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Mars Payload Transporter Competition

Fall 2011 Competition Rules

Background

You have just joined a large engineering firm which specializes in consulting projects for
NASA and other space agencies around the world. Recently, a large global consortium has been
assembled to assess the feasibility of a mission to Mars and to begin early development of the
critical systems necessary for such a mission. As the proposed mission will be focused on
scientific exploration and will involve considerable travel on the surface, it was determined very
early on in the design phase that a major technical necessity would be developing a means for
transporting the large payloads (scientists, instrumentation, rock samples, etc.) across the
surface of Mars. The global consortium recently opened a competition to all interested
companies for a scale model of a payload transporter to achieve the particular goals of the
mission. Your engineering firm has decided to participate in this competition, and has
presented the following objectives to you.

Objective

The primary objective of this competition is to develop a scale model payload transporter
for use on the surface of Mars. Firstly, as the final device will be placed on the shuttle and
assembled on Mars, unloaded weight is a major concern. The second major goal is to maximize
the amount of weight that your device can carry; the more weight it can carry in one trip, the
fewer trips the scientists will need to take. The third goal is to maximize the distance it is
capable of traversing in a single trip; obviously if your device is capable of traveling further in
one trip, the exploration range on the surface will be extended. The fourth goal set forth by the
consortium is to minimize environmental impact on the surface of mars; no cargo or other
launching mechanisms must be left behind at any point during the expedition. The final goal
stems from the fact that the optimal launch window places the scientists on the surface of Mars
during a very volatile season of the Sun. A major concern of the consortium is that a solar storm
will take place during the mission, ejecting tremendously powerful electromagnetic
interference into the solar system. Due to Mars thin atmosphere, it was determined that this
interference has a very good chance of damaging any electronic devices on the surface at the
time of the storm. As such, the final objective is to develop your device without the use of any
electrical components (batteries, motors, logic controllers, etc.) of any kind. In summary the
objectives of the competition are:
1. Your vehicle should be designed to be as light as possible
2. Your vehicle should be capable of carrying as much weight as possible
3. Your vehicle should be capable of transporting the cargo as far as possible
4. Your vehicle must not leave any cargo or other launching mechanisms behind
5. No electronic devices are allowed on your vehicle
6. Absolutely no dry ice permitted
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Competition Rules

As you will be competing for the best design, the following rules and guidelines have been
set forth to ensure that all participating teams will be judged by the same criteria:

1. The final device that will be placed on the mission will have the dimensions of a large
vehicle; therefore, for initial testing it was decided to develop scale models at 1:6 scale.
Thus, applying this scale to the final dimensions allowed on the mission, your allowable
dimensions for your device are 2 x 2 by 3 high. To verify that your device fits within
these constraints, a box will be placed over your device at the starting line; if it does not
fit completely within the specified constraints, your team will be disqualified and will
receive the default score for the competition (refer to scoring section). No manual
expansion or assembly will be allowed once your device has been measured.
2. The total cost of the device must not exceed $80.00. Receipts must be attached to your
final report and be available at the check-in station the day of the competition. If you
cannot provide receipts, or the cost expressed on the receipts are not fair-market value
(no eBay purchases from your friends), your team will be disqualified. All parts used
must be counted towards the allotted budget, and any donated parts must have an
equivalent fair-market price associated with it; you must provide proof of your recorded
price (store ad, online price search, etc.) with your final report. Pro-rating items based
on consumption is acceptable; for example, if you buy a box of 100 nails for $4.00 and
you only use 10 nails, you only need to record $0.40 as the actual cost of nails. However,
keep in mind that you must provide receipts documenting the total cost and the pro-
rated quantity.
3. The maximum distance that your vehicle will be able to travel is 250 feet. Anything
beyond 250 feet will be recorded as the maximum value (so if you travel 300 feet, you
will only receive credit for 250 feet).
4. Although up to two (2) human loaders from your team will be able to be at the starting
line to assist in setup and weight loading, they are not allowed to impart ANY initial
velocity to the vehicle, nor are any members of your team allowed to cross the starting
line for any reason. This eliminates any designs that rely on the human loader to push
the vehicle down the course. This rule does not prevent the human loader from holding
the vehicle (preventing it from traveling) then letting go once the heat begins, so long as
the loader simply lets go, imparting no initial velocity.
5. As the current competition is simply a proof of concept design, the weight that will be
loaded on your vehicle will be iron dumbbell plates. No containers of any kind will be
provided at the competition; therefore, your device must be capable of self-containing
the entire cargo of dumbbell plates. The weights will be provided at the competition.
6. All components of your operating device will be considered in the size, weight, and cost
constraints, as well as the unloaded weight measurement for your transporter. This
includes any containers used to hold the dumbbell plates.
7. All devices must be self guided; absolutely no remote control and no string or line-based
guidance systems will be allowed.
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8. As stated in the objectives, absolutely no electronic devices may be used on your
transporter. Please note that the reason for disallowing electronic devices is potential
failure due to EMI, and as such, it is the act of using electricity which is explicitly
disallowed. Thus, if you include an electronic device, but do not use any electricity (for
example, you use a motor, but do not provide electricity to power it) this is acceptable.
9. You must bring your device to the competition unloaded and fill it with the desired
amount of weights on site. You will not be allowed to use your own weights or pre-load
your device prior to the competition.
10. Your transport vehicle has a maximum allowable unloaded weight of 40 lbs (i.e. your
vehicle can weight up to 40 lbs before you add the weight). Exceeding these limits will
result in disqualification.
11. There is no maximum amount of weight that you may carry, however, keep in mind that
your device must remain within the size constraints after the weight has been loaded
onto your vehicle.
12. Your device must always remain within the size constraints.
13. Your groups must consist of 4 to 5 students and you must all be in the same lab section
in order to participate as a team. Groups of 6 or more students forfeit their chances of
winning the competition prize.
14. Your team must perform all production of the device themselves (no commercial
manufacturing). No preassembled parts or kits will be allowed.
15. No liquid flammable objects are allowed (including gasoline and other liquid
combustible fuels), nor are any solid rocket fuels going to be permitted due to
transportation concerns en route to Mars.
16. No animals of any kind are allowed in your design.
17. All designs must be capable of finishing, at most, 2 trials.
18. If each run uses disposable items (i.e. CO
2
cartridges, etc), then the total cost of your
device must be calculated on the total items used in BOTH trials.
19. A list of ALL materials used must be submitted on competition day with receipts.
20. Ties will be decided first by cost, second by running time.
21. After the trial runs, the top 16 teams will be invited to come back and compete in the
finals. During the finals the invited teams will be allowed to carry a different amount of
weight (if desired) and the final winner will be decided solely based on performance
during the finals. However, the performance score for the teams that compete in the
finals will be the larger of their two scores.
22. The competition will take place on a relatively smooth, flat, paved surface. However, in
order to simulate Mars surface, there may be slight variations in the surface as well as
potential unevenness of the terrain. The event will not take place on grass, gravel, or
dirt.
23. The overall distance will be based on how far both your cargo and rover travel, but keep
in mind your cargo must remain with your vehicle at all times.
24. Vehicles must be designed with the intent to travel a minimum distance of 6 feet.
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Scoring

Final competition grades will consist of six categories (total of 1000 points):

Extended Abstract (150 points)
Pre-competition Evaluation (200 points)
Performance (150 points)
Accuracy (100 points)
Ranking (50 points)
Typed Competition Form (50 Points)
Final Report (300 points)
And any deductions that the team receives.

Once a team receives a point total (i.e. 935 points), each team member will have that score
multiplied by his/her peer evaluation score (out of 100%). Evaluation will occur as follows:

Extended Abstract (150 points)

Please refer to the extended abstract detail handout for guidelines in writing your abstract,
and the technical content that it must contain.

Pre-Competition Evaluation (200 points)

This category is worth a possible 200 points and is divided into five sections. You will receive a
maximum of 40 points for each subcategory. Teams will be deducted 50 points for not having
their Pre-Competition Evaluation forms typed at the competition.

1. Creativity Based on the individuality of the device, as judged by the check-in judges.
2. Professionalism Based on the overall quality of the device and behavior of the team
during the competition.
3. Operational Soundness This is based on your vehicles overall functionality and
repeatability, and that the vehicles design is fundamentally safe.
4. Design Specifications This category will gauge your vehicles compliance with the
nonperformance
5. Receipts and Materials List A list of all materials used must be submitted on
competition day along with receipts to assure compliance with the spending limit as
outlined in the rules. Both of the aforementioned items should be attached to the
competition form.

Performance Score (150 points)

This category is worth a possible 150 points. Teams will receive points based on the formula
shown below, where d is the distance of both your device and cargo were able to travel
(measured to the part of your vehicle which traveled the least, in feet, rounded to the nearest
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inch), W
u
is the unloaded (original) weight of all of your operating devices (including any
containers used to hold the weight), W
s
C
is the amount of cargo weight that your team holds at
the starting line, and W
f
C
is the amount of cargo weight that your team is still holding after the
race is complete (i.e., if a weight falls off). Accordingly, all weights are measured in pounds:

( )
( ) | |
( )
2 . 1
6 . 1
4 . 0
2
, , , d
W
W W W
W W W d S
u
C
f
C
s
C
f C
f
C
s u


=

For example, if a teams vehicle weighs 4 lbs at check in, and is able to carry 10 lbs a distance of
30 feet (without dropping a weight), that team would receive a performance score of:

( )
( ) | |
( ) 68 . 120 30 4 . 0
4
10 10 2 10
10 , 10 , 4 , 30
2 . 1
6 . 1
1
=

= = S S

As another example, a different teams vehicle weighs only lb at check in, and is able to carry
1 lb a distance of 76 feet (without dropping a weight), that team would receive a performance
score of:

( )
( ) | |
( ) 36 . 120 76 4 . 0
5 . 0
1 1 2 1
1 , 1 , 5 . 0 , 76
2 . 1
6 . 1
2
=

= = S S

If some of your cargo weight falls off of your vehicle during your trial, your team will be
assessed a penalty proportional to twice the weight that you lost. Note that your vehicle may
loose weight (i.e. fuel) and not be penalized because the values of W
s
C
and W
f
C
are purely
based on what you deem cargo. Also note that the maximum score for this category is 150
points, scoring higher will not increase your performance score, but will influence your ranked
score.

Accuracy Score (100 Points)

This category is worth a possible 100 points. In order to provide the global space consortium
with accurate operating parameters, they have requested that every team estimate their score
prior to the competition. Then, they will assign points based on how accurate this assessment
was performed. Teams will receive points based on the formula shown below, where P is the
score predicted by your team, and S is the actual score received at the competition. Note that
these scores are the total score received, i.e. these scores may be larger than 150.

( )
05 . 1
25 100 ,
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
S
S P
P S A

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For example, if the team in the preceding examples predicted that their vehicle would receive a
score of 100 and 180, respectively, then the teams would receive accuracy scores of:

( ) 39 . 95
68 . 120
68 . 120 100
25 100 68 . 120 , 100
05 . 1
1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
= = A A

and

( ) 95 . 85
36 . 120
36 . 120 180
25 100 36 . 120 , 180
05 . 1
2
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
= = A A

Ranking Score (50 points)

After the competition, the performance scores of all teams will be ranked and points for this
category will be assigned based on your position within these rankings. Your score will be
equivalent to the percentile that you are located within these rankings. For example, if you get
the best performance score, you will receive the total 50 points, if you get the worst
performance score, you will receive 0 points. If you are better than 60% of the teams you will
receive 60% of the possible 50 points (30 points).

Competition Form (50 Points)

The competition form must be typed and presented to the check in station before your
designated heat time in order to get full credit. Failure to type your form will result in a loss of
50 points.

Final Report (300 Points)

Please read the final report detail handout for the guidelines for writing your final report.
Your final report will be due on the day of the competition and will need to be turned in when
you check out after your heat time.

Final Competition Grades and Peer Evaluations

When you combine the scores from all of the scoring categories you will receive a score out
of a total possible 1000 points. This is not what you will receive as an individual grade. Your
grade will take into account a peer evaluation. Each member in your group must fill out a peer
evaluation, which is located online, in the same area that this document was posted. Be sure to
download it, fill it out, and submit it along with your copy of the technical paper. If you dont do
a peer evaluation, you will receive a 100 point deduction. Team members will grade each
other on the following:

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1. Attendance You will grade your teammates attendance on a scale of 0-10 where 10
should be awarded if that member attended all meetings and a 0 should be awarded if
that member attended no meetings.
2. Reports Contribution You will grade your teammates contribution to the group
reports on a scale of 0-10 where 10 should be awarded if that member contributed their
fair share to the reports produced by the team.
3. Intellectual Contribution You will grade your teammates mental contribution on a
scale of 0-10 where 10 should be awarded if that member contributed their fair share to
the design and other intellectual aspects of your project.
4. Physical Contribution You will grade your teammates physical contribution on a scale
of 0-10 where a 10 should be awarded if that member contributed their fair share to
building your design and other physical aspects of your project.

Your peer evaluation score is computed by adding all of your peer evaluations together and
dividing by the total amount. For example, if you receive a 20/40 from teammate 1, a 30/40
from teammate 2, a 40/40 from teammate 3, and an overall raw score of 950 from your reports
and competition performance, your peer evaluation will be (20+30+40) / (40+40+40) = 90/120 =
0.75, and your score final score will be 0.75 * 950 = 712.50. It is possible to get a final score of 0
if a member does not participate in the design and fabrication of the vehicle and/or the writing
of the report.
Peer Evaluations can dramatically change a persons grade, so please be fair when youre
evaluating your teammates. This system is used to ensure teamwork and fairness among
teammates. If you feel that youve been treated unfairly in your group, please talk to your
teaching assistant or the course coordinator. These people will act as arbiters and can assist in
situations of unfair peer evaluations.

Competition Day Schedule

On the day of the competition, you will go to the competition area instead of going to
lecture and lab. Please arrive at the competition area on time for your scheduled heat! If you
miss your assigned heat time, your team will not be allowed to compete and will not receive
any points for competing. At least three members of your team must be present for your score
to be recorded.
More information regarding the competition day schedule, including what to bring and
where the competition will be held will be posted online when the information is finalized.



GOOD LUCK!!!