Senior Engineering

Onsite Competition Only

The Engineering competition demonstrates creative ability, collaboration and attention to detail to construct an invention in the spirit of Rube Goldberg. Teams use items from a specified list and will be given an invention prompt at the beginning of the competition. The invention must have at least five steps. A step is defined as a power - whatever force causes the next reaction to take place. Teams will write an explanation to communicate the elements of the invention and creative concepts. Teams will be required to interact with judges.

Time Limit: 2 Hours

Competition Guidelines

Each club may enter one team of three to five students.
Teams will be given two hours to construct the invention.
The invention must be constructed on a piece of plywood 24 inches by 48 inches. This piece of plywood will be separate from the materials container.
The invention may have parts that suspend beyond the board, but cannot be braced/tethered/supported by anything (i.e. wall or floor) other than the board.
The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list and materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon plastic storage container with a lid.
Power tools do not have to be placed in the container. Tools must be battery operated.
All construction must be done on-site. No steps can be preassembled, construction pieces must be separate and the board must be free of any writing or marks.
Electricity will not be available.
During the competition, objects may be attached to the board and/or to each other using adhesives (including battery operated glue guns), thumb tacks, nails, screws, wire, or string.
The team gets one free touch to activate the invention.
SAFETY - Protective eyewear is required for each team member. Teams will not be allowed to participate without protective eyewear.
SAFETY - Tools cannot have a knife, box cutter, or any type of blade.

Educational Connections

Engineering and Innovation
Communication and Collaboration
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Scale and Measurement
Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
Students will investigate and find solutions, designs and strategies from infinite number of possibilities using inquiry ,collaboration, and process based learning.

Approved Materials List

The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials and the foam board needed for the build.

The following items must be included in the team’s container of approved materials: golf ball(s), dominoes, Legos, nails, rubber bands, string, cups (paper or plastic), one deck of playing cards, straws and pulleys. The team must use ONLY the items from the specified list of materials below. Materials must fit into a closed 18 gallon container with lid. Teams will be responsible for all materials needed for the build, including tools, and plywood board. Protective eyewear is required and must be furnished by the competing teams. The container may not be used as part of the build.

Approved Materials
Cans	Mini-blind slats	Legos
Toothpicks	Paper plates	Construx
Toothbrushes	Wire	Balls (plastic, metal, rubber)
Paperclips	String	Cups (paper or plastic)
Sandwich bags	Tape	Plastic toys
Wooden Scraps	Nails	Battery powered fan
Index Cards	Screws	Cardboard
Tubing	Adhesives	Cork
Pulleys	Balloons	Spoons
Craft sticks	Springs	Plastic bottles
Plumbing parts	Bells	Dried beans
Mouse trap	Rubber bands	Boxes
Paper fasteners	Clothes pins	Matchbox car
Scissors (cannot take apart)	Ruler	Newspaper
Straws	Wind-up toys	Greeting card
Wheels	Lincoln logs	Deck of playing cards
Tea strainer	Bottles	Hammer
Modeling clay	Shoelaces	Marbles
Tiles	Dominoes	Aluminum foil
Tinker Toys	Wire hangers	CDs
Zip ties	Pipe cleaners	PVC Pipes
Magnets	Thumb tacks	Golf balls
Cotton balls	Battery operated glue gun	Small plant pot
Thread Spool	Dice	Cardboard Tubes
Cardstock	Egg Cartons	Writing Utensils
Batteries

Bring 24” x 48” piece of plywood, tools, protective eyewear, and container of materials to convention.

Judging Criteria

Engineering	16-20	11-15	6-10	1-5
Complexity	Structure displays excellent complexity of the steps used in the build.	Structure displays good complexity of the steps used in the build.	Structure displays average complexity of the steps used in the build.	Structure displays minimal complexity of the steps used in the build.
Creativity	Structure exhibits excellent creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits good creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits average creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.	Structure exhibits minimal creative solution in all aspects of the challenge.
Critical Thinking	Students exhibit excellent ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process.	Students exhibit good ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process.	Students exhibit average ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process.	Students exhibit minimal ability to consider alternatives to the design and construction during the process.
Team Communication	Displays excellent communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays good communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays average communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.	Displays minimal communication and collaboration throughout the entire process.
Overall Quality	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are excellent.	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are good.	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are average.	Structural integrity and demonstration of challenge are minimal.
Deductions	This will be taken one time by the coordinator.	Did not follow competition guidelines -15	Did not follow safety guidelines -15