Design/Build/Fly

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Design/Build/Fly, or DBF, is a radio-controlled aircraft competition sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Cessna Aircraft Company, and Raytheon Missile Systems. [1] The competition is intended to challenge the AIAA student branches of each university to design, build, and fly a remote-controlled airplane that can complete specific ground and flight missions. Additionally, the teams are required to submit a comprehensive design report detailing the most important aspects of their designs. [2]

Contents

Competition rules vary annually, switching between humanitarian and military themes. Rules typically release in late September, with the final fly-off in April. A mathematical formula outlined in the rules calculates each entry's score, which lately combines design report and performance scores from fly-off missions.

Results

YearLocation1st Place2nd Place3rd Place4th Place5th Place
1997Ragged Island, MD University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Virginia Tech Texas A&M University Utah State University West Virginia University
1998Wichita, KS University of Southern California ("Pepe")Texas A&M University Syracuse University University of Texas, Austin Utah State University [Paper Score]
1999Pax River, MDUtah State University Oklahoma State University University of Southern California ("H2OT Shark") Georgia Institute of Technology Texas A&M University
2000Wichita, KSUtah State University ("Wing and a Prayer")Oklahoma State University 1University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignGeorgia Institute of TechnologyOklahoma State University 2
2001Pax River, MDOklahoma State University (Orange) California Polytechnic State University Oklahoma State University (Black) University of California, San Diego Utah State University
2002Wichita, KSUniversity of California, San DiegoUniversity of Southern California ("SCrewball")West Virginia UniversityUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza
2003Ridgely Airpark, MD San Diego State University California Polytechnic State UniversityUniversita degli Studi di Roma La SapienzaUniversity of Southern California ("SCyRaider")Oklahoma State University (Black)
2004Wichita, KSOklahoma State University (Black)Oklahoma State University (Orange)University of Southern California ("SCquirt")University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignCalifornia Polytechnic State University
2005Pax River, MDOklahoma State University (Black)Oklahoma State University (Orange) Washington State University Virginia TechUniversity of California, San Diego
2006Wichita, KSOklahoma State University (Black)Oklahoma State University (Orange)California Polytechnic State University (24" Wood)University of Southern California ("SCtingray") Istanbul Technical University
2007Tucson, AZ Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oklahoma State University (Orange) Purdue University Oklahoma State University (Black) Wichita State University (Shockin' Surveyor)
2008Wichita, KSOklahoma State University (Black)University of Texas, Austin (The Hornworks)Oklahoma State University (Orange)University of Texas, Austin (Orange Bullet) University of Colorado Boulder
2009Tucson, AZOklahoma State University (Black)Oklahoma State University (Orange)University of Southern California ("Turbo Encabulator")Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Just Wing It) University of California - Irvine (Zot Rocket)
2010Wichita, KSOklahoma State University (Orange)Oklahoma State University (Black)Purdue University (B'Euler Up)University of Texas, Austin (Bat Wing)California Polytechnic State University (Swings Both Ways)
2011Tucson, AZGeorgia Institute of Technology (There Will Be Buzz)University of Southern California ("The RFB")Purdue University (The Golfstream)Wichita State University (MiniWheat)California Polytechnic State University (Balls Deep)
2012Wichita, KS San Jose State University (Team PhalanX)University of California, Irvine (Angel of Attack)University of Colorado Boulder (H2BuffalO)Istanbul Technical University (ATA)University of Oklahoma (Crimson Skies)
2013Tucson, AZUniversity of California, IrvineSan Diego State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Colorado Boulder
2014Wichita, KSUniversity of Southern California ("MiSChief")University of California, IrvineSan Jose State University University of Ljubljana, SloveniaMassachusetts Institute of Technology
2015Tucson, AZUniversity of Ljubljana, SloveniaUniversity of California, IrvineGeorgia Institute of Technology Tel Aviv University University of Texas, Austin (The RebUTtal)
2016Wichita, KSSan Jose State UniversityGeorgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of California, IrvineVirginia TechUniversity of Oklahoma
2017Tucson, AZUniversity of Southern California ("StarSCream")Georgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Ljubljana, SloveniaMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyOregon State University
2018Wichita, KS Clarkson University ("KnightHawk")Virginia Tech ("Atlas")Georgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Ljubljana, SloveniaUniversity of Texas, Austin
2019Tucson, AZUniversity of Ljubljana, Slovenia ("Pretty Boy")Georgia Institute of Technology FH Joanneum University of Southern California ("ExSCalibur") Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute ("Jatayu")
2020 Wichita, KSUniversity of Southern California ("SCkyfall")Georgia Institute of Technology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Pennsylvania State University The City College of New York
2021 Tucson, AZ Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering University of Central Florida Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("STAT")

Ohio State University Georgia Institute of Technology
2022Wichita, KSGeorgia Institute of TechnologyEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("MULLET")

FH Joanneum ("Hornet")University of Southern California ("VaxSCinator" A.K.A "RadoviSCh")Virginia Tech ("Blacksbird")
2023Tucson, AZRWTH Aachen UniversityUniversity of LjubuljanaEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("ROOSTER")

Virginia Tech ("SOB")University of Washington Seattle
2024Wichita, KSEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("WRENCH")

Georgia Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Washington, SeattleVirginia Tech ("THE")FH Joanneum
1.The 2020 fly-off was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scores and rankings were solely based on the report scores.
2.The 2021 fly-off was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Select teams were invited to submit a video presentation and demonstration of their aircraft.

Design aspects

Students are required to keep up with changing technologies and mission requirements as the aerospace industry advances. Recent mission requirements have included increased focus on fuel efficiency, environmental sustainability, and electric propulsion. Additionally, the use of advanced materials and manufacturing techniques has become more prevalent in the competition, as students look for ways to optimize their aircraft performance while keeping costs down.

List of top 5 finishes by university

RankUniversityTop 5First Place
1 Oklahoma State University 137
University of Southern California 134
3 Georgia Institute of Technology 112
4 University of California, Irvine 61
California Polytechnic State University 60
University of Ljubljana 62
Virginia Tech 60
8 Utah State University 52
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 51
University of Texas, Austin 50
11 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 41
12 San Jose State University 32
University of California, San Diego 31
Purdue University 30
Texas A&M University 30
University of Colorado Boulder 30
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach 30
18 San Diego State University 21
Istanbul Technical University 20
Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza 20
University of Oklahoma 20
West Virginia University 20
Wichita State University 20
FH Joanneum 20
25 Clarkson University 11
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering 11
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 10
Syracuse University 10
Tel Aviv University 10
University of Washington, Seattle 10
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute 10
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 10
Pennsylvania State University 10
The City College of New York 10
University of Central Florida 10
Ohio State University 10
RWTH Aachen University 11

References

  1. "AIAA Design/Build/Fly" . Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  2. "AIAA Announces 2024 Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition Winners". www. Retrieved 2024-07-10.