase-kit See Drone Order #1 notes. Teams will receive further information Varies by region upon registration. All coaches and mentors are welcome to Virtual (https://www.stemed.org/events) attend. If you wish to participate in the 2024-25 https://www.stemed.org/registration season, registration paperwork and fees must be completed by this date. FINAL CHANCE https://www.stemed.org/purchase-kit See Drone Order #1 notes. https://www.stemed.org/arcsubmissions See Section Error! Reference source not f ound. for task descriptions. Legally required for student participation. Little Rock High School Flint Hill School Pennovation Works Saint Anselm College Escondido Charter High School Saint Anselm College 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Teams will receive further information throughout the season from their respective regional coordinator. Invitational event. Page 12 2.5 Eligibility Requirements 2.5.1 Season Participation Eligibility To participate in the ARC season, which includes submitting Accountability Tasks, accessing volunteer assistance through virtual office hours, and competing in a Regional Aerospace Robotics Competition, teams must complete all registration tasks by October 26, 2024. Registration includes two components, each of which must be completed by the team coach: 1. Submit the registration form: https://www.stemed.org/registration 2. Pay the registration fee: https://www.stemed.org/registration Remember that all deadlines are final. Please reach out as soon as possible with any questions or concerns. Registration enables teams to participate in the season, but additional tasks must be completed to compete in the Regional Competition. All students must have a waiver completed by their parent/guardian submitted through WaiverSign (see Figure below) by March 29th, 2025, in order to participate at the flying field or in photographs. Teams must also submit Pre-Competition Surveys and attend their Regional Pre-Competition Briefing; further details will be provided by teams’ respective Regional Coordinators. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 13 Additionally, all teams must be able to pass the Technical Inspection (see Appendix B: Technical Inspection Rubric) and bring a physical copy of the pilot’s TRUST Exam Certificate to compete in any flying portions of the competition. Teams must provide a budget spreadsheet to compete. See Sections Error! Reference source not f ound. and 4.1.5. If teams are ineligible to compete in flying portions of the competition, they are still encouraged to complete their Technical Presentation. If teams are ineligible to compete in any portion of the competition, they are encouraged to attend as spectators to enjoy the learning experience. 2.5.2 National Championship Eligibility All Regional Competition Eligibility Requirements also apply for the National Championship. Additionally, teams must receive a 2025 National Championship Invitation from their Regional Event and RSVP within 7 days of receiving the invitation. Teams who do not RSVP within 7 days, or who decline the invitation, will forfeit their spot on the roster. The invitation will then be offered to the next eligible team from the respective region. There is no additional registration fee to attend the National Championship, but teams are responsible for their own travel expenses. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 14 3. 2024-25 Season Challenges The 2024-25 season will include 2 semi-autonomous flight missions, a collection of virtual tasks, and a technical presentation. See the following sections for details on each portion. During each flight mission, teams will be assigned a color: Orange or Green. Color assignments will be included on the competition schedule, and teams will be queued by color. This assignment is solely used for queueing and determining which color objects a team will be using, and it has no bearing on the team or drone. See Appendix F: Mission Diagrams for diagrams to clarify each task. 3.1 Component Descriptions Table 3.1 below lists the components used for flight missions, along with the acronym used to label them. See 2024-25 Field Kit Assembly Guide for a detailed guide on building an official competition field, along with recommendations for affordable alternative components for practice. Table 3.1 Flight Mission Components Name Acronym Description Payload 1 Payload 2 Field Component 1, Individual Field Component 1, Cooperative P1 P2 Medical Supplies Food Kit FC1i FC1c Field Component 2 FC2 Field Component 3 Field Component 4 Field Component 5 Field Component 6 Mission Equipment 1 Mission Equipment 2 FC3 FC4 FC5 FC6 ME1 ME2 Representative Item on Field Cube Tennis Ball Direct Delivery Location (Village) Delivery Pickup Location (Nearby Field) Skill Test 1 Skill Test 2 Landing Pad Tether Ground Station Queueing Location Scoring Post Scoring Zone Hover Post Numbered Landing Pad Landing Pad Tether Block and Cable Table Table 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 15 3.2 Mission 1: Cubic Conundrum Here in the United States of America, we are fortunate to have medical supplies, fresh food, and electronics equipment readily available for all. Think about living in a country without access to these critical provisions – everyday life would be far more dangerous and uncomfortable. Now that you are learning the engineering skills required to create a drone, you have the amazing ability to make the world a better place! Your mission is to create a drone that can provide medical supplies and food to remote communities. When completing this challenge, you must consider the drone’s abilities, the time and funding constraints, and the pilot’s experience levels. Ideally, we wish to deliver supplies directly to villages, providing immediate access. However, this is a difficult and small target – thus, you may also consider making an indirect delivery by dropping supplies in a large field a few miles away. This is more difficult for the recipients to retrieve, but it is easier to complete the mission with accuracy. You will also be delivering supplies at the same time as a drone from another humanitarian organization, so you must be careful to cooperate. Finish the round in an indirect delivery location to await the arrival of civilians. This section will provide detailed instructions for completing this mission. 3.2.1 Tasks Your mission consists of the following tasks: 1. Lift medical supplies (P1): a. Lift one P1 (any height and duration) 2. Lift food kit (P2): a. Lift one P2 (any height and duration) 3. Deliver medical supplies (P1) to direct delivery location (FC1i or FC1c): a. P1 is delivered by being placed on FC1 (individual or cooperative) vertical post. b. P1 may only be placed on team’s own FC1 unless completing Task 4 (see next task). i. Orange team is to score P1 onto orange FC1s. ii. Green team is to score P1s onto green FC1s. 4. Coordinate delivering medical supplies (P1) to direct delivery location (FC1c): a. Orange FC1c: i. Step 1: Orange team places P1 onto Orange FC1c. ii. Step 2: Green team places P1 onto Orange FC1c (stacking onto Orange P1). iii. Correct stacking order is deemed a successful completion of task. iv. Incorrect stacking order is not a successful completion of task. v. If Green team places P1 onto Orange FC1c first (no Orange P1 delivered yet), no points will be awarded to either team. Orange team may continue to score individual points for placing P1 onto Orange FC1c. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 16 b. Green FC1: i. Step 1: Green team places P1 onto Green FC1. ii. Step 2: Orange team places P1 onto Green FC1 (stacking onto Green P1). iii. Correct stacking order is deemed a successful completion of task. iv. Incorrect stacking order is not a successful completion of task. v. If Orange team places P1 onto Green FC1 first (no Green P1 delivered yet), no points will be awarded to either team. Green team may continue to score individual points for placing P1 onto Green FC1c. c. Copilots from both teams may communicate with one another if desired. They must remain within the red zone while doing so. 5. Deliver medical supplies (P1) to delivery pickup location (FC2): a. P1 is delivered by being placed anywhere within FC2. i. If P1 is partially within FC2, it is deemed a successful completion of task. b. Green team and Orange team may both score within either FC2. 6. Deliver food kit (P2) to delivery pickup location (FC2): a. P2 is delivered by being placed anywhere within FC2. i. If P2 is partially within FC2, it is deemed a successful completion of task. b. Green team and Orange team may both score within either FC2. 7. End mission in a delivery pickup location (FC2): a. End mission anywhere within either FC2. i. If drone is partially within FC2, it is deemed a successful completion of task. 8. (NEW FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) Minimize the number of trip segments between payload staging area to a delivery area: a. A segment is defined as an attempted trip from a payload staging area to the delivery area (FC1i, FC1c, and/or FC2). i. Anytime the drone returns to the payload staging area, a new segment will begin. b. After 1 segment is completed, each additional segment will receive a deduction. i. A team will only be given a maximum of ten deductions. c. Example: The drone lifts P2, flies to FC2, and successfully drops P2 into FC2. This is considered a completion in 1 trip segment, and thus no deduction will be awarded. d. Example: The drone lifts P2, flies to FC2, but drops it outside of FC2 and is unable to successfully score the object. By returning to the payload staging area, the drone will begin its second trip segment for that scoring attempt. Thus, one trip segment deduction will be awarded. Each round of Mission 1 will be 7 minutes. Teams will be scheduled to complete at least one, and up to three, rounds of Mission 1 at the National Championship. All teams at the event will be scheduled to complete the same number of rounds. If multiple rounds of Mission 1 take place, teams will be given a final score equal to the average of all round scores. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 17 3.2.2 Field Layout The following figures provide field diagrams. See Figure 3.1 for the placement of each item on the field. See Figure 3.2 for measurements of item placement (figure not to scale). Notes: • Many items have approximate location callouts, indicating variability in field setups. • “Random Placement” items will be located in the same side of the field shown in field diagrams, but no measurements are indicated. • Teams are advised to practice using various configurations to prepare for all possibilities. Figure 3.1 Mission 1 Field Layout 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 18 Figure 3.2 Mission 1 Field Measurements 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 19 3.3 Mission 2: Count on Me Semi-autonomous drone missions are only as successful as their pilots and technology are. Thus, testing the drone, debugging issues, and practicing flight are critical aspects of preparation. Your task is to prepare for a surveillance mission by practicing applicable skills. Before being sent on the real mission, you must prove your abilities by completing two challenges: hovering within a 3-foot vertical range and using a camera to read numbers on the ground. By mastering these skills, your team will be prepared to complete the true mission: safely flying through a 3-foot diameter tunnel, then finding critical locations on the ground via camera feed. This section will provide detailed instructions for completing this mission. 3.3.1 Tasks Your mission consists of the following tasks: 1. (NEW FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) Skill Test 1: Hover within two 3-foot vertical ranges, as indicated by hover post (FC3) a. Hover next to FC3 within lower indicated vertical range for 10 consecutive seconds. i. If drone exits vertical range, the 10-second timer will be reset. ii. The Flight Judge will count the 10 seconds audibly to the pilot. Once 10 seconds are reached, the task will be deemed complete and the drone may proceed to step b. b. Next, hover next to FC3 within upper indicated vertical range for another 10 consecutive seconds. i. If drone exits vertical range, the task must be restarted from step a to receive points. ii. The Flight Judge will count the 10 seconds audibly to the pilot. Once 10 seconds are reached, the task will be deemed complete and the drone may exit the vertical range. c. Points will be awarded once BOTH steps a and b are completed consecutively. No points are awarded for completing only one step. d. Note: Teams MUST pilot this challenge manually (no automatic hover functions). 2. (NEW FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) Skill Test 2: Land on ONLY numbered landing pads (FC4) a. There will be multiple FC4 with alphabetical and numerical indicators. Teams will receive points for landing on FC4 with numbers only. i. Landing on a letter will be penalized, affecting the final score of Mission 2. b. Option 1: Land on any numbered FC4 i. May use camera feed, but not required c. Option 2: Land on numbered FC4 in numerical order i. Teams must ONLY land on the pads with numbers on them, starting from the smallest one to the largest one. There will be at least two FC4 with numbers. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 20 ii. Pilots must use camera feed to display legible image of each number on ground station screen. d. Touching any part of an FC4 upon landing will be considered successfully landing on it. 3. End round on any landing pad (FC4 or FC5) a. Touching any part of FC4 or FC5 upon landing will be considered successfully landing on it. 4. (NEW FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP) Complete tasks 1 through 3 before opponent a. Complete Skill Tests 1 and 2, then land on any landing pad, before the other team on the field completes these tasks. Each round of Mission 2 will be 4 minutes. Teams will be scheduled to complete at least one, and up to three, rounds of Mission 2 at the National Championship. All teams at the event will be scheduled to complete the same number of rounds. If multiple rounds of Mission 2 take place, teams will be given a final score equal to the average of all round scores. 3.3.2 Field Layout The following figures provide field diagrams. See Figure 3.3 for the placement of each item on the field. See Figure 3.4 for measurements of item placement (figure not to scale). Note that both drones will be piloted from the same side of the field. Any attempt to interfere with an opponent’s operations will result in immediate disqualification from both Missions 1 and 2. Notes: • Many items have approximate location callouts, indicating variability in field setups. • “Random Placement” items will be located in the same side of the field shown in field diagrams, but no measurements are indicated. • Teams are advised to practice using various configurations to prepare for all possibilities. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 21 Figure 3.3 Mission 2 Field Layout 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 22 Figure 3.4 Mission 2 Field Measurements 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 23 3.4 Flight Procedure Flight portions of the competition will follow the process below (see Figure 3.5 for location references). Please note that the Field Manager will be directing all major steps, and teams must wait for his/her instruction before completing these steps. The Field Manager is also responsible for safety and final rulings. Teams are expected to obey Field Manager directions, including to activate the Kill Switch immediately when commanded. Teams must arrive to the Queueing Table at least 5 minutes before their round is scheduled to begin. Teams who do not arrive to their round will forfeit their time slot and will not be given an opportunity to complete it at a later time. Table 3.2 Flight Procedure Step 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Action • Queue for match. • Attach camera if desired. • Pilot and copilot enter Red Zone. • Pilot prepares ground station. • Copilot attaches tether and propellers. • Pilot and copilot may add camera, telemetry radio, and/or preloaded component as desired. • Pilot and copilot plug in battery, arm drone, and prepare for flight. • Wait for both sides to be ready. • Field Manager countdown: 3/2/1/Go • Clock begins; teams may takeoff. • Field Manager shouts warning when 1 min. remaining. • Field Manager countdown: 5/4/3/2/1/Time’s Up • Disarm drone, turn off drone, and turn off controller. • Enter field and unplug battery. • Unhook tether and exit field. • Remove camera (if applicable) and return to pit. Location Note Queueing Table 5 minutes before match time. Red Zone Must wait for direction of Field Manager. Ground Station Table & Landing Pad Landing Pad, Ground Station Table Ground Station Table Ground Station Table Ground Station Table Must wait for direction of Field Manager. Must wait for direction of Field Manager. Must land IMMEDIATELY when time ends. Ground Station Table Field Field Ground Station Table 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Must wait for direction of Field Manager. MUST unplug battery first. Page 24 Figure 3.5 Flight Procedure Locations 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 25 3.5 Technical Presentation Designing, building, testing, debugging, and flying are all useful skills; however, if an engineer cannot effectively communicate their ideas, the ideas are unusable. Thus, learning to create and deliver a technical presentation, along with supporting spreadsheets, is vital. Your task is to use professional communication concepts to document and present your work. The following sections will detail the requested information; note that some points are open to interpretation, and teams are encouraged to be creative when deciding how to display their results. Presentations should be given entirely by students without the assistance of coaches, mentors, or parents/guardians. 3.5.1 Team Logistics 1. Team organization and dynamics: • List of team members and their roles • Photo(s) of team • Details on meeting style 2. Team schedule for project completion: • Task breakdown • Team member(s) responsible for each task • Planned time of completion for each task • Actual time of completion for each task 3. Financial strategy/budget: • Cost breakdown for each item used • Strategy behind purchase decisions • Funding source(s) 4. Ethical considerations: • Saint Anselm College Center for Ethics in Society will conduct an initial session on Ethics in the fall, detailing how the topic will be graded during presentations. • There will be a follow-up session in the spring where example ethical vignettes will be introduced. • In the technical presentation portion of ARC, teams will be presented with a vignette that will require them to provide impromptu points of ethical consideration. • Additionally, teams may be asked to convey how their drone’s capabilities could be used to improve the world. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 26 3.5.2 Engineering Process 5. Software methodology: • Software chosen and why (if applicable) • Ground station chosen and why (if applicable) • Waypoint navigation strategy (Virtual Mission 4) • Camera feed setup 6. Mission overview and strategy: • Method of choosing tasks to complete • Strategy of completing missions 7. Mechanism design: • Design process • Early designs/prototypes vs final result 8. Flight testing procedure: • Test setup and procedure • Lessons learned during successful and unsuccessful flight tests 3.5.3 Final Product 9. Vehicle overview: • Labelled images of drone and mechanism • View of entire system (front, top, side, isometric views), with primary dimensions (height, width, depth) clearly labelled 10. Electronics diagram: • Layout of major electronics systems (flight controller, speed controllers, motors, etc.) 11. Product success: • Flight test results • Projected competition score 3.5.4 Presentation Style 12. Slides are legible and clear: • Text size and color choices allow judges to easily read slides • Text, photos, and labels are placed to avoid crowding/overlapping 13. Presenters speak clearly and audibly: • Presenters can be heard by all judges • Presenters can be understood by all judges 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 27 14. Presenters are professional and well-prepared: • Minimal mannerisms such as “um” and “you know” • Presenters are ready to speak about assigned subjects/slides 15. All team members speak: • Each student team member is actively involved in presentation 16. Q&A responses: • Team professionally answers all questions from judges *Note that judges will understand presenter limitations due to disabilities. Presenters will be judged according to individual preparedness and efforts. 3.5.5 Procedure 0. Submit Slides: • Teams are to virtually submit their Technical Presentation Slides by midnight 7 days before their Regional Competition (https://www.stemed.org/arc-submissions) • If teams submit multiple times, the most recent submission prior to the deadline will be used by the Technical Presentation Judges 1. Setup: • Judges project submitted slide deck onto screen • Team sets up desired display materials 2. Presentation: • Team presents for up to 10 minutes • Judges raise hand to signify 1 minute remaining 3. Q&A: • Judges ask relevant questions to students for up to 5 minutes • Students answer questions as they deem fit 4. Cleanup: • Team gathers belongings and exits • Next team begins setup 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 28 3.6 Scoring Equations 3.6.1 Possible Scores The following tables provide the maximum possible scores for each task. Table 3.3 Mission 1 Scoring # Task Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lift P1 Lift P2 Deliver P1 to FC1 Coordinate delivering P1 to FC1c Deliver P1 to FC2 Deliver P2 to FC2 End in FC2 Segment Penalty Total # Possible Total Score 20 1 20 30 1 30 75 8 600 50 2 100 20 8 160 50 4 200 50 1 50 -50 10 -500 1,000 (if only one segment used per score) Table 3.4 Mission 2 Scoring # 1 2a 2b 2c 3 4 Task Skill Test 1: Hover at FC3 Skill Test 2: Land on numbered FC4 Skill Test 2: Land on numbered FC4s in order Skill Test 2: Land on an alphabet FC4 End on any FC4 or FC5 Complete items #1-3 before opponent Total Score 200 30 400 -100 40 100 # Possible 1 2 1 2 1 1 Total Score 200 60 400 -200 40 100 800 (max possible) 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 29 Table 3.5 Technical Presentation Scoring # Task Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Team organization and dynamics Team schedule Financial strategy/budget Ethical considerations/vignette Software methodology Mission overview and strategy Mechanism design Flight testing procedure Vehicle overview Electronics diagram Product success Legible/clear slides Clear and audible speaking Professional and well-prepared All team members speak Q&A responses Total 15 25 25 35 25 75 75 50 75 50 50 10 10 20 30 30 600 Table 3.6 Mission Penalties Mission Penalty* Mission 1, Mission 2 Unintentional collision with opponent. Intentional collision with opponent. Amount DQ from all Rounds of Mission DQ from Competition Technical Presentation Presentation continues after time is called *Actions and intentions as deemed by Field Manager. -50 Table 3.7 Final Scoring Mission Score Mission 1 Mission 2 Technical Presentation Total 1,000 800 600 2,400 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 30 4. Drone Requirements 4.1 Mechanical Requirements The UAV must meet all requirements listed below to be eligible for flight. The UAV will be inspected at the competition prior to flight (see Appendix B: Technical Inspection Rubric). All components must also remain within the budget allowances shown in Table 4.1. Teams will be required to present their list of components and prices during the technical inspection. Note that the kit drone offered by STEM-ED INC will meet all financial requirements. All designing, building, coding, and testing is to be completed by students only. Teams may request guidance from adult coaches and mentors, but all hands-on work and major decisions should be completed by students only. Drones MUST have a kill switch to immediately cut the drone’s motors in case of emergency. Please visit https://www.youtube.com/@aerospaceroboticscomp501c3 for assistance if needed. 4.1.1 Structure Teams must create a drone structure that fits within size and component limitations: • • • • • The overall UAV dimensions must not exceed 36 inches by 36 inches by 36 inches when placed on the ground with no propellers attached (the drone should be able to fit in a box that is a 36-inch cube). The UAV must have 4 motors with 1 propeller each. These propellers may not exceed 12 inches in diameter. The UAV must not have any lifting surfaces other than these propellers. o Motors: Readytosky 2212 920KV Brushless Motors (Or similar) (Link) o Propellers: GemFan 1045 CW CCW Propeller Props (Or similar) (Link) The UAV must have a carabiner clip securely fastened within the tether zone (see Figure 4.2). This carabiner must be connected to the field tether carabiner before the drone may be powered on. The structure must be sturdy, as judged by the Technical Inspector. Components may not be loose. The drone must stand on legs. The legs must extend at least 4 inches below the electronics or drone structure closest to the ground. The legs must extend no greater than 10 inches below the drone base plate. See Figure 4.3. 4.1.2 Mechanism Design Teams must create a unique mechanism that meets size and structural integrity requirements: • • Teams must design and build a unique mechanism to complete the flight tasks. Teams may not use a Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) mechanism, such as a pre-made claw. The mechanism must be controlled using no more than one servo. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 31 • • • • The mechanism must begin within the mechanism allowable zone as seen in Figure 4.2. The mechanism may not extend above the drone base plate at any time. The mechanism may not detach from the drone at any time during flight. The mechanism must not extend beyond the mechanism allowable zone seen in Figure 4.3 during flight. Teams may use different mechanisms for different competition events, but all mechanisms must pass technical inspection to be used (see Appendix B: Technical Inspection Rubric). 4.1.3 Controls Teams must use the required electronics to control their drones: • • • Teams must have a GPS sensor securely mounted onto the UAV. Teams must use Pixhawk (any version) or PX4 (used in DEXI PX4 drone – see Section 4.1.6) flight controller software to control all electronics components. Sensors: o Teams may use the accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and barometer contained within the Pixhawk flight controller. o Teams may not purchase/use any additional sensors. o Teams may add the competition-provided camera (see Section 4.1.6) to transmit live footage to their ground station. 4.1.4 Batteries Teams must use batteries that fit the following specifications (see Section 4.1.6 for recommendations): • • Main UAV Battery: o Teams must use a lithium polymer (LiPo) battery to power the Pixhawk flight controller. o The battery cannot have more than 4 cells UNLESS using the DEXI PX-4 Development Kit (see Table 4.1). o Teams must use commercially available batteries. Homemade batteries are not allowed. o Teams must use proper battery usage/storage techniques – see Section 4.2. o Teams may not use any batteries displaying signs of damage, including dents, cracks, swelling, and smoking. o Recommended battery: CNHL 2200mAh 3S LiPo Battery 30C 11.1V LiPo Battery with XT60 (Link). Servo Battery: o Teams must use a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery to power the mechanism servo. o Recommended battery: Tenergy NiMH Receiver RX Battery with Hitec Connectors 6V 2000mAh (Link). 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 32 Figure 4.1 Drone Electronics Zones Figure 4.2 Drone Mechanism and Tether Mount Zones 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 33 Figure 4.3 Drone Mechanism Extension Zone 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 34 4.1.5 Budget Requirements Teams may not exceed the budget requirements listed in Table 4.1 – this is a requirement for participating in the competition. Teams must provide a spreadsheet of all used items and associated costs (commonly known as a Bill of Materials, or BOM, in industry). Teams may list the actual purchase price for each item if it differs from the retail price. Table 4.1 Budget Requirements Item Max. $ Drone $2,500 Mechanism $300 Transmitter/Receiver Sensors Tether Supplies Camera $200 $0 - Camera Feed Monitor - Total $2,800 Notes Acceptable Options: • Holybro S500 V2 Development Kit (Link) o Available through https://www.stemed.org/ • DEXI PX4 Development Kit (Link) o Requires addition of legs. • Team-designed drone (must follow all rules). Includes: • Flight controller (Pixhawk or PX4) • Motor controllers • Motors • Propellers • LiPo Batteries • All spare components brought to competition Includes: • Structural components and hardware • Servo and gears • NiMH Battery See recommended below. No additional sensors may be purchased. Required carabiner May use any for practice, but may only use required models at competition (see also Section 4.1.6). • Camera: Link • Camera Feed Monitor: Link Does not include required carabiner, camera, and camera feed monitor. Note: teams using materials procured 1 or more seasons ago may reduce the cost of the respective item by 20%. For example, if a team purchased a drone for $500 during the 2023-24 season, they may list it on the budget as $400. This accounts for the potential need to purchase replacements for aging components. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 35 4.1.6 Supplies and Sources The following options are recommended as acceptable and compatible components for teams to use. Note that STEM-ED INC is not sponsored by nor endorses any of the recommended suppliers, and teams are not required to purchase through the provided links. Required Components • Carabiner: Any strong carabiner with a properly-functioning latch to link with tether carabiner. • Camera Mount: If using a camera, drones must have quick attachment method that does not damage the camera or its antenna. Teams may purchase a camera and monitor for practice (see links below), but teams may not bring them to the competition, as they may cause signal interference. Cameras and monitors will be supplied by ARC at each competition. o Camera: RunCam Spotter V2 FPV Camera and 5.8GHz Transmitter (Link). o Monitor: RunCam 5.8GHz 4.3” FPV Display Screen (Link). Recommended Drone Kits • Option 1: Holybro S500 V2 Kit (Link). This can be purchased through the Holybro website or through STEM-ED INC (Link). • Option 2: DEXI PX4 Development Kit (Link). Note that this drone kit will require the addition of team-designed legs. Recommended Components • Motors: Readytosky 2212 920KV Brushless Motors (Link). • Propellers: GemFan 1045 CW CCW Propeller Props (Link). • Flight Controller: Pixhawk 6C (Link). (Included in Holybro S500 V2 Kit) • Servo: Deegoo [4-Pack] MG996R 55g Metal Gear Torque Digital Servo Motor (Link). • LiPo Battery: CNHL 2200mAh 3S 30C 11.1V LiPo Battery with XT60 Connection (Link). • NiMH Battery: Tenergy NiMH Receiver RX Battery with Hitec Connectors 6V 2000mAh (Link). • Transmitter/Receiver: Flysky FS-i6X 6-10CH 2.4GHz AFHDS RC Transmitter w/ FS-iA6B Receiver (Link). 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 36 Necessary Tools • • • • • • Soldering Iron Allen Wrenches Safety Glasses Zip Ties Computer o Research and access resources o Create budget spreadsheet o Create Technical Presentation slides o Complete virtual tasks Paper and Writing Utensils o Record notes during meetings. o Draw mechanism prototype ideas. Banned Components The following components may not be brought to the competition venue, as they would cause signal interference which may lead to drone malfunctions. This requirement is for both safety and sportsmanship and will be strictly enforced (see Section 5.2). • Teams may not bring any telemetry radios to the competition venue. • Teams may not bring any drone cameras or camera feed monitors to the competition venue. 4.2 Safety and Legal Requirements STEM-ED INC will be releasing official guidelines for safety policies and adherence with FAA requirements. This document will include additional rules and will be considered an addendum to the 2024-25 ARC Regional Competition Rulebook. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 37 5. Competition Rules 5.1 Logistics Upon arrival at the competition venue, teams must first report to the check-in table where volunteers will distribute items such as wristbands, schedules, and maps. Teams will then be directed to their pits, which will be their “home base” throughout the event. Teams will be able to keep all items at their pit table and charge batteries at a nearby battery charging station. Once flying matches begin, teams must follow the routes as seen in Figure 5.1. Teams are expected to be at the queueing table on their respective side of the field during the match before their assigned time slot. Queueing volunteers will guide teams from the queueing table to the ground station table once their assigned time slot begins. Teams who are not competing in the current match may not enter any field zones at any time. Students who are not the pilot or copilot, along with coaches, mentors, and parents/guardians, may not enter the red zone at any time. These rules are critical for safety, so all team members and spectators are expected to follow volunteer instructions and to exit areas immediately upon request. Figure 5.1 Flight Round Routes 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 38 5.2 Conduct Requirements If teams believe they received an incorrect ruling during their flight round, they are welcome to discuss the issue with the Field Manager, who will be happy to correct any errors as needed. Ruling challenges may be made by student team members only, not parents/guardians, coaches, mentors, or spectators, and should remain cordial. Teams are expected to adhere to safety rules at all times, including obeying field boundaries, keeping electronics powered off at all times off-field, completing a reinspection after a drone is damaged, and using the tether at all times on the field. Volunteers will provide guidance and reminders, but continued willful non-compliance will result in a discretionary penalty. See Table 5.1 below for potential penalties, the distribution and value of which will be determined by the Field Manager and/or respective Regional Coordinator. These rules are in place to ensure the competition is safe and enjoyable for all. Teams attempting to follow rules and remain sportsmanlike will not need to worry about receiving these penalties. Table 5.1 Conduct Penalties Penalty Safety Violations Sportsmanship Violations Potential Value Enter field without approval. -50 Attach battery without first attaching tether. -50 Refusal to use Kill Switch when instructed by Field Manager. DQ from all Rounds of Current Mission (No Warnings) Unintentional collision with opponent. DQ from all Rounds of Current Mission (No Warnings) Intentional collision with opponent. DQ from Competition (No Warnings) Continued disobedience of explicit instructions, including to turn off a device or exit a zone. -200 Disrespectful treatment of an opponent or volunteer, including yelling and inappropriate language. -300 Interference with opponent telemetry/radio communications. -100 (Up to DQ if Egregious) Interference with opponent’s operations during Mission 2. DQ Mission 2 (Up to DQ from Competition if Egregious) 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 39 5.3 Competition Day Supplies The following supplies are required for all teams participating: • Drone! • Safety glasses for pilots and copilots • Battery charger • TRUST Exam Certificates for all pilots • If using camera: o Camera mount The additional supplies listed below are highly recommended. Note that competitions are conducted outdoors, and thus teams should prepare for the weather and a long day of standing. • Sunscreen • Water • Snacks • Spare batteries • Spare propellers • Common tools and adhesives • Weather-appropriate attire (hats, shorts, jackets, sunglasses, etc.) • Comfortable shoes • Hair ties (as needed) • First aid kits 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 40 6. Awards Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams overall, based on total score as aggregated from each of the three parts of the competition. Teams must successfully fly at the competition (take off and sustain flight for over 30 seconds) in order to be eligible for prize money. Table 6.1 Awards Achievement Award 1st Place, Overall $2,000 2nd Place, Overall $1,000 3rd Place, Overall $750 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 41 Appendix A: Scoring Sheets Scoring Sheet – Mission 1 Scoring Sheet – Mission 2 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 42 Scoring Sheet – Presentation Content 1 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 43 Scoring Sheet – Presentation Content 2 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 44 Scoring Sheet – Presentation Style 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 45 Scoring Sheet – Ethics Vignette 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 46 Appendix B: Technical Inspection Rubric Technical Inspection Rubric, Side A 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 47 Technical Inspection Rubric, Side B 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 48 Appendix C: Example Budget See the figures below for an example budget, which was created in Microsoft Excel. The third figure includes instructions for basic Excel commands to calculate sums and differences of values. Example Budget - Competition Budget Example Budget - Extra Items 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 49 Example Budget – Calculate Remaining Funds 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 50 Appendix D: Resources 2024-25 Season Documents • • • 2024-25 Field Kit Assembly Guide: https://www.stemed.org/arc FAA guide: https://www.stemed.org/arc Safety guide: https://www.stemed.org/arc STEM-ED INC Technical Resources • • • • • ARC Video Series: https://www.stemed.org/resources ARC Tutorials: https://www.stemed.org/resources Office Hours: https://www.stemed.org/events Coach Training: https://www.stemed.org/events STEM-ED INC Forum: Coming Soon! Additional Resources* • • Mission Planner Instructions: https://ardupilot.org/planner/ Holybro Product Documentation: https://docs.holybro.com/ *STEM-ED INC is not affiliated with the creators of these resources and cannot guarantee the quality or accuracy of these websites. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 51 Appendix E: Recommended Supplies Drone Kit Contents Component Includes Link Holybro S500 V2 Development Kit Drone Frame Pixhawk 6C Flight Controller Motor Controllers Power Module GPS Module Motors* Propellers* Link Readytosky 2212 920KV Brushless Motors* 4x Motors Link GemFan 1045 CW CCW Propellers* 4x Sets of Propellers Link Deegoo MG996R 55g Metal Gear Torque Digital Servo Motor 4x Servo Motors Link CNHL 2200mAh 3S 30C 11.1V LiPo Battery with XT60 Connection 2x LiPo Battery Link Tenergy NiMH Receiver RX Battery with Hitec Connectors 6V 2000mAh 1x NiMH Battery Link Flysky FS-i6X 6-10CH 2.4GHz AFHDS RC Transmitter w/ FS-iA6B Receiver 1x Transmitter 1x Receiver Link *Motors and propellers included in Holybro S500 V2 Kit are specialty models which require purchasing spare propellers through Holybro only. The kit will include motors which may interface with affordable propellers which can be found on Amazon.com. Teams may choose to use these motors and propellers instead of the Holybro motors when assembling the kit drone. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 52 Extra Drone Supplies Component Link Notes GemFan 1045 CW CCW Propellers Link Recommended to purchase extra to replace broken propellers during testing. Carabiner Link Required for connecting to tether. RunCam Spotter V2 FPV Camera and 5.8GHz Transmitter Link RunCam 5.8GHz 4.3” FPV Display Screen Link Recommended to purchase for practice. Will be supplied at the competition to avoid interference issues. Mechanism Supplies Wood, 3D- Teams will design, prototype, build, and printed plastic, test their mechanism. Materials should aluminum, etc. be selected by function and cost. Tools Tool Example Notes Soldering Iron Link Use with caution Electrical Tape Link Use to cover any wire connections. Do not leave any bare wires. Zip Ties Link Use to organize wires. Do not leave wires loose enough to tangle in propellers. Allen Wrenches Link Use to assemble drone kit. Safety Glasses Wear when: • Using soldering iron Regular Over Glasses • Cutting materials • Flying Computer • • • • Research and access resources Create budget spreadsheet Create Technical Presentation slides Complete virtual tasks Paper/ Writing Utensils • • Record notes during meetings. Draw mechanism prototype ideas. 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 53 Appendix F: Mission Diagrams See the figures below for diagrams of Mission components and tasks. Figures are approximately to scale. Mission 1 Diagrams Scoring Post (FC1) Design – Green Cube (P1) 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 54 Cooperative Scoring – Green Post (FC1c) 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 55 Cooperative Scoring – Orange Post (FC1c) Scoring Zone (FC2) Design 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 56 Scoring Zone (FC2) Scoring 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 57 Ground Station Setup 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 58 Mission 2 Diagrams Hover Post (FC3) Design Numbered Landing Pad (FC4) Scoring – Location 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 59 Numbered Landing Pad (FC4) Scoring – Order 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 60 Ground Station Setup 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 61 Technical Inspection Diagrams Example Technical Inspection Setup 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 62 Technical Presentation Diagrams Example Technical Presentation Room Setup 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 63 Revision History Revision Release Date A 05/22/2025 Notes Initial Release 2024-25 National Championship Rulebook Rev A Page 64