Space Elevator Challenge

Results:

A space elevator is a proposed method of moving cargo efficiently into space, using a robot that climbs a ribbon anchored at the base to a ship in the sea, and at the top on a satellite held in a geosynchronous orbit.  Since we couldn't afford to launch a satellite or rent a ocean going freighter for this challenge, we'll need to be satisfied with climbing a 6 foot long piece of nylon webbing in our meeting room (grin).

Like the space elevator, your robot is expected to deliver cargo to the top of the ribbon, and do so quickly and efficiently.

Rules

1. All general Brickheap Challenge rules must be followed.   (e.g., you can only use the components provided in your kit, plus your RCX, motors, sensors, and wires)
2. Your space elevator robot must fit into a 12"x12"x16" box (width, length, height).
3. Your space elevator must be able to be attached to the ribbon in under 2 minutes.  Both ends of the ribbon are fixed, so it is NOT possible to thread the ribbon through your robot.  It must go on from the side.
4. Your space elevator must be able to be removed from the ribbon in under 2 minutes.  Again, both ends are fixed, so it is not possible to unthread the ribbon through your robot.
5. You can build a payload delivery system to help your robot pick up the payloads at the bottom.  This system must be passive (no RCX or motors), must rest on the arena base plate, and must not interfere with other robots.
6. Your space elevator will be started by a "P1" IR command from the IR remote.  Please make sure your program is in slot 1!
7. You will have two opportunities to run your robot during the evaluation period.  You can choose to forgo the first evaluation period, to gain an additional 30 minutes of initial build time.  If you participate in the first evaluation round, you will be allowed at least 20 minutes to make adjustments or enhancements to your robot before your second evaluation.
8. Your robot will have 10 minutes to make up to 5 trips up and down the ribbon.

Scoring

The maximum points available without delivering payload to the top is 1000 points.  Any point ties will be broken using the time of execution for the completed tasks for each robot (e.g., if 2 robots received 1500 points, one using 6:45 to get done, and the other using 8:30 to get done, the one completing the task in 6:45 would win).  The best score of either round will be used for the team score for the event.

Bonus:

• If your robot successfully collects and delivers all 5 payloads to the top with no human interaction (including a final return to the bottom starting position), your team earns a total of 2500 points.

Penalties:

• Human interaction required to load payload at bottom:  Subtract 200 points for first payload, after that subtract 50 points for each subsequent payload requiring human interaction to load at bottom.
• Human interaction required to unload payload at top:  Subtract 200 points for the first payload, after that subtract 25 points for each additional payload requiring human interaction to unload at top.

These rules form the basis of the competition, but can be adjusted as needed by the competition coordinators, including adding additional penalties for infractions not considered at the time of writing of these rules.  The decisions of the competition coordinators take precedence over these written rules.