1. Team 10: Vertigo Calvin College Senior Design 2017/18 The Project
Engineering
The Project
The Design
Conclusions
Team 10 created a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft capable of vertical and horizontal flight through the use of an internal weight distribution mechanism. The mechanism alters the plane’s center of gravity creating both static and kinetic flight capabilities. This allows for the flight of larger aircraft in areas with restricted take-off space.
Figure 1: Plane Model
Vertigo was designed as a tail-sitting aircraft flown with a remote controller. Brushless motors provide thrust and servo motors control the ailerons, tailfins, and wing flaps.
Figure 2: Final Testing Prototype
The internal weight distribution mechanism moves the battery and stepper motor along a linear gear inside the plane, shifting the center of gravity from the bottom of the plane for vertical flight to in line with the wings for horizontal flight. This motion is initiated by a switch on the controller.
Figure 3: Weight Distribution
Mechanism
Figure 4: Flight
The team was able to achieve vertical take-off and transition to horizontal flight by means of a weight distribution mechanism. In horizontal flight the aircraft handled similarly to other RC aircraft on the market today. It was able to sustain over 7 minutes of flight time. Vertical landing was possible through use of the mechanism, but required more flying ability by the user. The current design could be enhanced by reducing weight in the back of the plane as well improving the meshing between the linear gear and pinon when moving the weight distribution mechanism.
Figure 5: Internal Mechanism
The Team
Acknowledgments
Professor Nielsen Chuck Holwerda
Tim Bangma and Unist Professor Kim
Phil Jasper Bob DeKraker
Brent Homan, Darbi Meyer, Tyson Butler, Derek VerMerris
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2018: Team 10