Duke University 1991 A.S.M.E. Regional Student Conference Design Contest

Objective:

The object of this competition is to design and build a small cart that can propel itself down a flat and level race track in competition with another cart. The cart must be powered by the potential energy created from earth's gravity only. No other obvious forms of storing energy will be allowed such as rubber bands, springs, etc.

Design Requirements:

• Restricted dimensions: The entire entry must be able to fit in a box of dimensions 0.7 meters long x 0.3 meters wide x 2.0 meters high.
• Restricted mass: The entry must be less than or equal to 3.00 Kg.
• The restricted dimensions above need not be maintained after the start of the race but the mass must be the same at all times.
• Only the potential energy. created from the acceleration due to gravity may be used to propel the cart or any part of the can.
• The cart must be able to be reloaded for multiple races.

General Requirements:

• Only 1 design from each university will be allowed to compete.
• Each entry will be allowed two practice runs before the contest. This will allow for adjustments to be made to the entries.
• The cart must attempt to travel a total of 2 meters down the race track as described below.
• All parts of the original cart from the start of the race must cross the finish line. No pieces can be left behind at the starting line or on the track.
• No human input (i.e. remote controls, etc.) may be used to control or power the cart after it has left the starting line. Once it has left it is on its own.
  
  

The race track is inside and will be run down the 1st floor hall of Old Red Engineering building near the lobby. The dimensions and locations of obstacles are shown above. The floor is covered in a smooth linoleum. The start and finish lines will be marked with tape.

The Race:

The competition will be held in a classic round robin format. Each design entry will be raced against every other entry, one at a time. Points will be accumulated from each race and the two highest scoring entries will race in a single final run to determine the grand winner at the end of the round robin competition.

Racing Rules:

• Both carts will start at the same time.
• Carts must be prepared to run on either side (left or right) of the track. Each entry will run down each side at least once.
• The order of competition and side or track will be determined by Duke judges.
• Each entry can be placed anywhere in its starting area behind the starting line.
• At the start of the race, weights or other parts of the cart may be displaced by the operator and held until the start of the race. On the signal of the Duke starter, the operators must discontinue any contact with their entry. No pushing of the cart allowed. Remember: only the potential energy created by the acceleration due to earth's gravity can be used to power the cart down the track.
• Contact with walls, other obstacles, and the opponent is permitted as long as it is not destructive contact. if the judges determine before or during the competition that an entry could be harmful to another entry, that entry will be disqualified from that one race.
• The winner of each race will be the entry which crosses the finish line first. if however neither entry of a particular race crosses the finish line, then the entry that traveled the farthest will win the point.
• Any questionable races may be rerun at the discretion of the judges.

Points:

The winner of each individual race will be awarded a single point based on who crosses the finish line first or if neither crosses the line, the one which traveled the farthest.

No points will be awarded if neither entry meets all of the requirements.

The points from each race will be accumulated during the round robin competition and the two highest scoring entries will compete in a final race to determine the grand winner

In the case of a three or more way tie, the cumulative scores of the winning entries will be set back to zero and they will race in a round robin competition again. Then the two highest scores from the run-offs will race in a final race.

Any questions, call Bill Beasley at (919) 493-6321 (nights only).