SEN 3141
- What a World Cup organizer needs
- Filter off the RF
What a World Cup organizer needs
From Laurent DUPRIEZ
Hello
As the organiser of two WC competitions, I have carefully read the latest EDIC and FREE FLIGHT articles.
I’ve noticed that everything that has been mentioned doesn’t take into account the organisers’ constraints.
How does a day’s organisation work :
– 6.00 am we set up the start line depending on the weather (plus installation of infrastructure)
– 6.45 a.m. We usually have the fly-off from the previous day’s competition.
– 7.10 Fly off a second Fly off from the previous day’s category
– 7.30am start of the day’s competition for 7 flights.
We have around 80 competitors per day for two categories.
The proposal is that all the competitors come to register their alti before the competition. This will take between 2 and 3 minutes per competitor, i.e. between 160 and 240 minutes !!!! Even if some competitors have registered their information in advance, there will inevitably be changes to be made and last-minute registrations.
So this procedure is impossible to implement.
For the day’s flights:
You need one official per pad equipped with a means of data transmission. We’re already having trouble finding timekeepers. What’s more, you need to have someone permanently behind a computer to monitor 560 flights, and what happens if there are transmission problems or computer problems due to dampness or cold, etc.? Few organisers have an office on the ground.
Who checks for false starts, items lost in flight, etc.?
So this procedure is impossible to put in place.
For the Fly-off, the problem is twofold
Visibility and distance.
At 10 minutes, the models leave the airfield and enter unauthorised and therefore dangerous urban areas.
I’m not opposed to the use of technology, but if it serves organisations it should be banned.
Here’s my proposal.
During the day, we won’t change the current rules with a timekeeper.
For Fly-off
The organiser has a set of altimeters and a tablet-type reading unit.
The competitor selected for the Fly-off collects two blank, numbered altimeters from the organiser at the same time as he provides the name of his timekeeper.
The flight time is timed, with a maximum of between 6 and 8 minutes depending on the terrain and wind strength.
Only the organiser reads the results of competitors who have reached the maximum.
The altitude at the moment of the max is used, and for the following competitors the timed time, the highest model is the winner is used.
The advantages.
A single Fly-off
All the performance of the models is used.
No extra cost for the competitors (junior), you just need to provide a place for the alti in your model. And above all, a uniform control system.
A quick read for the organiser.
Laurent Dupriez.
Editor’s Observation
Laurent Dupriez expresses concern that a system proposed would be worse rather than better than the current system. In the operational outline was written around a World Champs and would need to be adapted for a World Cup contest that might well be done on a smaller field with more limited resources.
These changes are quite significant and part of any full approach would include validation that it is fit for purpose and would not be more burdensome on any organizer. Our sporting code requires us to produce a sporting results and should not make it for an organizer to do that. For me as an organizer the 4 sec motor run hand timed is very borderline.
Virtually all organizer’s have a concern that the performance of the models is exceeding their flying site. There was a similar article is SEN a short time by Aram Schlosberg who also proposed a more formalization of the use of Altimeter Fly off to solve this problem. From memory Alram’s proposal did not include the organizer supplying the Altimeter which is a positive contribution to the idea.
Filter off the RF
From Jerry Fitch
Regarding Paul’s question about filters or chokes:
I put ferrite beads on all 3 servo leads on all models and haven’t had any trouble since. The Digi-Key part number, which I did not record, was provided by Massimo Urcicino I believe, who can probably recommend a current version. They are tiny little things and fun to solder.
Editor’s Comment.
Another GPS provider suggests part BLM21PG221SN1D. Just cut the wires close to the servo and insert it. This is a surface mount part. It is a choke.
But lets see what other suggestions we get.