Rules

Dates and Times

  1. Doors open at 1:00 PM for registration on Saturday, February 28th.
  2. At 2:00 PM sharp, the theme of the competition will be revealed, and the competition will start.
  3. At 11:00 PM on Saturday, the competition will break, and will resume at 9:00 AM on Sunday.
  4. The competition ends at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 1st. Construction must end.
  5. The judging ceremony will be at 3:30 PM on Sunday.

Teams

  1. Teams should consist of 3 or 4 members.
  2. One team member should be designated the team captain. He/she is responsible for all communications between the team and the organizers.
  3. Each member must sign a liability waiver before the start of the competition.
  4. There is a $5.00 entry fee per person.

The Design

  1. To build their machines, we will provide tools and materials to all teams.
  2. Some teams may want to spend additional money on specific items; out of pocket spending is permitted up to an amount of $25 per team.
  3. Designs are constrained to a 1m x 1m base. No part of the device is allowed to extend beyond this limit during operation. However, there is no height limit.
  4. Teams whose machine involves hazardous materials, explosives, chemical reactions leading to high temperatures, fire, or live animals may be asked to revise their design.

Judging and Prizes

  1. The designs will be judged by three SEAS professors. The judges' decisions are final.
  2. Designs will be judged based on creativity, effectiveness, and complexity.
  3. The three best designs overall will receive prizes.