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ABSTRACT

Rationale: Samara seeds, or helicopter seeds, have long been an object of study and as their
name implies, they are most notable for the way that they fall. Samara seeds are shaped similarly
to the blades of a helicopter and they rotate at high speeds when they fall due to the torques on
the distal edge. The idea is that technology in nature is flexible and much more efficient than that
of human technology. Therefore, if it were possible for us to derive a model for the fall, we could
apply this to human technologies to create more efficient helicopters, windmills, or anything of
the sort, which in turn will be economically and environmentally beneficial.

Research Questions: What are possible applications of efficient autorotation? How does the
autorotation in helicopters specifically relate to that of samara seeds? What equations would be
useful in calculating the helical trajectory? Are there existing helical equations that utilize
translational and rotational displacement, velocity, and acceleration? What are some programs
that can efficiently and effectively track points and conduct video analysis?

Hypothesis: Through a process of trial and error, it will be possible to model the helical
trajectory of a falling samara seed. Programs like ImageJ, LoggerPro, and Tracker allow for the
measurement of distance, angle, and time elapsed. Using physics principles, its possible to
derive the translational and rotational velocity and by filming in two dimensions, it is possible to
find those measurements in both x and y dimensions. It is also possible to find the torques and
the translational and rotational acceleration.

Engineering Goals: Our engineering goals include successfully tracking the movement of the
falling samara seed and being able to express such movement in mathematical quantities and
equations.

Expected Outcomes: Since there are so many possible measurements that can be taken, it
should be possible to simply relate both dimensions in one equation. It is said that torque as well
as air resistance cause these motions in the samara seed. If the air resistance were eliminated, it
should be even easier to relate torque to the position of the seed. Many equations for a helix
already exists, so by applying those equations and data collected, it should be fairly easy to
create our own equation.

Procedures: We will cover the area being filmed in the solid color cloth or backdrop. We will
then adjust the phone to be parallel to the filmed frame and place a ruler in the frame. We will
start the recording and drop the samara seed from a height of 2.5 feet in the cameras view. We
will subsequently stop the camera and repeat this two more times filming from the top down. We
will also film the seed again three times from the side view.

Risk and Safety: There are no safety risks involved in this experiment.

Data Analysis: To analyze the data collected, we will upload the videos to Tracker 4.95,
calibrating the scale using the ruler in the frames of the video. We will then manually track the
seed for every frame, using the protractor tool to find the angular displacement and using the
tape measure to find the translational displacement. After the measurements are made with
Tracker 4.95, We will upload the data to an Excel file and then apply equations to calculate the
translational and angular velocity, terminal velocity, and acceleration.

Bibliography:
Altimira, Mireia. "Autorotating Seeds: To Fly or to Die." Mapping Ignorance. N.p., 15 May
2013. Web. 29 Oct. 2016. <http://mappingignorance.org/2013/05/15/autorotating-seeds-
to-fly-or-to-die/>.
Armstrong, Wayne P. "Blowing In The Wind." Wind Dispersal Of Seeds. N.p., n.d. Web. 09
Nov. 2016. <http://waynesword.palomar.edu/plfeb99.htm#helicopters>.
Aron, Jacob. "Spinning Seeds Inspire Single-bladed Helicopters." New Scientist. Daily News, 28
Jan. 2011. Web. 09 Nov. 2016. <https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20045-spinning-
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Cantrell, Paul. "Aerodynamics of Autorotation." Helicopter Aviation. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct.
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Croft, John. "RoboSeed Perfects Single-wing Rotorcraft." Flightglobal.com. N.p., 16 Sept. 2010.
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single-wing-rotorcraft-347374/>.
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