Transporting Builds

Transporting builds for competition can always be a hassle! Whether it be flight, car, or bus, the most important thing when it comes to your build is it arriving in mint condition.

General Reminders

Remember that what comes first is the rules and regulations on what you are bringing, especially in toolkits or builds that require batteries.

If you are taking a charter bus, in many cases the company's website or the bus driver is able to inform you of their policies.
When flying, make sure to follow the TSA's federal regulations, found on the TSA website.
- For instance, do note that, while disposable razors, which many teams use for cutting, are allowed in carry-on baggage (do remember that this information may be outdated, and the most up-to-date source will be the linked website itself), box cutters are only allowed in checked baggage.
- In another case, though lithium-ion batteries are prohibited in most events by SOINC, in the case that you do have them you must follow TSA guidelines (which can include only being allowed to bring them in carry-on bags under special cases).
  - Do note that some airlines will require you to take any spare lithium-based batteries out of your carry-on and keep them inside your personal item for additional safety reasons.
- Do note that some super glues, cement glues, and other strong adhesives are prohibited from flights.

Preparing a Repair Kit

Once again, make sure to follow any rules and regulations that are consistent with your mode of transportation. Depending on the build, you could have a small tin to a builder's tool box which contain any materials you might need, such as rubber for Helicopter motors or adhesives for fixing others.

Individual Event Tips & Tricks

Feel free to add on your own experiences and insights, or any trial events that do not have a section!

Air Trajectory (B/C)

The following applies to all trajectory events, and large Sounds of Music devices (such as slapaphones.)

Bus Transportation:

Due to its large size, teams may set aside a bus seat for it. It should be lodged in place or padded with something soft to prevent damage. If there are many people on the bus, teams may place it in the back, lodged with other buckets of material to prevent constant movement.

Air Transportation:

Be aware of the size and weight limitations for checked bags for your airline to avoid unnecessary extra fees (ideally when you are designing your device and you know that you will be flying to competitions.)
In the case that your build would exceed the dimensions for checked bags, try and build your device so that there are as many detachable pieces as possible while still maintaining the device's structural integrity and accurate function. In other words, only secure parts of your build that ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO be secured in order for your device to work. For example, the PVC pipe that is the drop tower may not have to be secured to the device, as long as you know how you could reattach said pipe.
If you have the leeway, create a separate compartment for any tools that you may use in the same package as the device. If not, then take it as carry-on. Do not take buckets or targets that you use to practice. From experience, the mass should be okay to put in the same checked package, but any other weights should be brought separately.
When packaging, use styrofoam, bubble wrap, etc. to prevent excessive movement of the device in the box and to protect it from rough handling.
Wrap any individual fragile parts with bubble wrap, even if it seems unlikely that that part will break.

Bungee Drop (C)

Likely the simplest build to transport! The cord(s) can be kept in any sort of container, as long as they are safe (ex. a gallon-sized plastic bag). Almost all other tools are fine (specifically measuring devices and/or tools to make more cords).

An example of what you might bring on a flight can include: small scissors, a roll of tape, some sharpies or any other marking tools, and two long measuring tapes in one bag; and the materials for your bungee cords in a separate, smaller bag. All of this should be permitted in carry-ons, but, as a reminder, double check with TSA regulations at the time.

Electric Vehicle (C)

While this section pertains to Electric Vehicle, it can apply to all vehicle events (Mousetrap Vehicle, Gravity Vehicle, Wheeled Vehicle, Scrambler).

Vehicles should be considered delicate instruments due to their small size and sensitivity to tiny changes. Transporting or shipping a vehicle can damage or misalign the wheels (CD wheels in particular), crack the frame, or destroy the vehicle entirely. Shipping anything fully assembled is always a challenge and will always be subject to damage. This is particularly the case if you were to use a shipping provider or check a bag in for a flight. While it is not always possible, disassembling the device into smaller, packageable components (each one wrapped in bubble wrap) can help with survivability, but that comes at the cost of disassembling and reassembling the device once you arrive at your destination. Since most competitors usually ship their device as a whole, the following tips are some general recommendations for shipping and transporting and how to pack fully assembled devices:

Release any energy mechanisms from the vehicle. All energy systems must be at their lowest levels of potential energy to prevent unwanted damage.
- If it's an electric vehicle, separate the battery. If it's a mousetrap vehicle, make sure the trap is at its lowest point of potential energy. If it's a scrambler, make sure the launcher's weight is separate from the device and that any springs and other translational mediums are at their lowest point of potential energy.
- Specific to Electric Vehicle, it is recommended to remove each battery and electrically isolate them from each battery to prevent any short circuits. While not as bad as LiIon or Li-Po, batteries like NiMH can output a decent amount of power to be considered a hazard. It is best to keep these separate from the vehicle and rather keep them in person or in a personal bag just in case anything goes wrong with them.
- If you have batteries, it is okay to have them fully charged; just keep them electrically isolated from the vehicle and each other to prevent any unwanted short circuits, leakage, or damage.
Use a large, sturdy box to transport your vehicle.
- This can be a large plastic container or a single corrugated cardboard box.
- An easy technique is to use a single or double corrugated cardboard sheet and then slice a whole piece of cardboard for the entire outer layer of the box. Then, cut it halfway through to create bends in the cardboard. This allows for larger and tighter boxes compared to standard shipping boxes that might be readily available. Packing tape is recommended to wrap each edge to give extra strength.
- If you do use cardboard to build your box or use an existing box, make sure the cardboard does not have any existing bends and pay attention to the corrugation direction of the cardboard when building your box as mentioned here on page 1-2. Cardboard can only handle forces if it has support on either side of the grain (see page 1-2 for images).
  A tailored cardboard box used to house a 2019 Mousetrap Vehicle. Used for Harper Regionals and IL State, transported via school bus.
Place your vehicle so that the points of contact on the vehicle can handle the weight of the vehicle.
- Normally, resting the vehicle on the wheels is not a horrible outcome. However, if you are using something like CD wheels or something not as rigid as say BaneBots wheels, then place your vehicle such that the weight of the vehicle is not resting on the wheels and axles (i.e. the wheels and axles are suspended off the ground). Bumps in the road or rough turbulence on the plane can put stress on the wheels and axle, which can misalign or damage them.
- You can instead build a platform to place the frame of the vehicle, granted that the frame is rigid and sturdy. However, if your frame was not designed to handle the entire weight of the vehicle, use the wheels instead and add extra padding to the bottom of the vehicle. Additionally, add padding to the top of the vehicle in case an upward force is exerted on the vehicle during transport.
Add padding to the sides of the box around the vehicle.
- This can be semi-rigid styrofoam, layers of corrugated cardboard, large bubble wrap, air pillows, or other rigid shock-absorbing materials. Soft styrofoam peanuts or shredded paper alone are not recommended since they only provide good fill materials for voids and don't handle punctures well.
Make sure the device cannot move within the box.
- Fill any voids, including the bottom of the car, with padding. Less movement within the system means less kinetic energy in the car, which means it is less prone to damage.
Use packing tape to seal up the box.
- This is not absolutely required when traveling by bus or short distances, but having everything sealed ensures the contents move together with the box.
- Ensure all seams of the box are fully taped. Ideally, use one long piece of tape for each seam for continuous strength.
- Do not use scotch tape as it lacks the ability to grip the coarse cardboard fibers (compared to something finer like paper). Duck tape is also not recommended as it is too adhesive and can damage the box beyond repair, but can be used in small amounts.
Make sure it is absolutely clear which face of the box is up.
- The vehicle was meant hold its weight upright, so also ensure the box is also upright. A vehicle box that is placed sideways or upside-down can cause damage to the components of the vehicle.
Write your team name and team number on the box
- Odds are that you will use this box for impound, so write your team name and team number on it in order to disambiguate it (yes, team number changes with every invite, but your team number can be written on a separate paper attached with packing tape to the box).
- Use this opportunity to mark the face that is up or mark "↑ This is up" signs around the box.

Helicopter (B/C)

Helicopter and other flight events (such as Electric Wright Stuff or Flight) can largely be prepared for in the same way in terms of transportation. However, there are certain methods you can take.

One method is leaving your measurement box intact. In this case, a smaller box can be placed inside of the measurement box, with foam cutouts glued to it, which you can snugly fit pieces of your build into. This will ensure that the pieces of the build do not shift around during travel, but are also not kept under tension.
Another method, to save space (especially on flights), is to assemble the measurement box on location. Disassemble your measurement box into the five flat pieces, and carry some tape or adhesive to put it back together. Then, similarly to the first method, have smaller boxes fitted with foam cutouts that are able to hold pieces of your helicopter without much movement.

Hovercraft (B/C)

Hovercraft is a build that may require some effort to transport by flight, but is otherwise fairly simple to transport by bus. For either method, make sure to PUT YOUR HOVERCRAFT IN A BOX AND NOT A BAG, as it can get damaged or even bent in some cases.

One method is to build a box for bus travel, or use a regular box that can fit it. Make sure to bring a toolbox with you when travelling: you never know what can happen. Make sure to watch your builds.
Another method on flights is to use a smaller, more efficiently-fitted box to save space. If you can, check in your hovercraft to avoid any problems with carrying it on and off the plane. Batteries MUST go in carry-on luggage, and prevent them from shorting while they are packed. Again, bring a toolkit that follows FAA rules, and pack it within your hovercraft box to avoid having to check in extra luggage.

Mission Possible (B)

Robot Tour (C)

Scrambler (B)

Tower (B/C)

Teams have various methods of transporting towers (or bridges) with some wishing to build onsite.