(1981)

Objective

To design, fabricate, and enter into competition a trolley vehicle powered by one or more rotating flywheels. The dynamic competition will determine the best design through its performance on a taut wire test apparatus. Following each heat, the slope of the wire will be consecutively increased 10 degrees until a winner is determined. The vehicle with the greatest collective distance traveled will win. The vehicles will also be judged in a static competition to evaluate the one vehicle with the most innovative design.

Order of Competition

Pre-competition Examinations

Vehicle Registration

General Inspection

Vehicle Design

Starting Line

Competition

Dynamic Competition

Static Competition

Registration

1. Each entry must have completed registration and a general examination prior to 1:00 am. The judges will inspect vehicles beginning at 8:30 am.
2. Each registered vehicle will be issued a starting number which will determine the order of dynamic competition.
3. This starting number must be placed on the vehicle with a permanent marker. At least one visible spot on the vehicle (on a pulley, gear or wheel) should be provided for this  purpose.
4. General Examination
5. Starting Line Examination
6. A reference point for measuring distance will be determined on each vehicle by the judges.

Only Student Members of ASME are eligible to participate

Vehicle Design

1. The trolley "Vehicle System (VS)" is defined as a vehicle powered only from energy stored in one or more flywheels.
2. The complete vehicle system must travel as a single fixed unit; that is the vehicle's reference point is ineligible to move relative to the vehicle.
3. The VS must fit inside a cube whose dimensions are 1 ft. x 1 ft. x 1 ft. throughout the competition. It may not be expanded or extended in any manner beyond these dimensions.
4. The maximum weight of the vehicle cannot exceed 3/4 of a pound.
5. The VS must be capable of traveling on a size 13-1/2 music wire (decimal diameter .032 inches (may be purchased from piano stores). The taut wire will be initially in the horizontal (level) position and its slope will be increased by 10 degrees per trial heat to  a maximum of 90 degrees vertically upward.
6. The VS mounting on the taut wire has been simplified via a quick disconnect eye (about the size of a nickel) located at the staring end of the wire. This eye may be fed through the VS if need be. The wire eye will be reconnected to a toggle mechanism and be made taut. The eye will not be removed for any contestant.
7. The only energy conveyed to the VS must be by a human hand pulling a "line" that spins a shaft (or spool, reel, etc.) through the unwinding of the line. This line must spool off the shaft completely with the first pull. This or any other line may not be used to convey any additional energy to the VS once it has been initially spooled off.
8. Before the energy is conveyed to the VS, there should not be any usable energy stored in the VS in any form. For example: eights may not be used as a potential energy source. The VS can only utilize energy that has been immediately stored in the flywheel(s).
9. The VS must be hand (human) held and hand pulled to store energy in the unit. This must be done by one person.
10. The starting system shall consist of one line with a wound length no longer than 25 inches stretched. A handle or ring may be used for hand support.
11. The starting line may be marked in advance. 
12. A judge will stretch the starting line to verify its length. If a judge must mark the line, it will be done with an el Marko Permanent Marker by Flair. IF the line will not accept the marker ink properly the line cannot be used.
13. Any vehicle clearly defined by the rules herein will qualify for competition.
14. All decisions of the judges are final.

Dynamic Design Competition

1. The competition will begin at 10:15 am, at which time the first entry will be secured to the horizontal wire. Once this has been done, the time judge will start a timer.
2. The contestant will be allocated a maximum of one minute of time to convey energy and assist the vehicle as needed.
3. At some time during this one minute interval the vehicle must be released to travel under its own stored power.
4. Once the vehicle has moved past the first mark on the aut line, it cannot be aided in any manner whatsoever.
5. The VS may be released and aided until it reaches the first mark on the wire but cannot be pushed. If the VS is aided after passing the first mark, it will be disqualified as a contestant.
6. If the vehicle is unable to cross the first mark by the one minute time limit, this also is a cause for disqualification.
   • Note: It is recommended that the starting line be prewound and all possible adjustments be made prior to mounting the vehicle on the wire.
7. If the vehicle crosses he second mark on the wire, which will be placed 15 feet from the first, it is declared in-the-running and will have successfully completed the first heat.
8. If the vehicle stops (or stalls on the wire for a 10 second period), its point of reference will be measured from the first mark and be recorded.
9. All vehicles that do not travel the 15 ft. distance will be out-of-the-running.
10. Those vehicles that are in-the-running will progress to the next heat.
11. The second heat will have an upward slope of 10 degrees and each heat thereafter will be increased by 10 degrees to a maximum of 90 degrees (verticle).
12. The first, second, and third place winners will be determined in the following manner:
    • Each vehicle that completes a heat will gain 15 ft.
    • If a vehicle does not complete 15 ft, then the distance that is completed will be measured (see rule #8) and added to the vehicle's total distance.
    • The vehicles with the greatest distance traveled, second greatest and third greatest will be award first, second and third places, respectively.
    • Vehicles tied for one of the first three places will have a runoff between those vehicles.
    • If more than one vehicle completes the full 15 ft vertically in the last heat, all vehicles in this last heat will be timed to determine the winner.
      • Note: Any judge has the authority to disqualify any vehicle entrant who, in the opinion of the judge, takes undue time either in entering or in leaving the test apparatus.

Static Design Competition