FTC Biobuzz Pollen & Nectar Trajectory Simulator

Predicted entry
100-shot sample—
Clear entryMiss / rim overlapSample trajectories

3D Trajectory

Drag to orbit • Double-click to restore view • All dimensions in inches

Side View

Y axial direction / Z height • Equal distance scales

Top View

X increases to the right • Y increases downward

Hive Cell Opening

Across opening / Up plate from bottom (in)

View from Launch Point

Horizontal / Vertical tangent angle (deg)

Instructions

Explore how launch position, angle, and flywheel speed affect your shot. Adjust settings using the sliders or type values directly. Launch X sets the side-to-side position, while Launch Y sets the distance along the axial direction.

Set the launch height, launch angle, flywheel diameter, and RPM. The tool calculates launch velocity and displays the flight path, including air drag. Green indicates clear entry into the cell; red indicates a miss or rim overlap.

To explore consistency, enter standard deviation (SD) values for launch velocity, launch angle, and aim offset, then click Sample 100 shots. Larger SD values represent greater shot-to-shot variation.

Use the different views to compare trajectories and click Theory Description for the equations. Compare predictions with real shots.

Assumptions

Single flywheel launcher is assumed. Launch velocity is calculated as half the tangential speed of the flywheel.
Quadratic drag in still air; density 1.225 kg/m³. Flight ends at cell-plane arrival or the floor.
Entry checks the complete sphere passage. Retention, bounce, spin lift and hive tipping are not modeled.

Created by Infinity Tech Robotics - FTC Team 13684 - from Plymouth-Canton, Michigan, USA.
If you found this tool useful or have questions, please email us at infinitytechrobotics@gmail.com

Theory Description

Launch velocity
v₀ = ½ π (D / 1000) RPM / 60 (m/s). D is flywheel diameter in millimeters.

Initial direction
v = v₀ (cos θ cos ψ, cos θ sin ψ, sin θ). θ is launch angle above horizontal; ψ is bearing toward the opening center minus aim offset.

Gravity and drag
dp/dt = v
dv/dt = (0, 0, −g) − [ρ Cᴅ A / (2m)] |v| v
g = 9.80665 m/s², ρ = 1.225 kg/m³, A = πd²/4, d and m follow the selected game piece: Pollen (2.8″, 25 g) or Nectar (3.6″, 41.3 g). Mass is converted from grams.

Cᴅ = 0.47 is a standard approximate drag coefficient for a smooth sphere at Reynolds number ≈ 10⁴. Sphere drag reference.

Numerical solution and entry
The browser uses fourth-order Runge–Kutta integration at 0.002-second intervals. The first inward crossing of (p − pcell) · n = 0 ends the plotted trajectory. During complete passage, the sphere’s intersection circle must clear all five edges.

100-shot simulation
Independent normal variation is applied to launch velocity, launch angle, and aim offset using their separate SD controls. A repeatable sample seed supports comparison.