from HaaRoNa Baa.. to TEAM STRATOS (Part #01)
It all began in the month of September 2009, this aero design project under the SAE-BMSCE Chapter in college. At that time we were 6 in the team; self inducted members, as we pioneered the start of a society of such kind in the college. The team was Rajath, Gnana Skandan, Tilak, Nishanth, Shravan and I (Shashikanth). We then had a lot of options on how to take the society forward and the events which we should take part in. On a common interest, the aero design challenge was selected. The thought that it was easier than other competitions propelled us into the decision. Having no idea on how to go about the project we started off with immense confidence; still I am not able to search the source for it. Anyway we announced it for ourselves and we took our first step, Google. This was, I should say, the tough part in the whole project. We were collecting all the information regarding..... we had no idea on what, but any article with words remote control and an aircraft in it were downloaded. It was like how a small child reacts when it is given a toy. Something new! Something to play with!
It was not everyone in the team though who did this; out of the 6 self inducted members, only 3 were active, Skandan, Nishanth and I. So we guys thought we had done enough on the net and it was time to do something practical, real! It was then we thought that we need more members into the team as we could get more ideas. Now came an exciting stage in the project, recruitment of team members.
I, Skandan and Ganesha had earlier taken part in a glider competition organized by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore(the TATA Institute). We had seen how the competition was conducted and we adopted the same event design. It was time then to come out with constraints for the design of the glider. Which we did, not so surprisingly.
Next step, advertisement in college about the event. We took no permission from college and started sticking rules and details of the competition on every notice board of every department. As we were waiting for responses from the student body on their participation, we were excited to receive 8 calls confirming their entries. And it turned out that these were the only 8 who took part. It was said in the rules that there should be 2 students per team. It was these 16 participants and us 6 at the event. The event was held at our college basket ball court with the gliders directed to lift off towards the football ground. The first glider flew and the event attracted 20 to 30 more students, rather curious onlookers. Out of the 8 teams, the team comprising of Akhilesh and Amruth (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) clocked the highest time of flight and the team with Sri Hari (Dept of Instrumentation Technology) and Prateen Kumar (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) clocked the second best time. With two other teams who qualified with them, were called for the interview round. The irony was, people who interviewed these teams, ie; we six, had literally no experience on it. But it felt good for not being under the spotlight for the first time in my life. The teams were questioned and we understood one thing clearly, we knew nothing, as was the case with the participants. Now was the decision time.
With very less idea on flight mechanics and dynamics, we selected the two best clocking teams. It was ultimate to see the gliders fly that warm evening. The college football team did stop their practice at the sight of these gliders fly and made way for it to have a soft landing. I should appreciate the efforts of the students who took part. As only due to them the event elevated to the next step in its grandeur, because we never thought the event would be such a big success. Now the SAE-BMSCE Aerodesign team had four new faces and was all geared up and ready to press hard on the gas. But we were not entitled to remain as one group as three of our members opted to move out of the team and another one was flickering around. We were not bothered too much on this. Then there was a drought in the whole project. It was from November of 2009 to February of 2010. Literally no work happened, except for some unfruitful meetings. Losing hope at this stage, the one flickering around finally moved out of the team which we had called it TEAM STRATOS. I can remember only one fruitful meeting where we called ourselves as TEAM STRATOS. Now TEAM STRATOS, the official Aero Design Club of BMS College of Engineering proudly announced its members:
1) Akhilesh (Dept of Mechanical Engineering)
2) Amruth (Dept of Mechanical Engineering)
3) Shashikanth (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
4) Sri Hari (Dept of Instrumentation Technology)
5) Gnana Skandan (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
6) Nishanth (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
We were the final six.
And now started all the fun, all the hard work, all the masti and no sleep!
Wait for PART #02...coming up shortly!!!
It was not everyone in the team though who did this; out of the 6 self inducted members, only 3 were active, Skandan, Nishanth and I. So we guys thought we had done enough on the net and it was time to do something practical, real! It was then we thought that we need more members into the team as we could get more ideas. Now came an exciting stage in the project, recruitment of team members.
I, Skandan and Ganesha had earlier taken part in a glider competition organized by the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore(the TATA Institute). We had seen how the competition was conducted and we adopted the same event design. It was time then to come out with constraints for the design of the glider. Which we did, not so surprisingly.
Next step, advertisement in college about the event. We took no permission from college and started sticking rules and details of the competition on every notice board of every department. As we were waiting for responses from the student body on their participation, we were excited to receive 8 calls confirming their entries. And it turned out that these were the only 8 who took part. It was said in the rules that there should be 2 students per team. It was these 16 participants and us 6 at the event. The event was held at our college basket ball court with the gliders directed to lift off towards the football ground. The first glider flew and the event attracted 20 to 30 more students, rather curious onlookers. Out of the 8 teams, the team comprising of Akhilesh and Amruth (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) clocked the highest time of flight and the team with Sri Hari (Dept of Instrumentation Technology) and Prateen Kumar (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) clocked the second best time. With two other teams who qualified with them, were called for the interview round. The irony was, people who interviewed these teams, ie; we six, had literally no experience on it. But it felt good for not being under the spotlight for the first time in my life. The teams were questioned and we understood one thing clearly, we knew nothing, as was the case with the participants. Now was the decision time.
With very less idea on flight mechanics and dynamics, we selected the two best clocking teams. It was ultimate to see the gliders fly that warm evening. The college football team did stop their practice at the sight of these gliders fly and made way for it to have a soft landing. I should appreciate the efforts of the students who took part. As only due to them the event elevated to the next step in its grandeur, because we never thought the event would be such a big success. Now the SAE-BMSCE Aerodesign team had four new faces and was all geared up and ready to press hard on the gas. But we were not entitled to remain as one group as three of our members opted to move out of the team and another one was flickering around. We were not bothered too much on this. Then there was a drought in the whole project. It was from November of 2009 to February of 2010. Literally no work happened, except for some unfruitful meetings. Losing hope at this stage, the one flickering around finally moved out of the team which we had called it TEAM STRATOS. I can remember only one fruitful meeting where we called ourselves as TEAM STRATOS. Now TEAM STRATOS, the official Aero Design Club of BMS College of Engineering proudly announced its members:
1) Akhilesh (Dept of Mechanical Engineering)
2) Amruth (Dept of Mechanical Engineering)
3) Shashikanth (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
4) Sri Hari (Dept of Instrumentation Technology)
5) Gnana Skandan (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
6) Nishanth (Dept of Industrial Engineering)
We were the final six.
And now started all the fun, all the hard work, all the masti and no sleep!
Wait for PART #02...coming up shortly!!!
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