BATTERY BUGGY Mike Johnson

LAY PERSON’S EVENT DESCRIPTION: Teams will construct a battery-powered vehicle that: moves as fast as humanly possible, and… moves as straight as humanly possible, and… stops as precisely as humanly possible at one of a series of pre-determined distances BATTERY BUGGY

DESCRIPTION: Teams will construct a vehicle that uses electrical energy as its sole means of propulsion, quickly travels a specified distance, and stops as close as possible to the center of the finish line. TEAM SIZE: 1 or 2 students IMPOUNDMENT: Yes EVENT TIME: 10 minutes to start two runs 2010 BATTERY BUGGY

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE TRACK Starting Line 5.00 m m Regional Increments:50 cm State Increments:10 cm National Increments:1 cm Target Line

2010 BATTERY BUGGY CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS Students will design a vehicle to travel between 5 and 10 meters as quickly as possible and come to a complete stop without straying from the track’s center. The exact target distance (in 50.0 cm intervals for regional, 10.0 cm intervals for state, and 1.0 cm intervals for national tournaments) will be chosen by the Event Supervisor. The exact target distance will not be announced until all vehicles have been impounded on the day of the competition.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS Electrical energy used within the vehicle for any purpose must be stored in common, commercially available batteries labeled with their voltage by the manufacturer. The vehicle may use no more than 4 individual cells (labeled 1.5 volts or less each) or a single battery pack (labeled 4.8 volts or less) on the vehicle at one time. No more than 4 additional cells or one additional battery pack may be impounded for replacement purposes. Only energy stored in these batteries may be used to propel the vehicle.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS Only the vehicle batteries and/or additional non-electric energy storing devices may be used to operate other functions (e.g. braking system) provided these other functions do NOT help propel the vehicle in any way. All sources of energy shall be in a location as to be available for inspection by the Event Supervisor. Components may be purchased or made by the contestants (e.g. motors, gearboxes, bodies, and chassis). Electric components shall be limited to batteries, wires, motors, switches, resistors, capacitors, and mechanical relays.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS Sighting devices that do not use electricity are allowed and may be removed from the vehicle prior to a run. The vehicle’s wheel base must be between 24.0 cm and 28.0 cm. The vehicle’s track width may not exceed 19.0 cm. The vehicle must have a fixed, pointed object extending forward of all other parts of the vehicle including the wheels and to within 1 cm of the track's surface. No part of the vehicle, other than the wheels, may contact the floor or tape defining the track.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE VEHICLE Wheel Base 24.0 – 28.0 cm Track Width < 19.0 cm Fixed Point: Forward of all other parts < 1.0 cm above track surface ≤ Four ≤ 1.5V batteries -OR- One ≤ 4.8V battery pack Batteries < 1.0 cm Track Surface MOTOR

CONSTRUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS: This event will NOT be simple… START EARLY!!! The vehicle’s wheel base must be between 24.0 cm and 28.0 cm… design your wheel base to be about 26 cm. The vehicle’s maximum wheel width is ≤ 19.0 cm… design your wheel width to be less than 18 cm. The vehicle’s fixed, pointed object must extend down to within 1.0 cm of the track’s surface… design your fixed point to be about 0.75 cm above the track BATTERY BUGGY – THE VEHICLE

CONSTRUCTION RECOMMENDATIONS: Ensure fixed pointed object is obviously the most forward part of the vehicle. Battery drain is substantial; disposable batteries become expensive; consider rechargeable batteries. A design with adjustable steering is VERY desirable. Design Goal: Simple, robust, failsafe, precise, adjustable, and consistent. This event will NOT be simple… START EARLY!!! 2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE VEHICLE

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE COMPETITION Starting Line 5.00 m m

2010 BATTERY BUGGY COMPETITION PARAMETERS The vehicle, batteries, and other interchangeable parts must be impounded before the start of the competition. Power tools requiring an electrical outlet will not be allowed. Only contestants, the Event Supervisor, and judges are allowed in the impound and the competition areas while teams are competing. Teams will be given an Event Time of l0 minutes to perform the following actions and start up to 2 runs. If the second run has started before the l0 minute period has elapsed, it will be allowed to run to completion.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY COMPETITION PARAMETERS Time used by the Event Supervisor for assessment and measuring will not be included in the Event Time. Teams may adjust their vehicle before each run (change its speed, distance, directional control, change batteries or make changes from impounded parts). Teams may use their own measuring devices to verify the track dimensions. They may not verify the distance by rolling the vehicle on or adjacent to the track surface between the start and finish line at any time prior to or during the competition.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY COMPETITION PARAMETERS Teams must start their vehicle anywhere along the Starting Line with the fixed point directly above it. Students may place a target at the Target Line to aid in aligning the vehicle, but it must be removed by the team before starting each run. Contestants must start the vehicle using a pencil, pen, dowel or similar device (which is not part of and does not travel with the vehicle) to actuate some sort of switch. It is considered a run if the vehicle moves after the switch is actuated.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY COMPETITION PARAMETERS They may not touch the vehicle to start it, hold it in place while actuating the switch or "push" the vehicle to get it started. The entire vehicle, including batteries, must move forward together. Contestants may not follow their vehicle down the track. The Event Supervisor will summon them to observe their finish distance and retrieve their vehicle. The Official Run Time will start when the vehicle begins forward motion and ends when the vehicle comes to a complete stop.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY COMPETITION PARAMETERS If a vehicle does not move upon actuation of the switch, the students may request to set up for another try at a run. The failure to move shall not count as a run. The students will still be working within the ten minute Event Time. If the vehicle travels in the wrong direction, it will be considered a failed run. If a vehicle inadvertently begins a run, it will also be considered a failed run. A failed run counts as a run with no score. Teams who wish to file an appeal must leave their vehicle with the Event Supervisor.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE SCORE LOW SCORE determines the winner. Run Score is the sum of : Time Score Distance Score Center Line Score Lowest (i.e. best) of the two Run Scores is used.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE TIME SCORE Time Score: The Time Score is 20 X the Official Run Time (measured in seconds to the hundredth of a second) for the vehicle to move from the Starting Line to a complete stop. Example: Vehicle’s Run Time is 7.89 seconds seconds × 20 = points

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE TIME SCORE Starting Line Run time is 7.89 seconds 7.89 seconds × 20 = points

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE DISTANCE SCORE Distance Score: The Distance Score shall be the distance from the tip of the fixed point to the point at the center of the Target Line recorded in millimeters. Example: Vehicle stops 1234 mm from Target mm = 1234 points

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE DISTANCE SCORE Starting Line Distance 1234 mm 1234 mm = 1234 points

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE CENTER LINE SCORE Center Line Score: A Center Line Score of -20 points will be awarded if the center tape remains completely within the vehicle's track while the vehicle travels between the Starting Line and the Target Line. This bonus will be awarded even if the tip of the fixed point or the entire vehicle crosses the Target Line.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE CENTER LINE SCORE Starting Line -20 point bonus!!

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE CENTER LINE SCORE Starting Line No bonus!!

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE CENTER LINE SCORE If the any of the Center Line tape is visible outside of a wheel at any time, then the Center Line bonus will not be awarded.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE SCORE LOW SCORE determines the winner. Run Score is the sum of : Time Score Distance Score Center Line Score Lowest of the two Run Scores is used.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY – THE SCORE Determination of TIERS: Tier 1:Any runs with no violations. Tier 2: Any runs with run violations. Tier 3: Any runs with construction violations or both run and construction violations.

2010 BATTERY BUGGY QUESTIONS?