Designs

[Jim_R]

Discussion for devices, transfers, and other design related things.

[SWAnG]

What are these jugs? Can they be any size we want?

[bernard]

What are these jugs? Can they be any size we want?

They must be at least 10 cm tall. From my understanding, plastic bottles cut to specification would be acceptable.

[SWAnG]

Okay! Also, it says the golfballs must be lifted from a point lower than the jug. Does this mean the center of the golfball has to be lower than the jug? or the bottom of the golf ball?

[bernard]

Okay! Also, it says the golfballs must be lifted from a point lower than the jug. Does this mean the center of the golfball has to be lower than the jug? or the bottom of the golf ball?

By my understanding, the rules don't make this clear, and it would be good to submit a rules clarification when it is available. I recommend playing it safe and making the whole golfball lower than the jug if you decide to build now.

[tanuagg13]

So what's the structure of the event this year? E.g. how have the tasks changed?

[A Person]

So what's the structure of the event this year? E.g. how have the tasks changed?

There's way to much stuff to cover. The bonus/ task setup has been changed pretty radically.

[tanuagg13]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in order to activate a buzzer, the buzzer needs to have a sound wave to play. Now, to generate such a wave, you'd either have to use integrated circuits or have a pretty good knowledge of how to use an RC circuit to generate such a wave, right? Is the restriction of integrated circuits really necessary for even the final task?

E.g. should I be able to pull out a speaker from one of those cards that plays a song when you open the card, or am I supposed to be able to design a circuit that plays a wave that can be fed into a speaker?

[bernard]

There are definitely ways of making buzzers without integrated circuits. Do some research if you do not know how.

[chalker]

There are definitely ways of making buzzers without integrated circuits. Do some research if you do not know how.

Quite true. Check out these wikipedia articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_bell
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buzzer

That said, I'm pretty confident that the prohibition on IC's wasn't intended to apply to small piezo buzzers with integrated drivers for use in the final task. Someone should submit a FAQ about this when they open next month... hint hint;)