Weekly Progress

Week 1

During the first week, the group was formed and the four members decided to create an indoor kite. The members brainstormed and gathered many ideas, and came to the conclusion that the kite will have the shape and the colors of the Batman logo. In addition, the group created this blog, which will provide information and updates about the project.

Week 2

During the second week, the group members met out of class, in order to make future plans about the project. Throughout the meeting, the group talked about the basic research needed to be done in the fields of aerodynamics and material science to accomplish certain project goals, as well as creating a kite design using a CAD software, such as AutoCAD. The group also created a budget and a list of materials that are necessary to fulfil the project.
              While in lab, the group mainly focused on the design of the product. A set of multiple pre-existing designs were examined in order to determine a basic structural design. The group decided to hold off on ordering parts, until next week. Prototyping will begin with the use of common, more simple materials, such as wood, metal and plastic.
              Furthermore, the group significantly updated the webpage. The two pre-existing consulted for the project's basic structural design are posted in the section Background/Tutorial/FAQ under Bird of Prey and iFlite Kites. The two following pictures are the specific designs that were consulted:

Bird of Prey:

iPrey Kite:

Week 3

During week 3, our group was able to design a prototype using a CAD software called CREO Parametric (3.0 version). A front view of the design is seen on Figure 3.a below, as well as a side view on Figure 3.b.

Figure 3.a

Figure 3.b

The total length of the kite is 2 feet, while the total width is 3/4 of a foot. The depth of the kite is measured to approximately 0.03 feet. The brown/yellow lines on Figure 3.a indicate the carbon fiber rods, which functions as the main structural support of the indoor kite. These rods will create a strong yet light frame for the product. The majority of the design which is displayed in black color, represents the nylon cloth, used to create the geometric shape of the Batman logo.

In addition, during the third lab our group created the first tangible prototype of our project. A picture of this prototype is seen on the following image:

The frame of this kite was made out of plastic rods, a piece of wood and toothpicks. A plastic bag was used to function as the wings of the kite, which was wrapped around light gauge non braided wire (used for rigidity), forming the shape of the Batman logo. One of the team members attempted to fly the kite, but he was not very successful. Our team concluded that the kite was to small and too heavy in order to glide for a significant distance. However, even if the kite was very heavy, it was able to fly/spin in a circular path, which proves that a kite with this certain shape will be able to glide, if constructed with the appropriate materials.

Week 5

During week 4, our group received some of the material that were ordered the previous week, such as the nylon cloth that will be used to develop the final project. However, we did not receive our full list, so we decided ahead of time that we should make another prototype using other materials. Therefore, based on the design developed the previous week, as well as one developed during lab, our team attempted to craft an indoor kite. The picture of this weeks design is seen below:

The materials that were used to develop this prototype, were strip styrene tubes (2.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 8.7 mm diameters), tubing and glue to connect the styrene rods, and a plastic bag. The strip styrene rods and the connecting tube were used to create the frame of the kite, and the plastic bag was used as the cover/wings of the product. In addition, paper clips were used to adjust the center of gravity of the kite and pull it towards the front. Pictures of the frame and the completed kite are depicted below:

As seen in the first image, the center of the frame is made out of the 8.7 mm diameter rod. The 4.0 mm rods were used for the parts connecting the middle rod and the outer rods, which were made out of the 2.5 mm diameter rods. Finally, the bag was attached to the frame using tape.
After the prototype was completed, our team attempted to fly the kite after attaching a piece of string in the cross section of the strip styrene tubes. While we tried to fly it, when realized from a 5 foot height, the kite was able to glide a distance of 8 feet. Therefore, the glide ratio was 5/8. Even though the kite was able to fly a distance of 8 feet by just tossing it in the air, we realized that when trying to make it fly with line, it was really difficult because its gliding speed was greater than the "pilot's" walking speed. The results were clearly better when the "pilot" was running. The maximum distance the kite flew without falling to the ground was approximately 4 feet. This means, when making the next prototype, we should consider parameters that would make the kite stay on air for a longer time, and that the "pilot" would be walking, instead of running.

Week 6

During week 6, our team received the rest of the materials that were ordered, such as the black nylon cloth and the carbon fiber rods. But due to prototyping and testing, we decided to save the materials and try creating a kite from other materials we already possessed. Based on previous designs and prototypes developed during lab periods, we constructed an indoor kite that had the shape and the color of the Batman logo.

The materials used to craft this prototype were 9/32" and 7/32" aluminum tubes. Small machine screws were used to connect the tubes to each other and tie raps to connect the black nylon cloth to the aluminum frame. Finally, iron hemming material was used to finish the edges of the nylon and give it the geometric shape of the Batman logo. Pictures of the frame itself and the finished prototype can be seen below:

As seen on the first picture, the frame has the shape of the Greek letter π. The second picture shows how the small machine screws were used to connect the aluminum tubes to each other. The last picture shows the finished prototype, with the black nylon cloth attached to the aluminum frame through tie raps.

After the prototype was completed, we attempted to fly the kite. Initially, the prototype was tested without line, and when the kite was released from a 5 foot vertical distance, it flew a horizontal distance of 12 feet. Therefore, the gliding ration is 5/12. Further on, we attached line to the kite, and one of our teammates attempted to fly the kite. The kite was able to glide a distance of 8 feet while the "pilot" was running slowly. The next prototype will be based on this design, but the frame will be made out of carbon fiber instead of aluminum. In that, because the prototype will be lighter in weight, it will allow the "pilot" to fly it in walking speed.

Week 7

During week 7, our team decided to create a prototype using the materials from the finalized list. The third prototype was made out of 0.08" diameter, 24" length carbon fiber rods, black nylon cloth, plastic styrene rods and line fuel tubing. The fuel line tubing was used to connect the carbon fiber rods to each other and to the piece of plastic styrene, which as a whole represented the frame of the kite. Tape and tie raps were used to attach the nylon cloth to the kite frame. The frame along with the nylon cloth gave the kite the desired Batman logo shape. Paper clips were placed on the front of the kite to shift its center of gravity towards the front. Pictures of the kite frame and the finished prototype are seen below.

When the kite was thrown from a 5 foot height, it was able to glide a distance of 32 feet. The glide ratio for this design is 5/32. When line was attached to it, it was able to glide a distance of 8 feet before changing direction, at the "pilot's" walking speed.

Week 8

During week 8, our team decided to stick with the prototype created on week 7, and try to make it fly better. At first, we decided to replace the middle plastic styrene rod with a carbon fiber rod, in order to have the whole frame created from one material only, which is both strong and very light in weight. Also, the front of the kite was cut and given the shape of the "Batman" head. The kite was then thrown from a 5 foot height and was able to glide a distance of 34 feet, giving it a glide ratio of 5/34.

The problem that was noticed when the kite was gliding though, was that it was not balanced enough, making it turn right or left while flying. After discussing our issue with our professor, we decided to add a curve to our kite, that would balance it more. In order to create this curve, a piece of string was tied to the mid point of each of the two carbon fiber rods that are placed on the front of the kite, and connected them to each other (Between which is the "Batman" head). Pictures of the top and front views of the kite can be seen below:

After altering these features and parts of the kite, the next step was to fly them. When thrown from a 5 foot distance, the kite was able to glide a distance of 28 feet, which is less than the distance it covered before. However, the kite was more balanced this time, and followed a straight path, without making right or left turns.