Bridge Building 2016

[noobforce]

Is the Test Support going to be secured to the table somehow? I'm imagining that if the tables shakes somehow or something it would wobble and fall over easily.

[bernard]

Is the Test Support going to be secured to the table somehow? I'm imagining that if the tables shakes somehow or something it would wobble and fall over easily.

No. Unless there's significant wobbling, the test support shouldn't fall over that easily.

[drcubbin]

I appreciate the sketch, but could someone post a pic that would clearly show what this year's set up looks like?

[brayden box]

The width is going to be the same as last year, right?

[JonB]

The width is going to be the same as last year, right?

The width of the bridge or the width of the opening?

[hogger]

Is the Test Support going to be secured to the table somehow? I'm imagining that if the tables shakes somehow or something it would wobble and fall over easily.

No. Unless there's significant wobbling, the test support shouldn't fall over that easily.

I just read the rule, so I just started to think about this. But it seems to me that the material, weight and the friction of the loading block surface may be significant factors here. But we don't get to provide our own loading block? Meanwhile the provider of the official loading block can be coach of another team, and they may get unfair advantage here?

[JonB]

Is the Test Support going to be secured to the table somehow? I'm imagining that if the tables shakes somehow or something it would wobble and fall over easily.

No. Unless there's significant wobbling, the test support shouldn't fall over that easily.

I just read the rule, so I just started to think about this. But it seems to me that the material, weight and the friction of the loading block surface may be significant factors here. But we don't get to provide our own loading block? Meanwhile the provider of the official loading block can be coach of another team, and they may get unfair advantage here?

We have noticed that friction (or lack thereof) on the loading block and cause a bridge to slip (or not slip) when you are building right to the edge of the 5x2cm block. However, I think that any advantage to a specific team would be negligible compared to the actual design and build of the structure.
There is really no way to avoid this, it is just part of the competition. No supervisor I have had the pleasure to meet would knowingly give their team an advantage on purpose.

[hogger]

Yes supervisors are great people and I thank them over and over again for taking the time to make this happens. So I am not at all suggesting that they are bad people here, I am merely suggesting that if they coach a team also, they have access to the actual apparatus and loading blocks while we don't. If the rule is designed so that those things are factors, then that could be a little bit unfair because we may have to over-design and be prepared for worst case. Like I said, I am not sure about anything until I build and test one of these things.

[JonB]

Yes supervisors are great people and I thank them over and over again for taking the time to make this happens. So I am not at all suggesting that they are bad people here, I am merely suggesting that if they coach a team also, they have access to the actual apparatus and loading blocks while we don't. If the rule is designed so that those things are factors, then that could be a little bit unfair.

The problem is that it would be impossible to regulate what the block material is. Even if you say that it must be "wood" there are many different types of wood. Ultimately, as a coach, I would say worry about the things you CAN control and let everything else fall into place. Take Electric Vehicle as an example. If your gym floor is more like the floor of the competition, then that's awesome. But, we/you cannot control this so be ready for anything.

[hogger]

Yes supervisors are great people and I thank them over and over again for taking the time to make this happens. So I am not at all suggesting that they are bad people here, I am merely suggesting that if they coach a team also, they have access to the actual apparatus and loading blocks while we don't. If the rule is designed so that those things are factors, then that could be a little bit unfair.

The problem is that it would be impossible to regulate what the block material is. Even if you say that it must be "wood" there are many different types of wood. Ultimately, as a coach, I would say worry about the things you CAN control and let everything else fall into place. Take Electric Vehicle as an example. If your gym floor is more like the floor of the competition, then that's awesome. But, we/you cannot control this so be ready for anything.

That is the first thing that pops up to me. What should I use for loading block? What material and weight? Because there is a lateral force here, and it is not secured. How do I make that stable enough to hold the maximum weight? Hmm, it could be a pretty big factor here, or maybe not....