Lab 1: Rube Goldberg Machine Teaching Assistants: Richard Juchniewicz Steven Shamlian Introduction to Robotics

What is a Rube Goldberg Machine? A Rube Goldberg machine is a device that achieves a simple task through a process of overly complex steps.

Example R. G. Machine

Challenge Statement Build a Rube Goldberg machine that will dispense a Super Bouncy Ball when a TA inserts a quarter.

Constraints Base Constraints: 3’x 4’ Height Constraints: 5’ Cannot use electricity in the forms of batteries or wall power. Other forms of power generation welcomed.

Grading A(95): 5 Energy Transfers B(85): 4 Energy Transfers C(75): 3 Energy Transfers D(65): 2 Energy Transfers F(55): < 2 Energy Transfers F- (0): No Machine at all 

Bonus Points +5 points (+2 after) for each machine successfully attached to another machine in serial. A serial connected machine is defined as one whose first energy transfer is initiated by the final energy transfer of the previous machine.

Bonus Points (cont.) Ex: 2 machines together  +5 bonus 3 machines together  +7 bonus ………. 10 machines together  +21 bonus!! Bonus Points = 5+(n-2)*2 n = total number machines that run to completion in serial