Enduro

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All terrain vehicles amaze one and all by their sheer muscle power and ability to conquer all tracks. This year Techfest 2009 gives you the opportunity to redefine the way ATVs work while you climb, swim, jump, push and race against time and other teams to win the greatest endurance event ever, Enduro @ Techfest 2009

1. Problem Statement

Make a wireless remote controlled all terrain vehicle that can run on land as well as transverse a water track in the least possible time.

Prizes worth Rs.20,000(INR) to be won.

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For further queries contact:

Vaibhav Desai

Manager, Xcelerate
Techfest 2009
+91 98336 65246
vaibhav[at]techfest[dot]org

2.1 Arena

The arena is made up of four zones.
- Zone A
  Zone A consists of a ramp of height 750 mm making an angle of 30 degrees with the horizontal and a straight path of length 1000 mm. At the end of the track there will be a box in which objects such as glass marbles, pebbles, rollers etc would be kept to hinder the motion of your machine. There is an inclined plane at the end of the block. The dimensions of the box are 2000 mm X 2000 mm X 100 mm (LXBXH) (Refer figures 1 and 2).
  
  Figure 1: Zone A (3D view)
  
  Figure 2: Zone A (side view)
- Zone B
  Zone B consists of a water track. In order to complete the track the participant must go around a bob kept 4000 mm from the edge of the pool. The machine has to start behind a line that will be 500 mm from the edge of the track in water. At the end of the tract there 2 submerged wedges of dimension 500 mm X 500 mm. The wedge is to be used by participants to hoist their machine from water to ground level.
- Zone C
  Zone C consists of a simple race track of total length 9000 mm on either side. In between there is a detour which is obstructed by two 5 kg doors hinged at one end each. The total length via the detour is 3m. The width of the entire track is 1m. At the end of Zone C there is the finish line (Refer figure 3).
  
  Figure 3: Zone C (top view)
- Zone D (Reset zoone)
  There are three reset zones in the arena (marked with red in the figure 5), where the participants are allowed to modify their machines, each located at the start and end of zone B.
Refer to the track diagrams for detailed information.
The event will be conducted in Swimming pool of IIT Bombay and there might be disturbances on the water surface so do take these factors into consideration while fabrication of your machine.
The entire arena will be carpeted to provide sufficient friction for the machines to travel.

Figure 4: Arena (3D view)

Figure 5: Arena (top view)

View the Machine Specifications »

3.1 Dimension and Fabrication

The machine must fit within a box of dimensions 300 mm X 300 mm X 300 mm at the beginning of the game.
The external wireless remote control used to control the machine is not included in this size constraint.
The onboard power on the machine must fit within the aforementioned box.
During the game, the machine can expand or detach itself into multiple parts provided it does not damage the arena in any way. However No parts can be left behind on the track except at the Reset zones. The judges hold the right to subjectively determine if the machine violates this clause.
Machine cannot be constructed using readymade Lego kits or any readymade mechanism. But you can make use of readymade gear assemblies. Violating this clause will lead to the disqualification of the machine.
The participant can change his machine to any extent he wishes, however his machine should have the same actuators at any point of time in the game. Actuator is any device that converts any form of energy to mechanical

3.2 Power Supply

In case of using electric energy for propulsion and drive, the potential at any point on the machine should not exceed 12V.
Use of air compressors is not allowed. However the power supply must be non-polluting and must satisfy the safety constraints determined by the judges.
In case the machine is using a non-electric power supply, kindly get it approved from the organizers beforehand via email. Organizers are not responsible for inconvenience if approval is not sought.

3.3 Controls

The machine has to be necessarily controlled by a wireless remote control system. The participants have to bring 2 remote controls of distinct frequencies or a dual-frequency remote control, which can be switched to either frequency just before the start of the run. This is done to avoid frequency interference with competing machines.

View the Rules »

4.1 Competition Rules

The competition will be played on a knock-out basis, with two machines competing against each other at a time, and the loser being disqualified.
The goal of the game is to reach to the finish line in the quickest possible time.
The maximum runtime for one race is 8 min.
If the participants are not able to finish the track in the given time then the participant that has reached furthest on the track wins.
The participants are allowed to modify their machine only in the reset zone.
The total run time will be inclusive of the time a team spends in the reset zone.
The machines are not allowed to damage the other team. Any team found to do so will be disqualified. This clause will be jugged subjectively by the judges.
The machine should not leave the track at any point of time during the game.
The participants are not allowed to enter the track at any point of time in the game except the reset zones.

4.2 Elimination Rules

Drop Test: It is highly important in building robotic machines that you ensure proper fabrication. To check the rigidity of the machines every machine will undergo a 500 mm VERTICAL DROP TEST right before the elimination round of the game. In this test the machine will be dropped vertically from a height of 500 mm in an orientation decided by the participants on a coir mat. The machine will be placed as it is on the arena after drop test. The participant will not be allowed to modify the machine in any case before the competition starts. The image of the surface on which the machine will be dropped is shown below. The material will be 3 mm thick.

Figure 6: Drop Test

The elimination rounds for the main event would be held in a different arena whose specifications are as follows:
- The swimming pool track is a straight track of 9 m.
- The land track is a straight flat track of total length 4 m.
- At the end of the pool there is a finish line in water at a distance of 1 m from the edge.
- Just before the start of the pool track there will be a reset zone where the participants are allowed to modify their machines. For rules on this clause refer 3.1.6.
The top teams completing the track in the shortest time will qualify for the finals.
In case no team is capable of qualifying the elimination round the top teams which furthest on the track will qualify for the finals.

4.3 General Rules

The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. The teams must not damage the opponent's machine in any way.
Judges reserve the right to disqualify any team indulging in misbehaviour. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the competition automatically.
The machine would be checked for its safety before the race and would be discarded if found unsafe for other participants and spectators.
The name of your machine must be prominently displayed on the machine.
Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.

4.4 Team Specifications

A team must consist of 4 or less participants. Participants from different educational institutions can form a team.

4.5 Eligibility

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate in Enduro at Techfest 2009.

4.6 Certificate Policy

Certificate of Excellence will be given to all the winners.
Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams which complete the elimination track i.e. reach to the finish line in pool.

4.7 Registration