'Taketombo', a traditional Japanese children's toy, and its modern variations made from plastic or paper, serve as accessible and effective models for studying the fundamental principles of rotary-wing aerodynamics. For this purpose, objective and repeatable performance measurement is indispensable. While our research has previously established a dedicated launch pad to facilitate such measurements, the manual process of placing each rotor onto the pad remains a significant bottleneck. Inconsistencies from operator-dependent factors—such as centering the rotor, ensuring precise vertical alignment, and variations in handling—introduce substantial data scatter, compromising the reliability of experimental results and hindering high-throughput analysis. This paper details a critical stage in the development of a fully automated system designed to overcome these limitations. We report on the construction and successful implementation of a low-cost, sequence-controlled robotic system. Building on our prior conceptual research on a robotic hand, this system automates the entire launch cycle. It integrates a manipulator with the launcher to perform a pre-programmed sequence: grasping a rotor, accurately positioning it on the launch axis, activating the launcher to spin it to a specified power output, and executing a precisely timed release. Notably, to adhere to strict cost constraints for educational applications, feedback control for rotational speed has been intentionally omitted. By standardizing the grasping force and position, the system significantly reduces launch variability. This achievement establishes a foundational apparatus for reliable aerodynamic characterization. The paper concludes by discussing the current system's performance and outlining remaining challenges, such as the future integration of a rotor feeding mechanism, to realize true, uninterrupted continuous testing for advanced research and educational purposes.
Keiichiro TAKATO (Wed,) studied this question.