2013-14 contest orientation
DESCRIPTION
2013-14 Contest Orientation. This Year’s Challenge. Communicate a Message. Carnegie Science Center Friday, December 13, 2013 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Chain Reaction Contraption Contest. Pre-contest day activities Register and set-up(7:00 – 8:00) Preliminary Round(8:00 – 11:30) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
2013-14Contest Orientation
This Year’s Challenge
Communicate a Message
Carnegie Science Center– Friday, December 13,
2013 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Chain Reaction Contraption Contest
Pre-contest day activitiesRegister and set-up (7:00 – 8:00)Preliminary Round (8:00 – 11:30)
Operations Judging Special Awards Judging
Special Awards Winners & Finalists (12:00-12:30)Final Round (12:45-3:30)
Operations JudgingFinal Awards Ceremony (3:45-4:00)
Awards
Operations JudgingThe top 3 teams will
receive prizes For the School For the 4 Official
Team Members
Special Awards Judging
Best Use of GravityRookie of the YearLongest Successfully
Executed ContraptionBest PresentationMost MechanicalMost Efficient ResetBest Execution of a
Theme
Official Handbook
Check out the handbook for a complete list of rules, score
sheets, forms, available points, potential deductions and
important dates!
www.chainreactioncontest.org
Conceptual Design
An illustrative drawing or drawings of your ideas for your contraption
Does not need to match contest day contraption
High level, not detailed steps
Due October 11th
Photographic Progress Reports
A picture or two of the contraption's evolution
Summary of what has happened Current list of steps Issues/challenges Innovative applications
Due Oct 23rd, Nov 13 and Dec 4th
List of Materials
Detailed list of items on the contest day contraption New – donated or
purchased materials Used – recycled or
scavenged materials
Estimate the value
Due Contest Day
Rules
Dimensions The finished
contraption must not exceed 5 ft x 3 ft x 2 ft. The contraption, while operating, must remain inside the dimensions. The platform is included in the maximum dimension measurement.
Rules
Restarts & Human Interventions If your contraption should fail during its operation,
you may decide whether to: continue the run by helping a step along (a human
intervention) give up on the run and starting over (a restart)
Time Limit Each contraption must take at least 30 seconds to
run completely through its steps and must not run longer than 2 minutes.
Your reset must take less than 4 minutes.
Several Key Questions
How well does the contraption complete the requirements of the task?
How unique and creative is the approach to achieving the task?
How creative is the engineering design of the contraption?
Tips for Success – Pre-contest
Step 1 – Read the Handbook! Pay attention to the score sheets while planning your
contraption and contest day strategy.
Come up with a design and construction plan Set a schedule Complete all activities on-time and in-full
Dream, Build, Test and Revise – Think Repeatable Be patient, allow time to correct the flaws Be bold: change a step if it does not perform consistently Be creative and don’t get discouraged
Practice
Tips for Success – Contest Day
Anticipate what could happen Emergency supplies and consumables (your “triage kit”) Transportation issues
Show your hard work A polished verbal presentation “sells” your contraption Highlight key, unique and creative approaches and steps
Contraption Operation Have a checklist and use it to make sure everything is
right before starting each run. Check with the judges before touching the contraption. Relax and have Fun!
Contraption Demonstration
2009-10 Contest – Construct a Building
Contraption Demonstration
2012-13 Contest – Fill a Container and Close It
Questions?
Step Definition
A step is defined as an action that results in another action working towards the final goal
of the contraption.
For example, the act of tipping over a block of wood with a rolling ball is a step. The actual
tipping motion of the block is NOT a step, unless it causes another action to occur.
A series of the same actions repeated (such as dominoes knocking each other over or a ball hitting another ball) is considered to be one
step in the spirit of the Chain Reaction Contraption Contest.