Hovercraft B/C

[reed303]

Thank you Adi1008 .
So if I can use a voltmeter to calibrate, can it stay on the craft? Is it not considered an integrated circuit?

They're fairly specific about which types of electrical components are allowed on our devices this year. I'm not familiar off the top of my head with which components are allowed, but I would question whether a voltmeter is allowed in the rules.

It is not.
Rule says "g.Electrical components shall be limited to batteries, wires, motors, switches, resistors, potentiometers,capacitors, mechanical relays, fans, and blowers."

[Lazerchix]

Can we use it between runs?

[UTF-8 U+6211 U+662F]

I think that depends on whether the ES will let you. I would plan for both scenarios.

[Tesel]

I think that depends on whether the ES will let you. I would plan for both scenarios.

I'm pretty sure the ES wouldn't really be able to control that, just like they wouldn't stop students from cutting tape or fixing their device.

[Birdmusic]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

[ElPotato]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

If you have an issue with how an event supervisor ran things or in your case, interpreted the rules, you can always try to get your coach to help you arbitrate.

[Justin72835]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

If you have an issue with how an event supervisor ran things or in your case, interpreted the rules, you can always try to get your coach to help you arbitrate.

The proctor was totally in the wrong there. Having your coach there could help, but if the proctor is stubborn then this may make things worse (they could get annoyed and threaten to disqualify you or something idk). My advice is to always have a backup plan for anything that may cause even the slightest ambiguity for the proctors.

[IvanGe]

ElPotato wrote:
Birdmusic wrote:
Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)


If you have an issue with how an event supervisor ran things or in your case, interpreted the rules, you can always try to get your coach to help you arbitrate.

The proctor was totally in the wrong there. Having your coach there could help, but if the proctor is stubborn then this may make things worse (they could get annoyed and threaten to disqualify you or something idk). My advice is to always have a backup plan for anything that may cause even the slightest ambiguity for the proctors.

ideally what you want to do, is either fix it or build another one, so that it works two runs guaranteed, or even one run is fine as long as it works within 10-20s going down the track. If it's the same proctor at states, that might be an issue but if not, it should be fine switching batteries. (i switch my batteries at the 3rd run if I get up to it) Another option is using more powerful batteries, you can pm me if u have any questions

[cmurthy]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

Were you at the Bay area regionals on Saturday? Same thing happened to me. We appealed, did the paperwork, but program director just said they were very sorry. That ES was a total ^*&*(^*. I mean this same ES let hovercraft that had no propeller shielding run..

Anyway, can you go and compete in some other competition too, or do you have to qualify at regional before you go to some other one like state?

[Edit]. Ok, just saw top 4 teams go on to state. So congrats for being in the top four despite being screwed in this event!

[antoine_ego]

Our ES at Regionals wouldn't let us change batteries between runs, no matter how much my partner and I pointed to the rule allowing us to modify our vehicle between runs. He said, "It wasn't in the rules, so I can interpret it however I want." To be fair, our hovercraft was pretty bad, especially because the batteries were probably near dead by our 5th failed run, but we really want to do well at state. What should I do if this happens at state? (There's no way we can have a hovercraft that can do any successful runs without at least 2 sets of batteries.)

I'd just invest in a set of higher capacity batteries. That way you would still have enough energy to do all your runs. I'd recommend at least 3000mAh, preferably 5000 if you have very power hungry fans like I do. These should easily give you 30 minutes of high power. This way, you won't have to worry about an admittedly very strange ES.