Mission Possible - C

1. Mission Possible - C SOSI - 2013 CeAnn Chalker ceann@chalker.org

2. This presentation was prepared using draft rules. There may be some changes in the final copy of the rules. The rules which will be in the published Rules Manual will be the official rules. Disclaimer

3. Students design, build, test & document a Rube Goldberg-like device • Device made of a sequence/series of consecutive Energy Transfers contributing to an Final Task • Device must run autonomously • Specific Start and Final Task What is Mission Possible?

4. ALWAYS go for reliability over “cool factor” • Make every transfer run as quickly as possible • 2010 national champions completed every task in ~0.75s • Make a highly reliable, consistent timer • Use as high-quality materials as you can afford General Tips

5. Students must wear at least safety spectacles with side shields • Items not allowed • Remote controls or Remote timing • Hazardous items Safety Requirements/Inspection

6. Hazardous Liquids • Rat traps • Lead Objects (new!) • Uncontrolled projectiles • Any other hazardous materials Other Potential HazardsNot Allowed

7. Up to 3 motors • Factory sealed batteries • No more than 10.0 volts per any single electrical circuit (no lead-acid batteries) • Energy devices may be set/activated prior to starting the device (flashlights, mousetraps, candles, and circuits, not motors) Allowed Items

8. No Computers • No Integrated Circuits • No electric components for timing the operation of the device • No adjusting a transfer that utilizes electricity in any way intending to accomplish the ideal time (New!) Not Allowed

9. Max. Size of Device (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm) • Note – Points for smaller devices this year! • Top & at least one vertical wall must be open or transparent • Energy Transfer List (ETL) Parameters

10. Receive points only if successful • Listed on the Energy Transfer List (ETL) • Must contribute to only one scoreable transfer • Each transfer must contribute to the completion of the Final Task • Exceptions • The use of switches to turn off previously used motors • Transfers for the Bonus Task Energy Transfers

11. No parallel sequences of transfers allowed • Exceptions • The use of switches to turn off previously used motors • Transfers for the Bonus Task • Bonus Task transfers are not to be listed on the ETL unless they lead to the completion of the Final Task Energy Transfers

12. Additional devices, transfers, and energy sources may be built into the device between the listed transfers but will not earn points. • Additional transfers must contribute to the completion of the final task. • Additional non scoreable tasks must be listed on the Energy Transfer List (ETL) Other Details

13. All sources of energy & actions MUST be contained within the Imaginary box at all TIMES • Teams must be prepared for non-ideal ambient conditions Constraints

14. In a 1 pint container randomize by shaking unaltered items in a mixture of up to: • 10 golf tees (4-10 cm long) • 10 #1 metal paperclips • 10 non-metallic 1-2 cm diameter marbles • Quickly pour the mixture into the device • From above the entire device, so that the mixture falls into the device • Triggers the first action • Which begins the chain of events Start Task – 100 pts.

15. Switch on a light to signal the end of the action • It must be clearly visible to the judges Final Task – 250 pts.

16. Sort the mixture of golf tees, paperclips, and marbles into three different one-pint plastic containers similar to the original container. • Each container must be labeled, by material, to score points. • Sorting does not have to lead to the Final Task • Must be completed before the Final Task to score points. Bonus Task

17. To receive points An Energy Transfer: • Must directly transfer from one Basic Energy Form to a different Basic Energy Form • Must be successful • Must be on the Energy Transfer List (ETL) • Must contribute toward the completion of the Final Task Energy Transfers

18. Each type of Energy Transfer can score points up to 3 times • Each transfer must be to a different Energy Form • Example – • Electrical to Mechanical 30 pts. • Electrical to Thermal 20 pts. • Electrical to Chemical 10 pts. Energy Transfers cont’d

19. Electrical • Mechanical • Thermal • Chemical • Electromagnetic Spectrum • Radio, Infrared, and Visible Light only Five Basic Energy Forms

20. Motors • Batteries • Electricity through wires Electrical

21. Closing a Mechanical Switch • Using a lever to move an object • Tilt a beaker so as to allow a powder to mix with a liquid Mechanical

22. Solder 2 metals together • Melt a fishing line • Burn a magnesium ribbon Thermal

23. Mix salt & water to conduct electricity • Mix vinegar and baking soda in a balloon to move a lever • Bend glow stick to activate the glowing Chemical

24. Use a photodiode or photoresistor • Use a laser pointer to pop a balloon • Send light through a string to melt a piece of chocolate Electromagnetic Spectrum

25. What is listed? • All energy transfers in operation sequence • Follow Specific Format on NSO website • (not the example in this presentation) • Transfers intended to earn points must be sequentially numbered and identified by letter in both the ETL and the device. • Must be Accurate • Submitted at Impound (or prior if required) • Coaching hint - Have several copies of ETL Energy Transfer List -ETL

26. Sample ETL

27. Seemingly simultaneous transfers are frequently not parallel transfers. • There is no minimum amount of time that must separate transfers. Sequential vs. Parallel & Dead End Paths

28. Parallel transfers are not measured in a chronologic manner but in a causality manner. That is to say, if one transfer causes the next transfer, then they are not parallel. • Parallel transfers have no direct relationship to one another and if one of the two transfers fail, the overall sequence of events can still continue or lead to a “dead-end” path. Sequential vs. Parallel & Dead End Paths

29. Example #1 Parallel Task: Two different levers hit a single switch and only one or the other is required to activate the switch. • Example #2 Tasks that may appear to be parallel or simultaneous tasks but are not parallel or simultaneous tasks: A latch releases a spring attached to a third class lever. The spring pushes the lever, which then moves an object and continues the chain of events. Parallel Paths Examples

30. Impound • Set up • Only 30 mins. before you are scheduled to run device • Be able to explain device to judges • Go through ETL • Run Device • Remove from testing location Tournament Day

31. Timing beginswhen Student pours the last of the objects in the mixture of paper clips, golf tees, and marbles into the device. • Timing stopswhen: • When Final Task is complete (The light designated for the Final Task turns on) • 3 minutes have elapsed (180 seconds) • Tasks completed after 3 minutes will not be scored Device Operation-Timing

32. The Ideal Operation Times for State & Nationals will be announced after impound • Regional – 60 seconds • State – from 60 – 90 seconds • Nationals – from 90 – 120 seconds Device Operation – Ideal Operation Time

33. Adjusting the timing for the ideal time MUST NOT involve any Electricity • Event Supervisors will observe the adjustment of the device for timing to ensure that electricity is not being used to obtain the ideal time State & Nationals Timing Adjustments

34. 2 pts - each full second of operation up to the “ideal” time. • 100 pts – Start Task • 250 pts - Final Task completed in 3 mins. • 50 pts – no more that 30 min. setup • .1 pt for each .1 cm that the dimensions of the device are under 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm x 60.0 cm Scoring –General Points

35. 25 pts – ETL submitted at Impound • 25 pts – ETL correct format • 25 pts – ETL & device labels correspond • 25 pts – ETL 100% accurate documentation of device operations Scoring – ETL Points

36. 30 pts – First time each Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to a different Basic Energy Form • 20 pts – Second time a Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to different Basic Energy Form than previously scored • 10 pts – Third time a Basic Energy Form directly transfers energy to a different Basic Energy Form than previously scored • All Scoreable transfers MUST be successful • All Scoreable transfers MUST contribute to the Final Task Scoring – Energy Transfers max 300 pts.

37. 5 pts awarded for each object successfully sorted in its correct final container. • Max of 150 pts. Scoring – Bonus Task

38. -1 pt – each full second device operates beyond the ideal time until Final Task completion or the 180.0 s time limit • -5 pts for each original object sorted into a wrong final container • -15 pts - for each time the device is touched, adjusted, or restarted. • -50 pts - for anything that leaves the device boundary (excluding light, smoke, odors, radio waves, etc. that do not pose a hazard) Device Operation – Penalties

39. Points will not be awarded for transfer completion when touches or adjustments lead directly to the transfer completion • If an action inadvertently stars a transfer out of sequence on the ETL, all transfers skipped must not earn points (even if they are completed) • Points will not be awarded for transfer completion after time as elapsed • Stalling can lead to DQ Points not Awarded

40. Teams are ranked by the highest score within each Tier • Tier 1 – Devices without violations • Tier 2 – Devices with construction violations • Tier 3 – Devices with parallel designs or “dead end” paths (other than Bonus) • Tier 3 – Devices impounded after the deadline Tiers

41. Ties are broken in this sequence • Fewest Penalty points • Closest to perfect for objects in the 3 final containers • Closest to ideal time Ties

42. Avoid questionable components • Device may not be timed or controlled by any remote method • Final Task – the team may not complete the task themselves • Obvious stalling will be a DQ Things to Consider

43. Look for Inexpensive available materials • Avoid the “Black Hole” phenomenon • Where does the money go? • Use a Long Term Project approach • Consider what’s best for your team – • In your classroom vs. in a student’s garage or basement • Parent involvement – • Can be a life saver or a headache. • Who’s project is this? Costs & Time Commitment

44. Soinc.org • Scioly.org (student forums, lots of pictures of past devices for ideas, decent wiki) • Yahoo coaches’ group • science-olympiad-coaches Resources

45. Matrix of Examples

46. Matrix of Examples