Design
build and test a self propelled earthmoving machine
which has to move
plaster sand between two points across a flat horizontal surface three
meters apart.
TECHNOLOGY Olympiad Challenge 2008
We
are living in exciting and challenging times in South Africa with
infrastructure development happening at a number of venues nationally.
Some
of the most challenging components for infrastructure development is to
deliver a completed project on-time and within budget.
Earthmoving
equipment is a common element at all construction and mining sites. These
machines normally have to move large quantities of earth to achieve the
correct ground levels for the development of the building project.
The
2008 challenge:
Design
build and test a self propelled earthmoving machine which has to move
plaster sand between two points across a flat horizontal surface three
meters apart.
Criteria
of the machine:
·
The
machine shall transport the sand one load at a time across the three meter
distance using only one bucket made from a standard 330ml soft drink can
(e.g. coca cola® can).
·
The
cycle of loading, transporting and unloading must be repeated until the
supply of sand or time is depleted.
·
Sand
will be supplied in one 10 litre bucket pile which will be emptied onto a
flat horizontal surface. This
load will be the start of the 3m distance.
·
The
self propelled earthmoving machine will have to “scoop” a load of
sand, traverse the required distance and then dump the load into a 2 litre
ice cream container on the floor. This
container will not be fixed to the flat horizontal surface and will be
placed 3m from the edge of the sand
·
The
machine shall traverse a minimum of 2m between the supply point and the
discharge point.
·
The
machine will start every cycle from the specified starting point (as per
the diagram below).
Performance
Specification:
·
The
machine shall transverse the distance with it’s load under it’s own
power and discharge it’s load.
·
Once
the load is discharged a team member can re-position the machine at the
starting point by hand for a repeat cycle.
·
The
energy source can be recharged during the challenge but only if the
machine is in a static position.
·
The
machine must use pneumatics (air) and/or hydraulics (water) as it’s
energy source to traverse the flat horizontal surface.
·
The
machine must be operated from a control point on the machine by a team
member.
·
No
electricity, chemicals or chemical reactions may be used as a power
source.
·
All
controls must be part of the machine and not externally located with a
flexible or other connection.
·
The
controls will control the loading and discharging of the bucket and the
traversing across the flat surface.
·
Only
hand held bicycle pumps will be allowed to pressurize the 2 litre soft
drink plastic bottles to a safe working pressure.
Bottles to be charged during the allocated time.
·
Repairs
to the machine are allowed during the allotted demonstration time period.
·
If
hydraulics is used, a closed system must be implemented.
No water may be spilled onto the floor.
·
Teams
will be allowed 2 bottles only, one on the vehicle and one spare.
·
The
assembled, ready to operate machine must fit into a closed box for A3
paper. (420mm X 295mm x 270mm)
·
The
cost of the machine shall not exceed R150.
A detailed cost breakdown must be included in the contents of the
compulsory project portfolio.
·
The
objective is to move as much of the sand heap as safely and accurately as
possible in 10 minutes.
Construction
Materials:
- Allowable
materials:
- Commercially
available wire – (no thicker than 4 mm diameter);
- Tin
or aluminium cans;
- Two
2-litre plastic soft-drink bottle - pressurized. (not mineral water
bottles)
- Plastic
tubing;
- Syringes
without needles;
- String
and/or rope
- Wood;
- Nails,
screws, nuts ,bolts and washers;
- Elastic
bands;
- Glue;
- Soft
solder;
- Valve
for pumping the bottle
- Hand held bicycle pump (not part of the R150 cost)
•
Materials
and items not allowed:
–
Any
and all materials not specified;
–
Any
pre-fabricated components other than those manufactured by the team from
the materials specified in 1; and
–
No
machined components, not even ones machined from the allowed materials of
construction
Rules:
- Each
team shall consist of at least 2 people, but not more than 3 people
- Each team will be allocated 15 minutes for testing (5 minutes set up, 10 minutes for testing). Size measuring will be done beforehand. Teams only have one time slot allocated to them within which to compete.
Safety:
The teams are advised that the soft-drink bottle may not be punctured on
the sides of the bottle. Any
holes must only be made at the bottom of the bottle and/or on the
screw-top lid. Any bottle
with a hole or holes in the side of the bottle will not be allowed at the
Regional or National Competition of the Technology Olympiad.
Judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.