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MadCow2357 wrote:Anybody know whether spinning the axle connected to the motor while winding the buggy will damage it?

Nothing will happen.

Are you all planning to put the wingnut on the caliper axle or the motor axle? And are there any advantages to doing one of those?

So at Regionals I saw a Battery Buggy with an Audrino on it that wound itself apparently by driving backwards in a circle. Is an Audrino considered an electrical component? Would that be a construction violation?

LittleMissNyan wrote:So at Regionals I saw a Battery Buggy with an Audrino on it that wound itself apparently by driving backwards in a circle. Is an Audrino considered an electrical component? Would that be a construction violation?

Rule 3.f: Participants may purchase or make components (e.g., motors, gearboxes, bodies, and chassis).
Electrical components are limited to batteries, wires, motors, switches, resistors, potentiometers, and
mechanical relays. Electric/electronic tools of any sort, except a stand-alone calculator, are prohibited.

Arduinos definitely aren't allowed.

sciolyperson1 wrote:

LittleMissNyan wrote:So at Regionals I saw a Battery Buggy with an Audrino on it that wound itself apparently by driving backwards in a circle. Is an Audrino considered an electrical component? Would that be a construction violation?

Rule 3.f: Participants may purchase or make components (e.g., motors, gearboxes, bodies, and chassis).
Electrical components are limited to batteries, wires, motors, switches, resistors, potentiometers, and
mechanical relays. Electric/electronic tools of any sort, except a stand-alone calculator, are prohibited.

Arduinos definitely aren't allowed.

Oof. Still a cool idea though!
Just for grins and chuckles, another interesting buggy I saw at Regionals was literally a Pinewood Derby car with some batteries and stuff on it. When I asked how it stopped, he replied with "it doesn't"

So I plan to start sighting with a rifle scope, but I know literally nothing about them.
1. I'm aware that they need to be non-electrical, though I'm not sure how to tell if scopes online are electrical or not. If I bought one that implements electricity, could I still use it without?
2. Would an electrical rifle scope without batteries meet construction parameters (it would be an electrical aiming device but I guess it wouldn't be without batteries)?
3. Finally, how much could I get out of a <$25 scope? I'm tight on money right now so I can't spend much.
4. Any super cheap rifle scopes you recommend?

MadCow2357 wrote:So I plan to start sighting with a rifle scope, but I know literally nothing about them.
1. I'm aware that they need to be non-electrical, though I'm not sure how to tell if scopes online are electrical or not. If I bought one that implements electricity, could I still use it without?
2. Would an electrical rifle scope without batteries meet construction parameters (it would be an electrical aiming device but I guess it wouldn't be without batteries)?
3. Finally, how much could I get out of a <$25 scope? I'm tight on money right now so I can't spend much.
4. Any super cheap rifle scopes you recommend?

OOH YES I KNOW A FEW THINGS
1. When you search up rifle scopes what you usually get is a non-electrical scope (with the tubular shape). Electrical scopes don't really look like that and they are kinda chunky ish and heavier.
2. I guess so? I mean it wouldn't really work as a scope though
3. I don't think you need a really expensive scope since you won't be shooting with it? So I think it would work fine
4. Like this one?

Interested in people's thoughts on attempting to "tattle" on other teams...

I was supervising BB at a recent tournament. A team was attempting a run and their vehicle did not move upon switch actuation. They setup for another run but were given no addition time.

After they were done, another team came up to me and asked if I failed run'd that team. I said no, referring to 5.c.viii: "If the vehicle does not move upon actuation, it will not count as a run and the team may request to set up for another run but will not be given additional time." The tattling team persisted until I told them to get lost.

The tattling team was obviously wrong but I find equally troubling the spirit of trying to ruin another team's performance.

Thoughts?

jgrischow1 wrote:Interested in people's thoughts on attempting to "tattle" on other teams...

I was supervising BB at a recent tournament. A team was attempting a run and their vehicle did not move upon switch actuation. They setup for another run but were given no addition time.

After they were done, another team came up to me and asked if I failed run'd that team. I said no, referring to 5.c.viii: "If the vehicle does not move upon actuation, it will not count as a run and the team may request to set up for another run but will not be given additional time." The tattling team persisted until I told them to get lost.

The tattling team was obviously wrong but I find equally troubling the spirit of trying to ruin another team's performance.

Thoughts?

This has happened to me before as well - the vehicle not staring part. In fact, that happened at both of my most recent competitions. It is perfectly normal, and fail running that team would simply be unreasonable. I too find that goal of bringing down another team's performance extremely unsettling - after all, Science Olympiad is about doing better than other people, not about making other teams do worse than you.

jgrischow1 wrote:Interested in people's thoughts on attempting to "tattle" on other teams...

I was supervising BB at a recent tournament. A team was attempting a run and their vehicle did not move upon switch actuation. They setup for another run but were given no addition time.

After they were done, another team came up to me and asked if I failed run'd that team. I said no, referring to 5.c.viii: "If the vehicle does not move upon actuation, it will not count as a run and the team may request to set up for another run but will not be given additional time." The tattling team persisted until I told them to get lost.

The tattling team was obviously wrong but I find equally troubling the spirit of trying to ruin another team's performance.

Thoughts?

If they were as rude/unethical as you'd describe, I'd either DQ them or do something to penalize their team.


To DQ them, I'd cite two things:

1) Student Pledge: https://www.soinc.org/code-ethics-general-rules

Student Pledge wrote:I pledge to put forth my best effort in the Science Olympiad tournament and to uphold the principles of honest competition. In my events, I will compete with integrity, respect, and sportsmanship towards my fellow competitors. I will display courtesy towards Event Supervisors and Tournament Personnel. My actions will exemplify the proud spirit of my school, team, and state.

2) Scoring Guidelines: https://www.soinc.org/scoring-guidelines

Scoring Guidelines wrote:Teams should be Disqualified or “DQ” only for misbehavior (to include excessive use of improper or vulgar language) or cheating. Put DQ as raw score and award N+2 points on the score sheet. Also, note on the score sheet the reason why teams were disqualified. Event Supervisors may remove from competition any student(s) whose personal or ethical behavior does not adhere to the Science Olympiad Code of Ethics.

Hope this helps.