2^ND Northwest Florida Micro Air Vehicle Workshop
& Technology Demonstration  

The overarching goal of the 2^ND NW Florida MAV Workshop & Technology Demonstration is to bring together developers and users to help identify various state-of-the-art technologies that will further enhance the performance of today's micro air vehicles. The Workshop will feature two morning sessions with presentations from micro systems end users and leading researches.

There will also be two afternoon flight demonstrations this year. We have an outdoor demonstration scheduled for the first afternoon followed by an indoor demonstration the following afternoon. The goals of these demonstrations are to showcase state-of-the-art technologies applicable to micro aerial vehicle systems in the two prospective environments. For example, autonomous controlled flapping-wing flight in a restricted environment or autonomous visual guidance in an open air environment.

During the evening of 27 May participants are encouraged to exhibit and talk about their systems/vehicles at the planned Static Display.

SCHEDULE

The two demonstration times of the 2^ND NW Florida MAV Workshop & Technology Demonstration will allow for a participant to demonstrate their MAV system or related technology. This technology can include, but is certainly not limited to, the following:

• Autonomously controlled flapping wing flight
• Advanced aerodynamic configurations
• Bio-mimetically inspired technology
• Unconventional materials
• Advanced power source
• Innovative sensors and/or avionics
• Novel approaches to guidance, navigation, and control
• Use of Artificial Intelligence in selecting correct locations and targets

GENERAL RULES

During the entire time of either demonstration, flight vehicles must remain in controlled flight and within the mission boundary. Air vehicles are not permitted to fly over the spectator areas. Any vehicle appearing uncontrolled or moving beyond the mission boundary may be subject to immediate flight termination. If autonomous flight is attained, the vehicle must operate in a controlled manner. Exotic, dangerous fuels/batteries or components are discouraged. All designs and systems will undergo a rigorous safety inspection before being permitted to proceed.

Fact Sheets

Because the event will be conducted on a US Air Force installation, frequency allocation and clearance is required. Local event planners need to know as soon as possible all frequencies that will be used by entrants as well as associated transmission power. Event planners will make every effort to allow teams to participate but it may be necessary to restrict or forbid an entrant to use certain frequencies. It is requested each entrant provide a filled in Frequency Fact Sheet, Appendix B along with the manufacture’s spec sheets on their radio equipment used for air vehicle control (manual and/or autonomous) and for payload control/ imagery receipt that details specific frequency use, transmission power, antenna output ERP (Effective Radiated Power), and manufacturer data (if applicable) as soon as possible. You will be contacted if a problem is encountered.

Seven weeks prior to the demonstration (28 April 2008) a fact sheet (provided in Appendix C) must be submitted that provides basic descriptions and performance specs (e.g., air speed, weight, size, etc.) of the air vehicle. Specific details of all flight and ground systems are required. The fact sheet will provide details regarding vehicle history, fuel and/or battery type, launch and recovery methods, and air vehicle dimensions including gross weight.

Proof of Airworthiness & Previous Flight

Validation that a team’s air vehicle has flown prior to the event is required. A statement signed by the team sponsor (must be a faculty member if it is a school team) that verifies your system is airworthy and that it has successfully flown at least once prior to submission of the technical paper is required. This information is part of the Fact Sheet in Appendix C.

The Technology Demonstration Application and associated Vehicle/System Fact Sheets (appendixes B & C) can be emailed or snail-mailed to the addresses listed at the end of this instruction.

Oral Briefing

Each participating team is highly encouraged to provide an oral briefing describing the technology demonstrator. The Team shall brief the participants during the set demonstration times.

The ideas behind the presentations are to provide the spectators with a team introduction, an explanation of the technologies used in the system, and to open discussions on the state of current technologies.

Official Rules & Submissions

The official source for all information concerning rules, interpretations, and information updates for the NWF-MAV Workshop and Technology Demonstration for Micro Air Vehicles is the World Wide Web home page at www.reef.ufl.edu. An Application form and associated appendixes are available on the website, all submissions must be in English. As the demonstration format cannot handle an unlimited number of entries, the organizers reserve the right to limit the total number of entries that are allowed to demonstrate by declaring the demonstration closed to new entries before the due date above. As with all official information, this announcement will appear on the official website. One member of the team must be designated as the "team sponsor" and must be a faculty member for university teams. Each team will also have a “team captain” (which may be the sponsor) who is the only person that may speak for the team during the demonstration run.

Vehicle Safety Requirements

All vehicles will undergo a safety inspection by designated safety inspectors prior to being allowed to make any flight. All decisions of the safety inspector(s) are final.

All aircraft must be capable of an override of the autonomous mode of flight (return to manually flown radio mode.

Strict frequency control and monitoring will be in effect.

The officials may disqualify any entry that they deem to pose an unreasonable safety hazard. The officials will confer with representatives of the host facility, and any entries that, in the opinions of the officials or of the representatives of the host facilities, pose an unreasonable risk to the integrity of the host facility will be disqualified. AIAA, AUVSI, and the host organization (UF-REEF), their employees and agents, as well as the organizing committee, are in no way liable for any injury or damage caused by any entry, or by the disqualification of an entry. A document stating such must be signed and turned into a Demonstration Official prior to any activity on the selected demonstration sites.

Flying Locations

No team may fly their vehicles at any location outside the designated areas.

Frequency Control – AGAIN . . .

It is imperative that each team make its best attempt to provide information related to their antennas, transmitters, and receivers. The information provided in the Radio and Video Frequency Fact Sheet (Appendix B) provides minimum information. The requested manufacture spec sheet provides additional information and should be enough to meets the requirements set by Eglin Frequency Management Office.

Those teams who have much more fidelity to their systems are highly encouraged to use the DD Form 1494 as a guide for specific frequency requirements. This form can be found on the Supporting Documents page of the official NWF-MAV website. While students do not have to complete the entire form, it will make it easier for Eglin Frequency Management to properly prepare for the event. Those teams who can complete the form are encouraged to scan the form and email to the event Technical Demonstration Coordinator, Mr. Brad Austerman.