2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
OUT AND BACK
Mike Johnson
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
LAY PERSON’S EVENT DESCRIPTION:
Teams will construct a mousetrap-powered vehicle that:
• moves as fast as humanly possible, and
• pushes a plastic cup down a 1-meter wide track, then
• miraculously stops after pushing said cup forward
exactly three (3) meters, then
• miraculously reverses direction, then
• moves backwards as fast as humanly possible, then
• stops as precisely as humanly possible at a target
four (4) meters behind where the vehicle started.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
DESCRIPTION:
Teams design, build, and test a vehicle using one or two
snap mousetraps as the sole propulsion energy source to
push a plastic cup out a distance and return to a point
behind the starting line as quickly as possible.
TEAM SIZE: 1 or 2 students
IMPOUNDMENT: Yes… and know the scheduled
impoundment period
EVENT TIME: 10 minutes to start two runs
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
EVENT PARAMETERS:
Students must bring and correctly wear eye protection
while preparing and running their vehicle or they will not
be allowed to compete.
ANSI Z87 Safety Spectacles with Side Shields
(Eye Protection #2 on www.soinc.org)
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Only one or two unmodified snap mousetraps must be
used as energy sources.
• The mousetrap bases must be less than 6.0 cm x 12.0 cm.
• An unmodified mousetrap is one that still retains all of its
original parts and structural integrity to function as
intended. Altering the structural integrity of the
mousetrap includes, but is not limited to, welding,
bending, and cutting.
• Items may be added to the mousetrap.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Soldering, taping, tying, gluing, and clamping are
allowed.
• Holes may not be made anywhere on the mousetrap,
except for holes used to bolt or screw the mousetrap
to the vehicle.
• All parts of the vehicle must move as a whole; no
anchors, tie downs, launching ramps, or other separate
pieces are allowed.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• If any piece falls off during the run, it is considered a
construction violation.
• The plastic cup is not considered part of the vehicle at
any time.
• All of the vehicle’s kinetic energy must originate from
the unmodified mousetrap.
• Items must not be added to the mousetrap to increase the
potential energy of the unmodified mousetrap.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Conversion of the mechanical energy of the mousetrap
spring is permissible, but any additional sources of
kinetic energy must be at their lowest states at the
beginning of the run.
• Reversing and stopping mechanisms must work
automatically.
• The vehicle must not be tethered or remotely controlled
in any way to guide, reverse, or stop it.
• Recoil is NOT considered reversing.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Electric devices are not permitted.
• The vehicle must have a fixed, pointed object,
(e.g., pin or toothpick) somewhere on the perimeter of
the vehicle chassis that extends down to within 1.0 cm of
the track’s surface.
• The point of the fixed object nearest the track surface is
used as the reference point for distance measurements.
• The entire vehicle must fit within a 1.0 meter x 1.0 meter
box in ready to start mode only before a run. There is no
restriction on the height of the vehicle.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Competitors must start the vehicle by actuating some
sort of trigger using a pencil, pen, dowel or similar
device (which is not part of and does not travel with the
vehicle).
• The trigger must be designed so that the actuation of it is
perpendicular (up or down) to the floor. To comply with
this requirement, the pen, pencil, dowel or similar
device used to start the vehicle must be moved only
vertically throughout the action of actuating the
switch.
• A non-vertically activated trigger is a construction
violation.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
CONSTRUCTION PARAMETERS
• Sighting devices not using electricity are permitted and
may be removed before the vehicle runs.
• The wheels and drive string(s) are the only vehicle parts
permitted to contact the floor at any time.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE VEHICLE
< 12.0 cm
< 6.0 cm
Mousetrap
1.00 m
Fixed Point:
• On the perimeter
of the vehicle
• < 1.0 cm above
track surface
1.00 m
< 1.0 cm
Track Surface
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE TRACK
3-meter
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
Start
Line
1.00 m
3.00 m
4.00 m
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE COMPETITION
16 oz. disposable
plastic cup
…on the side
closest to the
3-m Line…
3-meter
Line
Tangent to the
Start Line…
…and completely
within the Lane
Boundaries
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE COMPETITION
…the vehicle is in
contact with the cup
Vehicle may be
located anywhere
as long as…
Mousetrap
vehicle
3-meter
Line
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE COMPETITION
3-meter
Line
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• The vehicle must push a 16 oz. disposable plastic cup
(provided by the Event Supervisor) to the 3 meter Line,
leave it there, reverse direction, and stop at the center of
the Minus 4-meter Line in order to receive the ideal
Distance Score.
• The competitors must place the plastic cup upside down
and tangent to the Start Line on the side closest to the
3-meter Line.
• The cup may be placed anywhere along the Start Line
as long as it is completely within the Lane Boundaries.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• The vehicle must be placed so that it is in contact with
the cup.
• The fixed point of the vehicle does not have to be on the
Start Line, nor does the entire vehicle have to be behind
the Start Line or within the Lane Boundaries.
• The competitors must not push or constrain the vehicle
during release nor touch their vehicle during a run.
• The vehicle must be able to remain at the starting
position without being touched until triggered.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• If the vehicle moves any distance after the trigger has
been released it is considered a run.
• Teams have 10 minutes of Event Time to set up, make
any adjustments, take measurements, and start two runs.
• If the second run has started before the 10 minute period
has elapsed, it must be allowed to run to completion.
• Time used by the Event Supervisor for measuring must
not count toward the 10 minute Event Time.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• Run Time starts when the vehicle begins forward
motion and ends when the vehicle comes to a complete
stop.
• If a vehicle does not move upon actuation of the switch
it does not count as a run and the team may request to
set up for another a run, but must not receive extra time.
• Run Time is in seconds, recorded to 0.01 seconds.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• If the vehicle does not reverse within 3 seconds after
coming to a stop, the run is considered to have ended.
In this instance, the Run Time is the time it took the
vehicle to start and stop in one direction including the
3 seconds. Any action occurring after the vehicle has
stopped for 3 seconds must not count as part of the run.
• If the vehicle reverses direction, the Run Time stops
once all motion ceases (including recoils).
• If the time or distance cannot be measured for a vehicle
(e.g. a team starts a vehicle before the Event Supervisor
is ready or the team picks up the vehicle before it is
measured) it is a failed run.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
COMPETITION PARAMETERS
• If the cup tips over during a run, the measurement is
made after the cup comes to rest from the closest
distance from any part of the cup to the 3-m Line.
• Once the vehicle starts a run the competitors must move
outside the lane, not follow their vehicle, and wait until
called by the Event Supervisor to retrieve their vehicle
following measurement.
• Teams who wish to file an appeal must leave their
vehicle with the Event Supervisor.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE SCORE
Run Score is the sum of :
• Distance Score
• Lane Bonus
• Time Score
Negative scores are possible.
The lowest of the two Run Scores is used as the team’s
score.
The team with the lowest score determines the winner.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE DISTANCE SCORE
Distance Score: The sum of the following values:
1. The perpendicular distance in centimeters (to 0.1 cm)
from the nearest edge of the cup to the 3-meter Line.
2. The distance in centimeters (to 0.1 cm) from the vehicle’s
fixed point to the center of the Minus 4-meter Line.
3. 500 points plus the cup distance measurement added only
for vehicles that fail to push the cup at least 1.5 meters.
4. 1,500 points added to the Distance Score only for vehicles
that fail to reverse.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE DISTANCE SCORE
Cup to Line = 56.7 cm = 56.7 points
Fixed Point to Target = 83.1 cm = 83.1 points
Distance
56.7 cm
3-meter
Line
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE DISTANCE SCORE
Cup to Line = 167.8 cm = 167.8 points
< 1.5 meter Line Penalty = 500.0 points
Distance
167.8 cm
3-meter
Line
1.5-m
Line
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE DISTANCE SCORE
Penalty for Failing to Reverse
Fixed Point to Target = 614.3 cm = 614.3 points
Penalty for Failing to Reverse = 1,500.0 points
Distance
614.3 cm
3-meter
Line
Start
Line
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE LANE BONUS
Lane Bonus: If the fixed point remains within the Lane
Boundaries through the entire run, a -30 point bonus is
awarded.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE LANE BONUS
-30 point bonus!
Fixed point remains within
the Lane Boundaries
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE LANE BONUS
No lane bonus!
Fixed point passes outside of
the Lane Boundaries
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE TIME SCORE
The Time Score shall be the time of each run in seconds,
measured in 0.01 seconds. The time of a run starts when the
vehicle begins movement.
• If the vehicle does not reverse within three seconds after
coming to a stop, the total run time will be the time of
motion plus the three seconds.
• If the vehicle reverses direction, the run time will stop
once all motion ceases.
• At Regionals, the Time Score is 1 point for every
second. At States, it is 2 points for every second.
At Nationals, it is 4 points for every second.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE TIME SCORE
Run time is 7.89 seconds
Regional:
State:
National:
3-meter
Line
Start
Line
7.89 seconds × 1 =
7.89 seconds × 2 =
7.89 seconds × 4 =
7.89 points
15.78 points
31.56 points
Minus
4-meter
Line
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE – THE SCORE
Run Score is the sum of :
• Distance Score
• Lane Bonus
• Time Score
Negative scores are possible.
The lowest of the two Run Scores is used as the team’s
score.
The team with the lowest score determines the winner.
2011 MOUSETRAP VEHICLE
QUESTIONS?
Contact Information:
Mike Johnson
[email protected]