Mission Possible – 2012-13 B
CeAnn Chalker [email protected]
Disclaimer
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.
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What is Mission Possible?
Students design, build, test &
document a Rube Goldberg-like device
Device made of a sequence/series of consecutive tasks
Device must run autonomously
Specific Start and End Task
General Tips
ALWAYS go for reliability over “cool factor”
Make every task 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
Safety Requirements/Inspection
Students must wear at least safety spectacles with side shields
Items not allowed
Computers or digital circuitry
Remote controls or Remote timing
Hazardous items
Other Potential Hazards not Allowed
Rat traps
Model rocket engines
Fireworks, explosives, lighters
Flammable substances, matches, candles
Uncontrolled projectiles
Any other hazardous materials
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Allowed Items
Simple electric DC 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, and circuits, not motors)
Parameters
Max. Size of Device (60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm)
Top & at least one vertical wall must be open or transparent
Task Sequence List (TSL)
Ten Scoreable Tasks plus the “Special Task” required to earn maximum
points (may have fewer tasks in device)
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Tasks
Receive points only if successful
Listed on the Task Sequence List (TSL)
All Tasks must contribute to the completion of the Final Task
Must contribute to only one scoreable task
No parallel sequence of Tasks allowed
Other Details
Tasks between the Start Task and Final Task may be in any order.
Additional devices, tasks, and energy sources may be built into the device between the listed tasks but will not earn points.
Additional tasks must contribute to the completion of the final task.
Additional non scoreable tasks must be listed on the Task Sequence List (TSL)
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Start Task – Task A – 100 pts.
Coin Drop - Device must be started by:
Dropping any student provided coin into the device from above the entire device
The first action caused by the coin must not be a scorable task
The coin begins a chain of events/tasks leading to the Final Task
100 points
10 Other Tasks
Choose up to 8 to be
scored between Tasks b – k
May be in any order in the sequence
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Task b
Plastic Egg- Open a plastic egg so the contents fall out and cause the next action
20 points
Task c
Air - Use a volume of air to push an object at least 10 cm, the new
position of the object must cause the next action.
20 points
Could use fan or syringe
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Task d
Screw - Turn a screw that moves on
object at least 2 cm parallel to the screw’s axis before causing the next action.
20 points
A very good option for a timer
Threaded rod, wing nut (or tapped block), motor
http://youtu.be/ZPekr8j_ItE
Task e
Spring - Release the energy stored in a spring (not a mousetrap) to cause the next action
20 points
Bow trigger/quick release useful here
Springs from a pen could be used
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Task f
Pulley - Use a pulley system with an IMA greater than 2 to lift an object at least 5 cm before the object triggers the next action
30 points
Task g
Levers - Combine 2 levers of
different class into a system with an IMA greater than 5 to lift an object so that the object triggers the next action
30 points
Great place to use paint stirrers and nails as fulcrums
Lots of variation possible
http://youtu.be/yDrdPYjyvQw
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Task h
Rack & Pinion - Use a rack and pinion gear system to move an object at least 5 cm before the object causes the next
action
30 points
Legos or zip toys useful
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2Gz1LatQyY http://youtu.be/e-XUph_npL0
Task i
Third Class Lever - Lift an object with a third class lever at least 15 cm above
where it starts.
Lever must not be in contact with the object at beginning or end of the task.
Final placement of the object must cause the next action
40 points
Example -Mousetrap w/ an extension
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Task j
Lift & Pour Material - Move and pour granular material from one container to another container which is higher in the device.
The presence of granular material in the receiving container must cause the next action.
50 points
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e292lkfFTD8
Task k
Gear System - Use a gear system not
powered by electricity made of at least 3 homemade, non-commercially constructed gears.
The final gear must turn at least 360° and the turning of the final axle initiates the next action
50 points
http://woodgears.ca/gear/howto.html
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Final Task – Task M – 200 pts.
Elevator - Raise a platform
with a figurine higher than the device
All 8 conditions must be met to receive the full 200 points
No partial points are award
Final Task – 8 Conditions (1-4)
1. Figurine must be at least 10 cm tall
2. Figurine must be free standing on the platform when the device is started (must not be held or attached)
3. Figurine starts by standing on 2 distinct separate legs
4. Figurine must stay in contact w/top of platform
X
24Final Task – 8 Conditions (5-8)
5. Platform must be a flat plane and horizontal
6. Figurine is only thing allowed on the platform 7. Entire figurine must be
raised by the platform
8. Only figurine may be higher than the top surface of the platform once it exits the device.
Final Task - Bonus
remains in it’s
original free-standing
upright position
on the platform
during the run and after the platform
comes to a complete stop
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Yes, 50 bonus pts. No bonus pts.
50 additional points if the figurine:
Special Task l
Pull a mass up a ramp at least 10 cm vertical
Maximum angle of the ramp is 45° from horizontal
20 points for completion
Bonus -
1 point for every 50 g lifted (max 100 pts) (5 kg)
1 point for every whole vertical cm mass is raised
Suggestion -Use counterweights and pulleys!
Task Sequence List - TSL
What is listed?
All tasks in operation sequence
Follow Specific Format on NSO website
Tasks intended to earn points must be sequentially numbered and identified by letter in both the TSL and the device.
Must be Accurate
Submitted at Impound
Coaching hint - Have several copies of TSL
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Sample TSL
No. Letter Task Points
1 A Coin dropped in device, flopping switch 100 2 L Switch turns on motor, pulling 400g mass up
27cm ramp. 55(20+8+27)
Mass triggers pendulum, swinging across device to hit trigger
3 E Trigger releases spring 20
Spring pulls string
…and so on
12 M Platform lifts figurine 65 cm, figurine still 315(200+65+50)
Sequential vs.
Parallel & Dead End Paths
Seemingly simultaneous tasks are frequently not parallel tasks.
There is no minimum amount of time that must separate tasks.
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Sequential vs.
Parallel & Dead End Paths
Parallel tasks are not measured in a
chronologic manner but in a causality manner. That is to say, if one task causes the next task, then they are not parallel.
Parallel tasks have no direct relationship to one another and if one of the two
tasks fails, the overall sequence of events can still continue or lead to a
“dead-end” path.
Parallel Paths Examples
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 15 cm and continues the chain of events.
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Tournament Day
Impound
Set up
Only 30 mins. Before you plan or are scheduled to run device
Be able to explain device to judges
Go through TSL
Run Device
Remove from testing location
Device Operation - Timing
Timing begins when Student releases a coin into the device
Timing stops when:
When Final Task is complete (platform comes to a complete stop)
3 minutes have elapsed (180 seconds)
Tasks completed after 3 minutes will not be scored
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Device Operation – Ideal Operation Time
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
Scoring – General Points
2 pts - each full second of operation up to the “ideal” time.
100 pts – Start Task
200 pts - Final Task completed in 3 mins.
50 pts – no more that 30 min. setup
20, 30, 40 or 50 pts - each additional task – up to 8 tasks
10 pts - self measurement of each task requiring movement of a distance or an IMA (only once per task) Max. 80 pts.
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Scoring – TSL Points
25 pts – TSL submitted at Impound
25 pts – TSL correct format
25 pts – TSL & device labels correspond
25 pts – TSL 100% accurate
documentation of device operations
Scoring – Special Task
20 pts – Completion
1 point per 50 grams of mass lifted in Special Task -max 100 pts. (5 kg)
1 point for every whole vertical cm the mass is raised in Special Task
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Scoring – Final Task Bonus
1 pt - every whole cm the top of the platform is lifted from it’s
original horizontal position. Max 150 pts.
(Note – points awardedeven if the platform does not leave the device.)
50 pts - if the figurine remains in
its original free-standing, upright
position
Device Operation – Penalties
-1 pt – each full second device
operates beyond the ideal time until Final Task completion or the 180.0 s time limit
-
15 pts - for each time the device is touched, adjusted, or restarted.
-50 pts - for anything that leaves the device boundary (except Final Task)
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Points not Awarded
Points will not be awarded for task completion when touches or adjustments lead directly
to the task completion
Points will not be awarded for task completion after time as elapsed
Stalling can lead to DQ
Tiers
Teams are ranked by the highest score within each Tier
Tier 1 – Devices without violations
Tier 2 – Devices with construction
violations, parallel designs, or “dead end” paths
Tier 3 – Devices impounded after the deadline
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Things to Consider
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
Costs & Time Commitment
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?
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Resources
Soinc.org
Scioly.org (student forums, lots of pictures of past devices for ideas, decent wiki)
Yahoo coaches’ group