Scioly.org

National FAQ/clarifications do supersede any opinions voiced on here. I don't agree with their ruling and I'm still not sure where gearmotors fall based on that FAQ, but that's how it is. I feel like this year's mission clarifications were really based on intent. (Well, we meant this, even though t...

Just out of curiosity, what exactly is the use of outside help during set-up? I've built three missions, and my team knows the device better than anyone who might unfairly give us a tip. There's really not a whole lot you can do to a broken device during those thirty minutes. The problem arises whe...

If the machine completes an action, you get points for the action. If you complete an action, or skip the action, you don't get any points. You incur one touch for all contact required to restart the forward progress of the machine. Your judge was correct. Had you simply unclogged the sand timer, th...

Always top up your balloon during your 30 minute setup. Bring a portable helium tank if you can.

Sand is sand. Acting in Bad Faith is what gets people penalized in Mission Possible.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_faith

Can we simply turn off a light bulb for the cooling temperature task? It is the decrease in temperature of the filament that turns off the light, which can then open a photo-resistor which can open a relay, etc, etc. That's actually a genius idea. I don't see why it wouldn't count. Be real careful ...

[Deleted. Misread rules]

Section 3.d (i think) of the rules.

Electric components must be limited to batteries, wires, motors, mechanical switches, LEDs and light bulbs. No computers will be permitted in the device

Are thermocouples allowed at all?

Only if you build it yourself. A commercial thermocouple component risks being deemed not authorized.

The one labeled 3 at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ulleys.svg