Documentation for Programming Team 1/8/2011

Figured out how the .cs files relate to the resources.
Edited a helicopter
Recompiled the game project and got NeoAxis to run again after doing
so something I have not been able to do before.
Talked about our feelings. Lot was discovered.

Letter for Funding from the Innovation Center

Aviation and Pilot Club

Flight Simulator

I. Abstract

The Aviation and Pilot Club has already built a prototype electrical-mechanical flight simulator. The club will continue to create and innovate by building a working electrical-mechanical flight simulator, flight simulation software, integrating that software with augmented reality, and developing a business plan so that the club can commercialize this product. The project time frame is 2010 Sept. 07 – 2014 Sept. 07. This project plan discusses the work to be done from 2010 Sept. 07 – 2011 May 07.

II. Club History

Flight simulators were originally designed to train pilots in the US Military. The Military had taken over the air mail routes but due to unfamiliarity with the controls, there were a number of crashes causing many deaths. The US Military looked to Link Trainers to help prepare these pilots to fly the new planes. The love for flight and general aviation that is shared amongst the members of this club is the main reason that we pulled together to start building flight simulators. We, like Link Trainers, are hoping to build a device that exhibits innovation, dedication, and hard work. The club was started last year (2009) when ten students got together for our first meeting. We sat down outside of Java Bean in the SAU and talked about planes for a couple hours. After our first meeting, we decided that we wanted more than just a get together of Aviation Enthusiasts. We decided to book a room and start talking about being a club. Our first few meetings were in building 1 in random rooms. Although our group started to grow, we were still not satisfied. We decided that what we needed was a project. The flight simulator was the obvious choice. It allowed us to work on something that we love and at the same time learn so much. It was also within our first year annual budget. We built the flight simulator in three months, with three people, for under 1300 USD. We presented at ImagineRIT and we were able to meet two of our four goals. We finished the flight simulator in time and we stayed under 1500 USD; However, we were unable to seat anyone on the flight simulator nor were we able to implement yaw because of the cost.

III. Issues and Solutions

One of the main issues that exist within our club is that we can not afford to go through flight training and RIT refuses to be associated with flight training of any kind. With this new flight simulator, we can cut down the cost of flight training by about 1000 USD per member. That is ten hours of flight that can be trained on the simulator. Another issue solved by this project was the ability to utilize the different abilities of our members to work together and accomplish something. This flight simulator has taken time and dedication of our members and will continue to take time and dedication. Projects are a way to focus a person on productive tasks and ignore other dangerous or foolish activities.

IV. Goals

There are three different groups to this project. There is a hardware group, a game design group, and a business group. Each own a piece of this project in their own respective field.

The hardware group can be broken down into two groups. The Mechanical Engineering group and the Electrical Engineering group. The goals of the Mechanical Engineering group is to design and construct the mechanical flight simulator to include at least three degrees of freedom, structural tests and to attend a conference to explain the mechanical portion of the project along with any innovative ideas that they have used on the project. The Electrical Engineering group is working to apply the HCS12 FreeScale Micro-controller to last years prototype and then to this years flight simulator. This includes writing drivers for any input device to function with the micro-controller and any code to interact with the motors/actuators on the flight simulator. The code is being written in assembly. The Electrical Engineering group is already signed up for a FreeScale Micro-controller Symposium for Thursday, November 4, 2010.

The Game Design group also has two groups. The programming group and the art group. The programming group is going to use the NeoAxis IDE on top of the OGRE 3D gaming engine. This software still requires c++ style coding but allows for easier building of levels. The programming group is also looking at using Vuzix glasses and coding for the implementation of Augmented Reality instead of using a monitor. The art group will design and build the models, the terrain, and any other artistic requirements for the simulation software. The goal here is to create realistic flight simulation software that can compete with Microsoft Flight Simulator X and to further develop augmented reality technology so that the user feels more involved in the environment.

Finally, the Business Group is designing a business plan to compete in events like the Shark Tank at RIT and I2P (Ideation to Product) competition at the University of Texas in Austin.

V. Financial and Material Needs

This year, we have decided to use a system of motorized pulleys, a turntable, and near frictionless rails. The initial cost analysis has been deemed around 4500 USD for the mechanical and electrical portions and educational solid-works. This does not include any additional computers, computer software, Vuzix glasses, or any other unforeseen materials. A more detailed cost analysis will be completed before the end of midterms for the Winter quarter.

VI. Why you should fund us

The Innovation Center has been an integral part of this project as far as funding, space, and materials are concerned. With a successful prototype complete and a surge in the membership of the club, we are ready to build a usable model. This usable model will be on display in the Innovation Center and will help to promote the activities that take place in the Innovation Center. It will also serve as an object that will pull new projects into the Innovation Center. This project falls under one of the missions of the Innovation Center. That would be to create a product that can be commercialized and makes financial sense. This flight simulator saves anyone who uses it for ten hours of there flight time, that can be put towards a private pilots certification, around 1,000 USD.

VII. Conclusion

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via phone or email.

_________________________ _________________________

Ryan Woods Ryan Rawlins

Aviation and Pilot Club Aviation and Pilot Club

President Treasurer

(832)594-1376

rcw1407@rit.edu