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My partner noticed that no "electrical components" may be used on the device. I'm fairly certain the intent of this rule was to prevent students from using electricity. Is it then, permissible, to use a piece of wire to serve the same purpose as a piece of string? While it could be called an electrical "component," it seems within the spirit of the rules to me. I'm just afraid of a supervisor putting someone in tier II for this. Any thoughts?

buzzbuzz wrote:My partner noticed that no "electrical components" may be used on the device. I'm fairly certain the intent of this rule was to prevent students from using electricity. Is it then, permissible, to use a piece of wire to serve the same purpose as a piece of string? While it could be called an electrical "component," it seems within the spirit of the rules to me. I'm just afraid of a supervisor putting someone in tier II for this. Any thoughts?

I would definitely agree with you, but to be sure, you should submit a clarification. But what are you using the wire/string for exactly?

I can't imagine any supervisor declaring a piece of wire to be an electrical component, when there's no electricity, and no other electrical components. Yes, it can conduct electricity, but so can any metal part, so to call it an electrical component on that basis would mean, to be consistent, metal wheels, axles, screws, etc. would also be; hey, and since rubber and plastic and wood are insulators, they'd have to be considered ECs, too....
That makes no sense, of course, and if applied to wire, would lead to Tier 2-ing every vehicle
Yes, a clarification is the Gold Standard, but, at best, it takes a while to get one back. If you run into such an interpretation, I would just politely but firmly raise the consistency issues above

Balsa Man wrote:I can't imagine any supervisor declaring a piece of wire to be an electrical component, when there's no electricity, and no other electrical components. Yes, it can conduct electricity, but so can any metal part, so to call it an electrical component on that basis would mean, to be consistent, metal wheels, axles, screws, etc. would also be; hey, and since rubber and plastic and wood are insulators, they'd have to be considered ECs, too....
That makes no sense, of course, and if applied to wire, would lead to Tier 2-ing every vehicle
Yes, a clarification is the Gold Standard, but, at best, it takes a while to get one back. If you run into such an interpretation, I would just politely but firmly raise the consistency issues above

Oh, I can totally imagine a supervisor declaring something like that, I've heard some wild stories in the past. Now, whether it is the correct interpretation or not is another issue. You're definitely safest having an official clarification in your hands that says what you are doing is legal (or illegal, as the case may be)

Thank you all for your input. We are just using the wire to tie something on to our ramp.

What are you guys using for wheels? We have been doing a lot of testing to determine whether we want to use more or less traction. Our current wheels (made of CD's and coated in a light rubber coat) have very little traction and cause the car to skid significantly when the brake is applied.

I am confused with the rules when it says an automatic release device on the ramp. What is an example of this I just really dont get how that works.

Sorry double post

Kovu wrote:I am confused with the rules when it says an automatic release device on the ramp. What is an example of this I just really dont get how that works.

Mine is a 'u' shaped out of metal and put through the back of the ramp. The 'tongs' protrude from the ramp, and I sit the car on the 'tongs'. I use the pencil to pull the 'u' out. Once the pencil 'actuates' it, the car is automatically released. Pretty simple. Most teams that I've seen do something similar.

Are we allowed inside the launch area when we are actuating the vehicle?