Mouse Trap Racer
Have you ever witnessed a frolic and boisterous event which demands least from your pocket but returns the best among all? Well, MechMantra-2k15 presents to you a mousetrap racing event wherein the car is powered by a mousetrap's spring and the only energy conversion involved is from potential to kinetic energy. Innovators can be masters here. So, are you daring enough to innovate, compete and win?
Problem Statement:-
Design, build and test a vehicle using energy of one or two snap mousetraps that can compete for different challenges of the competition.
DETAILS:-
ROUND 1(SPEED TEST):
The vehicle has to cover maximum distance in a time span of 10 seconds. Each team will have to try 3 times, the best two trials will be considered for judgement.
ROUND 2(ACCURACY TEST):
In this round the aim is to stop the mousetrap car closest to a specified target. The target will be 5 meters from the start line, in the center of the 2 meter wide track.
ROUND 3(REVERSE TECHNIQUE & POWER TEST):
In this round the vehicle's ability to brake, reverse and its accuracy will be tested. Vehicle has to run forward for 3 meter, reverse direction automatically, and stop at the -4 meter from start line.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Mousetrap Base must be less than 10 cm x 20 cm.
- Entire vehicle must fit within a 0.75 meter x 0.75 meter box.
- Teams must bring their vehicle, any tools required to calibrate it.
- Event Managers will provide the track, the official score sheet, and tape measures/stopwatches etc. required to test the vehicle
RULES AND REGULATIONS:-
- Maximum 3 members per team.
- Maximum 2 mousetraps are allowed.
- The axle of mousetrap shouldn't rotate more than 180 degree.
- NO other energy source may be added (e.g. CO2 cartridge, battery, etc.)
- In every round, Each Mousetrap Car will be allowed 2 trials. The BEST will be recorded in a single run.
- The vehicle must remain in its "lane", i.e., 3 meter wide path. Any deviation outside the path will result in disqualification. (For Round 1 and 3 only). For round 2, the width limit is 1 meter.
- Distance will be measured from the tape at the starting line to the point of the vehicle that was closest to the start line at the time of release.
- The vehicle must start and steer itself. Measurements of distance will not measure the total distance travelled, only the displacement distance.
- Surface will be little rough (Wooden etc.).
- All parts of the vehicle must move as whole. No anchors, tie downs, launching ramps are allowed.
- Decisions taken by judges will be final.
JUDGING CRITERTIA:
ROUND 1:
Best of two trials will be considered.
Top 30% of teams will be shortlisted for second round.
ROUND 2:
The winning car will be the one that stops closest to the specified target. Points would be awarded accordingly.
ROUND 3:
Accuracy and time, both will be taken into account with a weightage of 60 % and 40 % respectively, for final judgment.
Formula for final score = 100-{(D*0.6) + (T*0.4)}, where D= total distance error in Centimetres and T = Total time span in seconds.
The stand still (final) position of vehicle will be considered. Braking technique plays a role here.
FAQS:-
Q1: WHAT IS A MOUSE TRAP CAR AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
A: A mouse trap powered racer is a vehicle that is powered by energy of a wound-up mousetraps spring. Most basic design is to tie one end of string to the tip of a mousetrap's snapper arm and other end is wound to axle driving the vehicle. As the mousetrap spring decompresses, it rotates the axle of vehicle and drives it.
Q2: WHAT KIND OF THINGS WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHILE DESIGNING A CAR?
A: Based on requirements of each event, Car can be designed. Things to keep in mind while designing- Weight to axle ratio, length of arm, friction, wheels selection, Base material (light and tough like aluminium rims, hard plastic etc.)
STUDENT COORDINATORS:
G.PAVAN KUMAR -8500222687
E. DINESH KUMAR - 7799332231
G. RAKESH KUMAR -8886260322
VIDEO:-
For better understanding watch the video
