Mechanical Design Studio - Spring 1998
Bringing Down the Walls of Jericho
Contest Rules
Materials
With the following exceptions, each machine must be constructed solely from materials provided in the "Kit":
* fasteners and adhesives (not tape) used ONLY for fastening and joining;
Fasteners provided in the studio include:
- Machine screws, nuts, flat washers, and lock washers.
- Spring pins, cotter pins, and retaining rings.
- You can provide other bolts as long as the size does not exceed 1/4" nominal diameter, and length of 3.5".
* washers used as simple bearings and/or parts of a fastening system -no more than 3 washers may be used in series;
* tape used ONLY for electrical insulation;
* lubricants used only to reduce friction WITHIN your own machine; and
* nonfunctional decorations.
Energy Sources
The energy used by the devices in the competition must come solely from:
* a change in altitude of the center of gravity of the device;
* storage achieved by the deformation of the springs provided by the Kit
* electrical and pneumatic energy derived through the umbilical during
the 40 seconds when the remote control system is energized.
Note: for safety reasons, elastic bands may not be used for energy storage.
Size
At the start of each competition, every part of the machine must fit, unconstrained, within a 12 in cube having its base within the marked starting area on the playing field.
Details
1. Judges and/or instructors will disqualify any device that appears to be a safety hazard.
2. Contestants will be given at least 90 seconds warning of their upcoming contest, table, and starting position assignment.
3. A maximum set-up time of 30 seconds will be allowed at the contest table.
4. Machines must be connected to the umbilical only by normal use of the connectors provided. After only unplugging the connectors, a judge should be able to lift the umbilicals free.
5. The pneumatic hoses will be clearly color-coded so that the judges can connect them without consulting the contestant.
6. A "pit crew" of one is allowed to help with set-up and removal.
7. The pit crew can also be the "designated controller" and operate the machine during competition.
8. During the first round of competition, the judges may declare double wins and double losses.
9. You may interact with your machine during a contest only through normal operation of the remote control system.
10. After each machine's initial contest, no design changes will be allowed. However, quick fixing of broken parts is allowed.
11. Each contestant must use the same machine in each contest, i.e., all of the same components. However, the machine configuration may be changed; for example adjusting the configuration to the side of the table the machine starts on.
12. Each machine can only interact with the surface of the table, and the inside surface of the rim.
13. The judges will wait until the wall parts have stopped moving before determining the winner.
14. Damaging the playing surfaces, the wall remnants, the bulldog, or the control system may result in disqualification. Note the rim will be made of thin Plexiglass. Normal wear and tear of the wall remnants is tolerated.
15. Purposefully using the umbilicals for any purpose other than transmitting electrical and pneumatic power is not allowed.
16. Strategies aimed only at destruction of, or damage to, an opponent machine are not in the spirit of the contest and will not be allowed.
17. If a projectile is used, for reasons of safety, it must have a frontal area greater than 2in2.
18. Gaining traction by use of adhesives, or by abrading or braking the surface of the playing field is not allowed.
19. A machine may not contaminate with lubricant or other substance the playing field, an opponent's machine, or the wall remnants.
20. Kit materials may not be changed chemically. DC Motors may not be rewound.
21. A maximum of 30 seconds will be allowed for removal of all parts of each machine after each contest.
22. A machine may not win a match through advantage gained by accidentally breaking a rule.
23. Machines may be designed to interact. However, it is not in the spirit of the competition to intentionally damage another machine and no part of the Kit may be used in a manner that is intended to cause harm. Any device which is designed to chop, break, or penetrate another machine will not be allowed to compete.
The public will be invited to the contest. Good taste in the appearance of your design will reflect positively on you, the mechanical engineering department, and Yale.
Any modifications or clarifications to these rules will be posted on the class web page.