Design/Build/Fly

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]

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

Year Location 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 5th Place
1997 Ragged Island, MD University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Virginia Tech Texas A&M University Utah State University West Virginia University
1998 Wichita, KS University of Southern California ("Pepe") Texas A&M University Syracuse University University of Texas, Austin Utah State University [Paper Score]
1999 Pax River, MD Utah State University Oklahoma State University University of Southern California ("H2OT Shark") Georgia Institute of Technology Texas A&M University
2000 Wichita, KS Utah State University ("Wing and a Prayer") Oklahoma State University 1 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Georgia Institute of Technology Oklahoma State University 2
2001 Pax River, MD Oklahoma State University (Orange) California Polytechnic State University Oklahoma State University (Black) University of California, San Diego Utah State University
2002 Wichita, KS University of California, San Diego University of Southern California ("SCrewball") West Virginia University University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza
2003 Ridgely Airpark, MD San Diego State University California Polytechnic State University Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza University of Southern California ("SCyRaider") Oklahoma State University (Black)
2004 Wichita, KS Oklahoma State University (Black) Oklahoma State University (Orange) University of Southern California ("SCquirt") University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign California Polytechnic State University
2005 Pax River, MD Oklahoma State University (Black) Oklahoma State University (Orange) Washington State University Virginia Tech University of California, San Diego
2006 Wichita, KS Oklahoma State University (Black) Oklahoma State University (Orange) California Polytechnic State University (24" Wood) University of Southern California ("SCtingray") Istanbul Technical University
2007 Tucson, AZ Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oklahoma State University (Orange) Purdue University Oklahoma State University (Black) Wichita State University (Shockin' Surveyor)
2008 Wichita, KS Oklahoma State University (Black) University of Texas, Austin (The Hornworks) Oklahoma State University (Orange) University of Texas, Austin (Orange Bullet) University of Colorado Boulder
2009 Tucson, AZ Oklahoma 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)
2010 Wichita, KS Oklahoma 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)
2011 Tucson, AZ Georgia 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)
2012 Wichita, 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)
2013 Tucson, AZ University of California, Irvine San Diego State University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Colorado Boulder
2014 Wichita, KS University of Southern California ("MiSChief") University of California, Irvine San Jose State University University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2015 Tucson, AZ University of Ljubljana, Slovenia University of California, Irvine Georgia Institute of Technology Tel Aviv University University of Texas, Austin (The RebUTtal)
2016 Wichita, KS San Jose State University Georgia Institute of Technology University of California, Irvine Virginia Tech University of Oklahoma
2017 Tucson, AZ University of Southern California ("StarSCream") Georgia Institute of Technology University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Massachusetts Institute of Technology Oregon State University
2018 Wichita, KS Clarkson University ("KnightHawk") Virginia Tech Georgia Institute of Technology University of Ljubljana, Slovenia University of Texas, Austin
2019 Tucson, AZ University of Ljubljana, Slovenia ("Pretty Boy") Georgia Institute of Technology FH Joanneum University of Southern California ("ExSCalibur") Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute ("Jatayu")
2020[1] Wichita, KS University of Southern California ("SCkyfall") Georgia Institute of Technology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Pennsylvania State University The City College of New York
2021[2] 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
2022 Wichita, KS Georgia Institute of Technology Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("MULLET")

FH Joanneum ("Hornet") University of Southern California ("VaxSCinator" A.K.A "RadoviSCh") Virginia Tech
2023 Tucson, AZ RWTH Aachen University University of Ljubuljana Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("ROOSTER")

Virginia Tech University of Washington Seattle
2024 Wichita, KS Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach

("WRENCH")

Georgia Institute of Technology University of Washington, Seattle Virginia Tech 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

Rank University Top 5 First Place
1 Oklahoma State University 13 7
University of Southern California 13 4
3 Georgia Institute of Technology 11 2
4 University of California, Irvine 6 1
California Polytechnic State University 6 0
University of Ljubljana 6 2
Virginia Tech 6 0
8 Utah State University 5 2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5 1
University of Texas, Austin 5 0
11 University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 4 1
12 San Jose State University 3 2
University of California, San Diego 3 1
Purdue University 3 0
Texas A&M University 3 0
University of Colorado Boulder 3 0
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach 3 0
18 San Diego State University 2 1
Istanbul Technical University 2 0
Universita degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza 2 0
University of Oklahoma 2 0
West Virginia University 2 0
Wichita State University 2 0
FH Joanneum 2 0
25 Clarkson University 1 1
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering 1 1
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1 0
Syracuse University 1 0
Tel Aviv University 1 0
University of Washington, Seattle 1 0
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute 1 0
University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1 0
Pennsylvania State University 1 0
The City College of New York 1 0
University of Central Florida 1 0
Ohio State University 1 0
RWTH Aachen University 1 1

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.