You might have noticed there hasn't been much in the way of updates here lately, or new user approvals. Tim and I have been pretty busy with other endeavors, and have gradually come to the realization that to make TerraBreak.org truly useful requires more time and energy than either of us have. We also hoped to see more community participation over the years than we currently do -- it seems our vision for a common ground for new and experienced DBF participants to come together and share information (successful program management tips, build tips, common mistakes to be avoided, etc) was not to be.
It's been a fun experience working this site for the past several years, but unfortunately we have come to feel that the utility of the site, as a whole, is not in keeping with the time and expense we have put forth to maintain and update it.
So what's next? For now, the site will remain as is, with no further updates. Tim and I have no plans to attend future DBF events, or to actively participate in the contest in any way.
However, some other TerraBreak staff members have expressed a desire to continue volunteering at competition, and we will support them if they wish to further update the site. We hope that you provide them the utmost in support, encouragement, and can-do attitude.
We wish all competitors, past, present, and future, the best of luck moving forward. So long, and thanks for all the fish.
Get your Green Engineering Paper up and start your Sketches! The Rules are up.
The TerraBreak Staff Top 10 Tips:
10. Think Practically
09. Know your team Skills
08. Design to Complete the mission
07. Stick to your Schedule
06. Don't to forget to write the report.
05. Read the Rules!
04. Think about what the rules say
03. Read the Rules!
02. Analyze the Rules!
01. Read the Rules... Again!
00. READ THE RULES!!!!
So, as the dust settles from DBF 2009, TerraBreak.org needs your help before you run off to graduation/summer-internships/summer-study/etc.
Because of being a little short-handed at competition this year, and because tech inspections weren't as short as we hoped, we were not able to collect any team data this year (i.e. aircraft specifications).
Therefore, we *need* your help! I know several of the teams used the data on this site in order to help size their designs during conceptual design. And the only way this will be available in the future for 2009 is if you either:
a) send me an email (simply click my name at the top of the post)
b) post your data to this forum entry
I know this is a busy time of year; but (as public broadcasting fund-drives say) 'your support means more TB in the years to come'.
-Tim
Here's how it came out, typing on a very small little keyboard while they were announced. The real scores will be posted on the official site in about a week. I apologize if your team should be on this list and isn't. Please feel free to contact me to correct the omission.
So, in all their now fixed state:
Results of 2009 DBF
Arrived
CalPoly Pomona
Daniel Webster College
Completed Technical Inspection (Approximate)
University of Miami
Completed an Assembly Time
38. Ohio Nothern University
37. ANA
36. University Texas Austin - BEVOTRON
35. UIUC
34. Wichita State University - Suave
33. Auburn
Successful Flights
32. University of Arizona
31. University of Kentucky
30. Turkish Air Force
29. University of Strathclyde
28. University of New York @ Buffalo
27. University of Kansas
26. Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana
25. CalPoly San Louis Obisbo
24. Clarkson University
23. Western Michigan University
22. Rose Hulman University
21. University of Central Florida
20. Virginia Tech
19. University of California Los Angeles
18. University of Texas Austin - B.O.B.
17. Pennsylvania State University - PennState Express
16. TECHNION
15. San Diego State University
14. University of Colorado @ BOULDER -
13. Wichita State - WU STRYKER
12. Georgia Tech
11. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Rensselaer Redhawks
10. University of Washington
9. Purdue University
8. PSU - HOPE OF JACKALOPE
7. University of Ljubljana - EDVARD RUSJAN SLOVENIAN TEAM
6. Oklahoma University - TEAM OU
5. UC Irvine - Zot Rocket
4. MIT - Just Wing It
3. USC - Turbo Encabulator
2. OSU - Orange
1. OSU - BLACK
Edited: 4/21 for clarity.
Edited: 4/22 to added University of Miami
Edited: 4/23 fixes to some university names
So, I don't have a lot of info on scores. All I can give you is that there were ~45 flight attempts, and only two teams made it to the point of attempting Mission #3 (the random rockets mission). Of those only 1 was completed successfully (OSU Orange{?}, while UC Irvine crashed). Only about 3 other teams have crashed hard enough to have re-tech inspections pending.
There were ~55 ground mission attempts. And so far ~35teams have successfully completed tech inspection.
Hopefully the tech will slow down tomorrow, and we'll get to see a bunch more flights!
So, despite the lack of website updates we've managed to arrive @ the 2009 AIAA Cessna/Raytheon Design/Build/Fly Competition!
News from today:
There's new tech procedures from last year, where the judges are splitting up a pre-tech and 'regular' tech, so that they can catch as many 'non-compliance' issues in the first ~15minutes of an inspection as possible. The results? Well, ~15 teams have cleared through complete inspections, with another 10-20 in work.
Tomorrow the action starts, and unfortunately we're without our ace photographer Mike, so we won't have the same quality/experience of pictures; but we'll do our best to get as many teams' pictures and data as we can manage while holding down our volunteering responsibilities.
Thanks for checking in, and hope you're having an enjoyable & educational DBF 2009!
-Cwicseolfer