Science Olympiad 2013-2014

[twototwenty]

Ah darn, I was going to post a reply! I actually did Robo-Cross in 7th grade XD. Note to self, remember to make sure batteries you use work...including backups (even though they were working they day before T.T). I remember having a bulldozer-ish robot (but I think in general people probably used vex kits...I just made whatever kit we had on hand). I remember having a field with your classic objects, and I think there was a "harder to get to" quarter of the field that was a bonus area (really I think it just had a slight bump...). Also, I was going to link the wiki pages haha.

I believe it was 1/2" quarter-round surrounding the bonus quarter - I recall making the field for my region.

Yes, that's right...I did robocross in 7th grade, too. It was my first taste of science olympiad. During the competition, after the timer started, my robot (a dysfunctional combination of a r/c car, erector sets, and some gears gears gear pieces) promptly fell over after getting nothing done. I got it to twitch on the ground and knock one golf ball into the 3rd zone, which earned me 2 points. Good memories.

[mnstrviola]

Does anyone have an idea what Complex Machines is like? It sounds like Mission Possible except it probably involves more theory... im curious

[chalker]

Does anyone have an idea what Complex Machines is like? It sounds like Mission Possible except it probably involves more theory... im curious

We are still brainstorming ideas for the rules. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be happy to consider them. We definitely don't want it to be just another mission possible or junkyard challenge type event.

[wlsguy]

I would image Complex machines as the following;
•Some sort of test. Likely the computations behind several different simple machines in series (or parallel). Most of this would be straight forward physics.
•A lab portion where students would be given the same materials (number of gears, ramps of the same length, pulleys) and instructed to create optimal machines.
oExample 1; students are provided several pulleys already attached to a fixed board. The pulleys cannot move but the students can route and re-route their rope however they desire to lift the heaviest weight a specified amount using the minimum force. The score is both the actual result and the calculated result (to prevent luck)
oExample 2; students are provided with a combination of machines and asked to accomplish a task similar to above.
oExample 3; students are asked to measure and calculate the effects of changes on a complex machine already set up.

These are just my thoughts on how the event could be created......

[Jdogg]

I would image Complex machines as the following;
•Some sort of test. Likely the computations behind several different simple machines in series (or parallel). Most of this would be straight forward physics.
•A lab portion where students would be given the same materials (number of gears, ramps of the same length, pulleys) and instructed to create optimal machines.
oExample 1; students are provided several pulleys already attached to a fixed board. The pulleys cannot move but the students can route and re-route their rope however they desire to lift the heaviest weight a specified amount using the minimum force. The score is both the actual result and the calculated result (to prevent luck)
oExample 2; students are provided with a combination of machines and asked to accomplish a task similar to above.
oExample 3; students are asked to measure and calculate the effects of changes on a complex machine already set up.

Just thoughts…..

Aww.. I would have really liked this event. To bad I'm a senior.

[Toms_42]

I cant wait to find out what robots will be!

I REALLY hope it is Robo Billiards, as that is the event I have always dreamed of doing. I'm not really one for robocross, as I hate it when the only thing that is involved in the construction of a robot is navigation/doing lots of different pointless tasks. I hated FLL, and robocross seems very similar. I like robot billiards because it has one basic task that requires lots of ingenuity to accomplish well. Also it would take some programing to make a fast robot. (fast as in doesnt require time wasted doing obnoxious positioning, but instead your program does it for you)

I also look forward to gravity vehicle/scrambler. either would be awesome, but gravity the most.

And meteo cycles back to severe storms!!

Also I wonder what shock value will be...

[lynnieschreck]

I have a feeling Water Quality and Entomology are gonna be at the same time slots...

[mnstrviola]

Does anyone have an idea what Complex Machines is like? It sounds like Mission Possible except it probably involves more theory... im curious

We are still brainstorming ideas for the rules. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be happy to consider them. We definitely don't want it to be just another mission possible or junkyard challenge type event.

I'd hope it to be like junkyard challenge, actually. At least on the almost spontaneous, on-site build. I imagine it as having a theory portion which is basically a test on physics, a small build objective (like wlsguy described) and then a small writeup on your build.

[alwaysphonehome]

I'm just curious, but is there any specific way that states order their events? Like these kinds of events in one time slot? Or is it completely random?

[ScienceOlympian]

Can't wait for Dynamic! Our two partners that did Dynamic this year are going to high school. Maybe I'll take their place?
Meteorology is back to Severe Storms! I reckon Heredity and Shock will stay the same.
Does anyone know the topic for WQ next year? Better start studying.
I wish I could do 10 events next year. Dynamic, Shock, Sounds, WQ, Experimental, Meteo, Heredity, CJAP, Gravity Vehicle, and Rotor. That is way too much though. I might just pick Sounds, Shock, Heredity, and either Gravity, Meteo, WQ, and Dynamic.