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The Challenge
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The Spring Ping Fling Thing
The machine must throw and catch ping pong balls.
Click on the image for specific information
about the 2010 challenge.
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Number of steps:
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20 or more
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Dimensions:
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The machine must be built and operate within these dimensions:
- Height, 5 feet;
- Width, 5 feet;
- Depth, 5 feet
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Honorarium:
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Union College will send the school district or organization of each registered team an honorarium of
$100 to support the costs of building its machine when:
- we have received the completed and signed Release Form
(download the form by clicking
here), and
- we have received and accepted the team's Step-by-Step Description Report.
(Submission by either hardcopy or email is acceptable. Check the schedule page for the due date.)
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Judging:
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The Official 2010 Judging Form
is now posted. |
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Getting to the Union Fieldhouse:
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Maps
to the Union College fieldhouse. |
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- Registration Items:
- If you would like to make copies of our brochure to hand out to interested students you may download
a copy by clicking here.
- Each team must register,
the deadline is February 12, 2010,
for the competition. Please use the online form at RGC registration.
- The first 30 teams that register and submit their step-by-step descriptions and
Release Forms by the posted deadlines will be guaranteed a place in the competition.
- Each team must submit a completed and signed Release Form.
- Each team must submit a step-by-step description of its
machine by March 5, 2010. The description must be legible and concise.
- A team name must not imply profane, indecent, or lewd expressions.
- The number of members on a team is restricted to no more than FIVE members.
- General Machine Regulations:
- A machine must not imply profane, indecent, or lewd expressions.
- A machine may not incorporate any live animal.
- A machine many not display any corporate sponsor logos.
- Any loose or flying objects must remain within the set boundaries of the machine. (5'x5'x5')
- No combustible fluids, explosives, open flames, or hazardous materials are allowed.
- All machines may be displayed and operated on tables approximately 27 inches high,
which will be provided at the contest or they may be placed on the floor.
- A standard electrical outlet will be available at each table. You should bring a power strip if
you have multiple items to plug in.
- Each machine must be safe to the approval of the Union Safety Official.
Any questionable items must be given prior consent by the Contest Chair.
- Scoring Items:
- Judging will be on a 100 points total. Please consult the Official 2010 Judging Form from this page.
- A penalty will be assessed for any human intervention on a machine in motion.
- The machine must complete a full cycle in no more than FIVE
minutes. A full cycle includes a first run to completion of the task, a complete reset,
and a second run to completion of the task.
- Each machine will need to run the full cycle process for each judging team (at least 2 and perhaps 3).
It is expected that each team will do demonstration runs upon request from spectators and other competitors.
- Each machine must incorporate a minimum of FIVE different forms of energy,
for example, chemical, electrical, magnetic, heat, light, sound, rotation, potential (height or spring), kinetic,
hydraulic, pneumatic, and so forth..
- Each team should have a descriptive poster with details about its machine.
- Each team should have a descriptive handout for its machine for the judges and spectators.
- Each team must present (one or more members may participate) the machine to the judges,
point out the machine's theme, how the theme is integrated into the
design, each step of the process, and the five required energy
conversions.
- At the competition:
- Each team is responsible for setting up its machine and to be ready at the scheduled start of the competition.
- Each team is responsible for the security of its own machine.
- Intentional destructive action against other machines is cause for disqualification.
- After the competition:
- Contestants are responsible for removing their machine and related debris immediately following the contest.
- Winning teams may be asked to reset and run their machines after the awards are handed out to ensure
that a complete video of the operation of the machines receiving awards has been taken.
- Our sponsor, The Schenectady Museum, requests that winning machines be left
for the museum to use on display for approximately one month following the competition.
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