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1 2016 Rules Revised 12/22/15

2016 RULES Please note: Clarifications and additions to the rules may be made due to lessons learned at test trials. Teams will be notified about changes by email, and changes will be noted and dated in this document posted on The Tech Challenge website. Teams are encouraged to monitor the website for changes. This website also includes answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs), which are updated periodically.

Spirit of the Challenge The Tech Challenge emphasizes the importance of developing engineering solutions that would be practical in real life, otherwise known as The Spirit of the Challenge. Judges will be looking for compliance with this idea and will ask teams questions like, “How would your design work in real life?” They will also look to a team’s Engineering Journal for evidence of scalability and real-world application of the team’s solution. UPDATE, Dec. 22, 2015: Store-bought solutions are not in The Spirit of the Challenge. Teams are encouraged to design and build glider(s) and launcher using their own ideas, creativity and materials. Use of existing plans for reference and inspiration is allowed. All plans, and the source of those plans, must be documented in the Engineering Journal. UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: For more details click here and select Spirit of the Challenge.

Scenario This year, you tell the story! What is your glider carrying? Where is it going? Why? A new award will be given in 2016: Top Tech Challenge Story. If you’d like to be considered for this award, submit your story to challenge@thetech.org by Friday, April 8, 2016. Story length must be no more than one page. Please include team number and grade level and put a copy of your story in your Engineering Journal.

The Challenge Build a glider to deliver a payload to a remote location! Explore the concept of flight by building a launcher and up to three gliders that transport payload to a particular target. The payload is a specified number of table tennis (ping pong) balls. A conceptual diagram of the rig/course is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Course Diagram !

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2 2016 Rules Revised 12/22/15

Specifications Glider Specifications

a. Teams can build and use up to three gliders.

b. Maximum weight limit of each glider is one (1) pound (.45kg) including table tennis ball payload.

c. UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: For safety, the nose of the glider must not be sharp or pointed, and it must be unable to fit inside a tube lip balm cap such as ChapStick or Blistex. See Figure 2.

d. UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: Thrust to propel the glider can only be provided by the launcher. Any stored energy on your glider must be for control surfaces only, or initiating an event.

e. While Radio Control (RC) is allowed, The Tech cannot guarantee the competition area is free of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).

f. All gliders must be clearly marked with the team number. Payload Specifications

!" Teams may use up to 18 table tennis balls to meet the challenge. Balls do not have to be evenly distributed among all three gliders.

#" UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: The total minimum number of table tennis balls required on target to meet the challenge by grade is listed in Table 1.

Item Grades

4-6 Grades

7-8 Grades

9–12 Minimum payload (table tennis balls) delivered to target to achieve challenge

2 4 6

Table 1. Minimum payload required to meet the challenge. $" Table tennis (ping pong) balls come in three ratings: International Table Tennis Federation

(ITTF) 1 star, 2 stars, and 3 stars. Any of these official star-rated balls are acceptable. (Hint: 1 star is less expensive.) Balls must be marked with the star rating or must indicate ITTF approval. “Pong” or similar balls are not acceptable.

Figure 2. Nose Restriction

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%" While table tennis balls are carried in/on the glider, balls cannot be modified in any way. This includes crushing, cutting, drilling, etc.

&" Gluing or taping balls to the glider or each other is acceptable as long as teams can show the judges that balls have not been modified and the ITTF marking is visible.

Launcher Specifications

a. The Tech will provide a platform on which teams must mount their launcher. Platform will have a 3 x 5 foot top and will be 20.5 inches tall (0.9m x 1.5m top x 0.5m tall).

b. Launcher cannot be longer than 3 foot by 6 foot (0.9m to 1.8m).

c. Launcher cannot extend beyond the front of the platform top provided by The Tech.

d. A trigger mechanism must be built into the launcher and used during testing, trials and Event Day.

e. Human power can only be used to load and ready the launcher.

f. Launcher must be clearly marked with the team number.

g. Adjustments of the launcher are allowed between attempts.

h. Glider may not be launched from higher than 16 inches (0.4m) above the platform top provided by The Tech.

i. Launch angle of the glider can be no greater than zero degrees from the platform top. See Figure 3. This rule requires a solution that demonstrates lift and thus prohibits a ballistic solution.

j. UPDATE, Dec. 22, 2015: Due to potential impact to other lanes, use of fans for thrust or control is prohibited.

Figure 3. Launch Angle!

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Course Specifications

a. For a diagram of the test course and complete course specifications, click here and select Test Rig.

b. A 42 inch (1.1m) obstacle (mountain range) is located within the flight path, approximately 6 feet (1.8m) away from launch area.

c. A 6 foot (1.8m) high x 10 inch (25cm) diameter pylon representing a storm cell will be located halfway between the launch area and the center of the target.

d. The primary target area is a 35.75 inch (0.9m) diameter carpeted round platform, 4 inches (10cm) off the floor and centered 26 feet (7.9m) from the launch area.

e. The secondary target area is a 6 x 6 foot (1.8 x 1.8m) carpeted raised area surrounding the primary target, 2 inches (5cm) off the floor.

f. The tertiary target area is a 7 x 8 foot (2.1 x 2.4m) ground level banner surrounding the secondary target area.

g. Maximum flight path height should not exceed 20 feet (6.1m). This height should avoid lights, curtains, cameras or anything else mounted on ceiling beams. No “do-overs” will be allowed for gliders that contact such features.

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5 2016 Rules Revised 12/22/15

Device Performance Rules

A team’s time at the test rig will be in two parts: Setup Period and Performance Period.

Safety note: Please make sure launcher is not in ready position (i.e. under tension or compression) or loaded prior to Setup Period. Setup Period

a. Each team is allowed up to 2 minutes to set up its launcher on the platform, aim the launcher and load the launcher.

b. During setup, team members will have direct access to the test rig (platform) from 3 sides.

c. At no time will team members be allowed to access the platform in front of the launcher, i.e. between the launcher and the target.

d. Team members are not allowed to climb or sit on the platform.

e. Team members may clamp the launcher to the platform top using team-provided clamps. Clamps must not damage the platform. It is the team’s responsibility to make sure the launcher is secure.

Performance Period

a. Each team will be given a 2-minute period to meet the challenge.

b. During launching of gliders, team members must remain inside the marked safety zone.

c. If electronic devices are used, The Tech cannot guarantee proper performance due to possible interference from other electronic devices.

d. Recovery of gliders or payload is not allowed during device performance. Staff appointed by The Tech will retrieve gliders after the performance period and return them to the team.

e. UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: Teams may not damage the launch platform or target areas in any way.

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Success Criteria a. Gliders must demonstrate lift by flying over the mountain range.

b. Gliders must deliver a minimum payload to the target area.

1. More payload delivered (up to a maximum of 18 table tennis balls) will earn a higher score.

2. Payload delivered will be scored based on the target area, i.e. primary, secondary or tertiary target.

3. UPDATE, Dec. 7, 2015: Payload must remain on target at the end of the performance period.

Safety Safety is a high priority during all phases of The Tech Challenge.

a. Teams will be judged on safe design and implementation.

b. The judges have full authority to stop any activity they view as unsafe. The judges’ word is final.

c. Each team will identify a team safety officer who will look out for safety from design through implementation.

d. Teams must provide their own ANSI-approved eye protection (i.e. glasses, goggles, masks) and wear eye protection at all times when in designated areas around test rigs or when constructing/testing their launcher and gliders.

Teams will not be allowed to participate at test trials or the Event Day unless all members of the team have the required eye protection.

Please note: regular eyeglasses do not provide the necessary level of eye protection and are not an acceptable substitute for ANSI-approved eye protection.

e. Teams may not use flammable liquids, flammable gases or unsealed lead/acid batteries.

f. Teams may not use pressurized gases greater than 5 psi.

g. No pressurized tanks/cylinders are allowed.

h. The use of AC power is not permitted at either the test trials or at Event Days.

i. At no time will team members be allowed to access the platform in front of the launcher, i.e. between the launcher and the target.

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Engineering Journal a. In The Tech Challenge, how teams develop a solution is as important as the solution

itself. The Engineering Journal is a record of this process and is included in the judgement of team success. The journal must be an organized, detailed notebook or binder.

b. On Event Day, teams must submit one Engineering Journal.

c. The Engineering Journal should be started at the beginning of the team’s involvement in the program. Organized records should be kept of all team activities. The team’s journal is a living document. More information on Engineering Journal requirements can be found in the Team Guide.

d. Display boards (like those used for science fairs) and/or digital presentations are not a substitute for an Engineering Journal. However these can be a useful part of a team’s presentation to the judges.

e. Journals may be typed or handwritten. Legibility and organization are important.

Adviser a. All teams must have an adult adviser. Team solutions must be designed, built and

tested by team members.

b. The adviser role is to guide, facilitate, and mentor.

c. The adviser may not be a Tech Challenge judge.

d. An adviser may work with more than one team. However, it is important that advisers ensure that each team receives the necessary level of attention.

e. Click here for the Adviser Guide.

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Summary of Key Numbers and Dimensions Important: See detailed rules above for specific information on each area.

Item Numbers/Dimensions

Number of gliders allowed 3

Maximum weight of each glider including payload 1 pound

Minimum payload (table tennis balls) delivered to target to achieve challenge

Grades 4-6

Grades 7-8

Grades 9-12

2 4 6

Maximum allowed table tennis balls for entire challenge

18

Launch angle maximum 0 degrees

Maximum launcher size 3 x 6 feet

Maximum launcher release height above platform provided by The Tech

16 inches

Distance from platform to center of primary target 26 feet

Obstacle (mountain range) height; located approximately 6 feet from launch area

42 inches

Pylon (storm cell) size; located approximately 13 feet from launch area

6 feet tall by 10 inches in diameter

Maximum flight path height 20 feet

Primary target size 35.75 inches diameter

Secondary target size 6 x 6 feet

Tertiary target size 7 x 8 feet