Mousetrap Vehicle C

[robotman]

what are the dimensions for the mousetrap car this year

3.g. 1.0 m by 1.0 m with no height restrictions

so there's no restriction on wheel diameter or how far apart the wheels can be

Well not technically. As long as you stay within one meter you will be fine

[packer-backer91]

I guessing that all parts of the vehicle must fit in the 1m square that opens up a lot compared to last year, our vehicle had good tracking [no less than an inch variation from start to finish] so with the ability to have such wide wheel base makes tracking much easier than it was in other events. Obviously the larger the frame the more a vehicle will weigh and more mass added because of axel size but find what it takes for the vehicle to track well and go with that I doughty there will be too many vehicles that make a vehicle that will use all of the 1m x 1m. Will they allow you team to observe your vehicle at the 7m line to see by how much the vehicle did/didn't make it over the line? Were there any other really big changes in the rules other than the new dimensions that I should be aware of for future posts for this event?

[Paradox21]

You will not be able to stand by the 3 meter line. You must push a plastic cup. That will serve as a marker to show just how far your vehicle actually traveled.

[quizbowl]

what are the specifications of the cup? and any other info regarding the cup.

[AlphaTauri]

It's a 16oz plastic cup, placed upside down at the start line. Your vehicle is supposed to push it to the 3m line, then reverse direction and come to rest at the -4m line. If the cup is tipped over, measurements are based on where the cup comes to rest.

[packer-backer91]

It's a 16oz plastic cup, placed upside down at the start line. Your vehicle is supposed to push it to the 3m line, then reverse direction and come to rest at the -4m line. If the cup is tipped over, measurements are based on where the cup comes to rest.

So if I understand this correctly they will use the cup to determine how far over/under the vehicle traveled when determining the penalties if any a team will get, then reverse and stop as close to the -4m line as possible correct -4m? Is speed still a key in the event or has emphasis been put on accuracy over speed [did they keep the 1,2,4 points per second in rules]? Also the 3m line with the cup does the cut just need to cross the line or the pointer of the vehicle as well?

These rules sound better than what they had last year and not stopping at the starting line was a good twist, with a total of 7m to travel that is going to be good for some teams that have good acceleration. I like the rule changes and even my old vehicle with three modifications that have been already pointed out as needed to change this year has better potential under these rules than last year's. Shorter track mean that speed is important but there should be less differences in time this year in comparison to last making it better for slower vehicles to still compete.

[AlphaTauri]

So if I understand this correctly they will use the cup to determine how far over/under the vehicle traveled when determining the penalties if any a team will get, then reverse and stop as close to the -4m line as possible correct -4m?

Yep, -4m. As I understand it, your distance score is from the edge of the cup closest to the 3m line to the line, unless the cup is touching the line, in which case you get a score of 0cm.

Is speed still a key in the event or has emphasis been put on accuracy over speed [did they keep the 1,2,4 points per second in rules]?

Yes, same 1, 2, 4 points per second.

Also the 3m line with the cup does the cut just need to cross the line or the pointer of the vehicle as well?

I believe the cup just has to touch the line. The pointer is used to calculate final distance from the -4m line.

These rules sound better than what they had last year and not stopping at the starting line was a good twist, with a total of 7m to travel that is going to be good for some teams that have good acceleration.

And it's not a total of 7m, it's 10m total. You go 3m "forward" from the start line, then reverse, cross the start line again, and go another 4m "backwards".

Also new this year, the trigger MUST be designed to be actuated vertically (perpendicular to the floor). "A horizontally activated trigger is a construction violation" and an automatic 3rd Tier (unless you can fix it before your run).

[winneratlife]

So if I understand this correctly they will use the cup to determine how far over/under the vehicle traveled when determining the penalties if any a team will get, then reverse and stop as close to the -4m line as possible correct -4m?

Yep, -4m. As I understand it, your distance score is from the edge of the cup closest to the 3m line to the line, unless the cup is touching the line, in which case you get a score of 0cm.

Is speed still a key in the event or has emphasis been put on accuracy over speed [did they keep the 1,2,4 points per second in rules]?

Yes, same 1, 2, 4 points per second.

Also the 3m line with the cup does the cut just need to cross the line or the pointer of the vehicle as well?

I believe the cup just has to touch the line. The pointer is used to calculate final distance from the -4m line.

These rules sound better than what they had last year and not stopping at the starting line was a good twist, with a total of 7m to travel that is going to be good for some teams that have good acceleration.

And it's not a total of 7m, it's 10m total. You go 3m "forward" from the start line, then reverse, cross the start line again, and go another 4m "backwards".

Also new this year, the trigger MUST be designed to be actuated vertically (perpendicular to the floor). "A horizontally activated trigger is a construction violation" and an automatic 3rd Tier (unless you can fix it before your run).

Wait, so please clarify (my school's a bit slow on books)...

The trigger has to start in a vertical position? Or does it have to end in a vertical position?

And so the setup is like this?

End <4m> Start <3m> Reverse

[AlphaTauri]

I don't know about the trigger. It just says, and I quote, "Competitors must start the vehicle by actuating some sort of trigger using a pencil, pen, dowel or similar device [...] The trigger must be designed so that the actuation of it is perpendicular (up and down) to the floor."

And yes, that setup is correct.

[Flavorflav]

In other words, you can't have the mousetrap sideways, or bypass the original trigger and replace it with a horizontal trigger. The pencil or dowel has to move down (or up, I suppose) to trip the mousetrap. At least, that's how I read it.