Contest Rules

The Theme

Change Flashlight Batteries

The Challenge

Remove both old batteries from a two-battery flashligh, install new batteries and turn the flashlight on in 20 or more steps.

Contest Setup Date

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Contest Event Date

Friday, April 29, 2005

Registration Deadline for State and Multi-State Competition

Friday, January 07, 2005

THE RULES FOR THE CONTEST

Steps: Each team must submit a step-by-step description of its machine by the step deadline date, March 1, 2005. The description must be legible and concise. A step is defined as a linear process, not a parallel process. If a plane, for example, moves up a wire and triggers a switch, that would be an example of one complete step. If the plane causes two things to happen, that would be a parallel result and would only count as one complete step. The description must be legible and concise. Number of steps: The machine must complete its task in no fewer than 20 steps. The machine must complete a full cycle in no more than nine minutes. A full cycle includes a first run to completion of the task, a complete reset, and a second run to completion of the task. Dimensions: The machine must operate within these set dimensions: Height, 5 feet; Width, 6 feet; Depth, 6 feet. All machines must be displayed and operated on tables approximately 27 inches high, which will be provided at the contest by the organizer of the event. Each school within a cluster will be assigned a sequence for starting the competition. Once all machines within a cluster have completed their run and been judged, a finalist will be selected from that cluster to participate in the finalist round. A finalist round will take place to determine the top three teams. The number of members on a team is restricted to six, but only two team members may interact with the machine once the first run has begun. Judging will be on a 100 point basis. The final round of judging will be on a 75-point basis. Since only one run is judged in the final round, points for a reset and a 2nd run will not be considered in the score. All machines will be displayed and operated on tables approximately 27 inches high, which will be provided at the contest. All machines must sit on their assigned table. Each machine must be safe to the approval of the Contest Chairman. Any questionable items must be given prior consent by the Contest Chairman. A machine must not imply profane, indecent, or lewd expressions. A machine may not incorporate any live animal. A machine many not display any corporate sponsor logos. A penalty will be assessed for any human intervention on a machine in motion. Any loose or flying objects must remain within the set boundaries of the machine. No combustible fluids, explosives, open flames, or hazardous materials. Each team is responsible for the security of its own machine, but intentional destructive action against other machines is cause for disqualification. Contestants are responsible for removing their machine and related debris immediately following the National contest awards. No machine may be taken down or disassembled until the contest is over.

She sits down to eat in scale (A) - As weight increases, magnet (B) moves toward small steel bar (C), picking it up and tilting groove (D) - Golf ball (E) drops in ant-hill (F) - Beginner golfer (G) takes swing at ball, misses it and knocks chunk out of ant-hill, scattering ants - Anteater (H) goes after ants, moving table away from hungry lady, allowing her to preserve her beautiful figure.

For a more complete list of rules please contact ebj@uwm.edu.

For all questions and suggestions regarding this site, please contact the Contest Executive Director of Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, Dr. Ester Johnson at ebj@uwm.edu.

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The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is the (SM) of Rube Goldberg Inc.
All rights reserved University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, 2000.