Trajectory B/C

[zyzzyva980]

Why is it that everyone is always against me on this thread?
You will not change my mind, and I will likely not change your mind considering this topic; however, I still have some problems with lasers.

I will respond to every person who has posted in this discussion since my previous post.

Draylon Fogg: It never says anything in the Trajectory rules concerning lasers, so your argument is obviously invalid.
Starpug: Steroids were not banned from baseball until 2002. Were they against the spirit of the rules? Yes, but they were not disallowed until then.
Sean9keenan: A sight depends on how a human eye perceives where the target is. Further, using our device (I'm sure yours is different, but I'm using mine as an example), we must have someone behind the target prior to the launch holding up a meter stick or other object so the sight can actually see where the center line is. This depends on the accuracy of both the person holding the meter stick and the person using the sight. Continuing, I have no problem with using lasers during testing the device if it gives you more accurate data. But during a competition, using a laser eliminates half of the event, as I've said before. There are two parts to the event: aiming and distance. Using the laser eliminates the aiming part because you're having the machine do it for you. The competition should be on a level ground for everyone: everyone must aim the device and everyone must set the distance of the device. It's what the event is about.
Finally, Sj: One point of science is to make things easier in everyday life. I agree with you on that. But when the machine does everything for you, what is left to do? We get lazy and don't want to do what is necessary for our body to stay healthy. While making things easier in everyday life has advantages, there are drawbacks as well. Also, the point of Science Olympiad is learning and while figuring out how to make an event easier can be considered learning, it's no real secret that teams have been using lasers on their machines to make it work better. It's not like you're really learning that much when you just put a laser on the machine and point it at a target. When you don't do the work, what are you learning?

Debate class ended last semester. I don't want to continue this any more than is necessary.

[robotman]

Why is it that everyone is always against me on this thread?
You will not change my mind, and I will likely not change your mind considering this topic; however, I still have some problems with lasers.

I will respond to every person who has posted in this discussion since my previous post.

Draylon Fogg: It never says anything in the Trajectory rules concerning lasers, so your argument is obviously invalid.
Starpug: Steroids were not banned from baseball until 2002. Were they against the spirit of the rules? Yes, but they were not disallowed until then.
Sean9keenan: A sight depends on how a human eye perceives where the target is. Further, using our device (I'm sure yours is different, but I'm using mine as an example), we must have someone behind the target prior to the launch holding up a meter stick or other object so the sight can actually see where the center line is. This depends on the accuracy of both the person holding the meter stick and the person using the sight. Continuing, I have no problem with using lasers during testing the device if it gives you more accurate data. But during a competition, using a laser eliminates half of the event, as I've said before. There are two parts to the event: aiming and distance. Using the laser eliminates the aiming part because you're having the machine do it for you. The competition should be on a level ground for everyone: everyone must aim the device and everyone must set the distance of the device. It's what the event is about.
Finally, Sj: One point of science is to make things easier in everyday life. I agree with you on that. But when the machine does everything for you, what is left to do? We get lazy and don't want to do what is necessary for our body to stay healthy. While making things easier in everyday life has advantages, there are drawbacks as well. Also, the point of Science Olympiad is learning and while figuring out how to make an event easier can be considered learning, it's no real secret that teams have been using lasers on their machines to make it work better. It's not like you're really learning that much when you just put a laser on the machine and point it at a target. When you don't do the work, what are you learning?

Debate class ended last semester. I don't want to continue this any more than is necessary.

I agree with Sean on this
The more accurate the testing the better data you will be able to work with therefore a more competitive event which is what makes Science Olympiad fun. But even if one does use lasers which the rules do not specifically cover but the FAQ's on SOINC do. they state

01/17/2010 - 19:16 Are we allowed to align our catapult with string, lasers, or other devices by entering the launch area BEFORE and/or AFTER a launch?
Yes, but you must ask permission from the event supervisor before entering target area, you must not touch or move targets in anyway. All lasers are subject to a safety inspection, you must inform the event supervisor that you are turning on a laser. Lasers must be off when launch occurs. All time used by students in launch area is part of thier launch time. Keep in mind the general rules regarding the use of lasers though as listed on the soinc.org website

Even if a team is using lasers they have had to calibrate it the same amount as a team that doesn't (more than likely more) and they also run the risk of a change during transit .

[zyzzyva980]

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I just don't like lasers, I don't think they're absolutely necessary, and I think in some aspects it gives teams an unfair advantage. But I guess what they do is not my problem, all we have to do is work harder so we can beat them without using one. This Saturday, the showdown. Lasers vs. non-lasers at regionals. Can't wait to see how this comes out.

[andrewwski]

I think you're giving lasers too much credit. I don't believe that a device with a laser has any advantage over a device without a laser. Yes, it's easier to point it at competition - but it's completely possible to do so without. Plus, as mentioned, you have to calibrate the laser in the first place, and that's another piece that can end up getting misaligned sometime.

You say that pointing the device is the biggest part of the event, I disagree. Pointing the device, in my experiences, was not difficult at all.

[earthbot25]

plus on the whole laser thing, I've heard other teams say that they can aim with the laser but whats the point if your device doesn't follow the laser or messes up? Because if you attach a laser to the the top of your device the ball might not necessarily go to the laser point.

[lc235]

For regionals trajectory C, the rules state that "the centers of the target areas will be placed in front of the launch area BETWEEN 2m and 10m in intervals of 1m." So....does that mean the nearest possible distance is 3m and the furthest possible distance is 9 m???

[starpug]

For regionals trajectory C, the rules state that "the centers of the target areas will be placed in front of the launch area BETWEEN 2m and 10m in intervals of 1m." So....does that mean the nearest possible distance is 3m and the furthest possible distance is 9 m???

It means that the close target can be placed at as close as 2 m and the far target can be placed as far as 10 m, but the farthest the close target can be placed is 8 m and the closest the far target can be is 4 m.

[lc235]

Division C Trajectory:
I am aware that the catapult must fit within a 60cm cube boundary. I trigger my catapult with a long metallic threaded rod. This rod stands vertical and is behind the launching arm. The bottom of the rod is attached to a hinge on the base, making it able to swing forward and backward. When I set the catapult, the rod is locked leaning forward (towards the arm). This would lock the arm in place. In this set position, my catapult is comfortably within the 60cm cube boundary. Launching the catapult would require me to pull the rod backwards with a string, freeing the arm. As the rod falls backwards, it would obviously go out of the 60cm cube from the rear side.
So...is the metallic rod part of the triggering device? Or is the triggering device JUST the string that I would use to pull the rod backwards. Is it OK that the metallic rod goes out of the 60cm cube after launch?

[bugsrcool]

The rules let it go out of the box, just not beyond the limits of the 1m X 1.5 m area.

[AlphaTauri]

I think you'll be fine. After all, the rules say that the device can't be outside the 1m*1.5m launch area after a launch. IF you want, just to be safe, you could rig a spring or something of the like to pull the metal rod back into the 60cm cube after the launch (i.e. you pull the string and the metal rod backwards, firing the catapult, then you let go of the string and the spring pulls the rod back into the cube). I don't know how or if this is going to affect the rest of the catapult, so proceed carefully if you decide to follow my advice.