MECH2000®

TECHNO GAMES 2000®


RULES AND GUIDELINES Dec 99.

2. General Rules and Guidelines

This document contains the rules and guidelines necessary for a safe and entertaining competition. We would like to stress that it is not our intention to stifle creativity, ingenuity and imagination during the design and construction of your machines. Any design which arguably 'bends' the rules in the interests of being innovative and entertaining, may be allowed to compete providing it is considered safe by the organisers. If you feel that this is applicable to your mechanised athlete, please advise us in advance rather than risk disqualification on the day of competition. All competition rules and guidelines are subject to change. We reserve the right to disqualify any entry at our discretion.

a) Teams

Teams will be made up of school children, students, engineers, technicians, radio control enthusiasts, designers, special effects experts, artists, inventors and anyone with a passion for technology who will be encouraged to design and build machines capable of competing in a number of recognised 'sporting' events.

b) Competitor Sponsorship

Robots, machines and mechanical devices participating in the competition are not permitted to display any company or product names, logos or colours. Team names may not include commercial references to products or company names. Machines must not be designed to resemble any commercial product. Non-commercial references, such as school names or charitable organisations, are permitted at the organisers discretion.

c) Multi-Discipline Machines

While it is assumed that the majority of 'mechathletes' will be dedicated to individual events, they can be designed to compete in more than one if you wish.

d) Operation

Machines have to compete in a physically unassisted fashion, ie. with no human interference once positioned and activated, except where noted in this document. Competing machines can be operated by...

e) Power

Electric, solar, pneumatic, hydraulic, internal combustion or kinetic (ie. stored energy source) subject to event parameters.

f) Weights and Dimensions

In most cases a wide weight range has been introduced to encourage variety of design and construction. It is up to you to decide on the optimum size and weight for competition. Competing machines should not rely on 'separation' to assist their performance, e.g.. no detachable ramps in the 'long jump' or a launch pad in the 'high jump'. All competing machines must be self contained and finish an event as they started.

3. Health and Safety Restrictions

Robots, machines and mechanical devices should be designed, constructed and operated with extreme care at all times. All materials and equipment should comply with all applicable UK legislation and regulations, including all British Safety Standards, Health and Safety Executive (HSE) etc. Common sense is stressed in all areas of construction and operation!

'Mechathletes' will be scrutinised before each event to ensure conformity with the rules and fairplay. We reserve the right, at any time and in our sole discretion, to make changes or add additional terms and conditions to the safety requirements, rules and guidelines.

4. The Events

The following ten events will be featured in the first 'Mech' competition. Additional events have been noted at the end of this document and others may be introduced for future competitions.

Long Jump

From either a standing or moving position each machine has to traverse the greatest possible distance horizontally without touching the ground.

High Jump

From either a standing or moving position each machine has to traverse the greatest 0; possible distance vertically before returning to the ground.;

Shot Put

From either a standing or moving position, each machine has to throw a standardised Olympic shot as far as possible. The distance will be measured from point of release to the point of first contact with the ground. Best of three throws.

Rope Climbing

Each machine has to climb a rope to a specified height and return to the ground in a controlled manner. The quickest time, wins.

Sprint (Junior and Senior Events}

Junior (under 16s) - from a standing position, each machine has to complete a 10m land based race in the fastest time possible.

Senior (16 and over) - from a standing position, each machine has to complete a 25m land based race in the fastest time possible.

Swimming

From a floating position, each machine has to complete a 25m water based race in the fastest time possible. Competing machines can compete on or below the surface.

Archery (Adults Only Event)

Using competition approved crossbow equipment - as provided by the organisers - the competing machines have to amass the highest possible score with three bolts and a standard archery target.

Micromouse

Machines have to autonomously navigate a maze in the quickest time possible. Robots have to Conform to the existing rules and regulations for Micromouse competitions as published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) in Conjunction with the Young Engineers.