THAR
BE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS “BLOWIN’ ‘N THE WIND”
(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
TASC
2007
(Last updated 11/30/2007)
Ahoy! Cap’n TASC will be answerrin’ any questions
yer havin’ concernin' the TASC design
project. This page be providin’ those questions and
answers fer all teams t' view. Be
checkin’
back here on a regular
basis since questions be added when ye scurvy dogs ask ‘em. Arrr!
Q
Are
there rooms available for out of town teams?
Q
What
time does the TASC event start?
Q
How
high are the curbs? Are sails allowed to
be over the curbs if they don't touch the curbs?
Q
What
is the material that the sail vehicles will be rolling across -wood,
cement,...?
Q
Can
the ship have different sails for each of the courses?
Q
Is the design notebook required to be submitted by
October 12th? We have very little information.
Q
Where
do we submit our design notebooks?
Q
I am
just wondering if we will receive information about this soon and where to send
the fee?
Q
Can the
11”x17.5”x10” box be utilized by the Vehicle during the competition?
Q
Do I get
a radio controlled (R/C) car?
Q
Must
the car/ship be controlled by the R/C controller?
Q
Does
the power for the locomotion of the ship have to come from the wind?
Q
Are you
still going with the same box fans?
Q
What is
the Standard Box Fan (Size,Brand)?
Q
How
many members are allowed on a team?
Q
Must the
teams attempt all four challenges?
N N N N
Q In a
previous FAQ you clarified that you could set the ship in front of a fan, then
turn the fan on. 1) what happens in the
case of the challenges that require multiple voyages? Can you turn the fan off
before EACH departure, position the ship, and then turn the fan on again? 2) in the case of the
A
Once the ship starts movin’
fer that competition course, teams cannot be adjustin’ the fans.
Team members may be adjustin’ fan speed afore deployin’ their ship to be competin’
on a course. Fans can be set to any settin’ afore the run. However, no fan
speed adjustments are permitted once the team’s entry begins motion.
Fer 1), ye can be settin’ the fan afore the run, but once started, the fans be
kept as they arrrre, even for multiple voyages.
Fer 2), teams cannot be adjustin’ the fans betwixt voyages fer different
routes.
A
Based on what be stated
in the rules, the clock be startin’ when the teams take their ship out of the
box: "Fer each competition, the
official time (t) starts when a team takes the ship out of the standard paper
box to be startin’ the event." Time
will end when the datum be crossin’ the finish line.
A
Nay, use of a ramp is
not allowed. If ye review yer course
figure #2 in the rules, the fans at the harbors be overlappin’ the start/finish
lines. Ye should be able to be catchin’
the wind from the starting line.
Q Are there
rooms available for out of town teams?
A
Sleepin’ quarters be
offered to TASC teams fer $50 a night on Friday, November 30th at
the Fairfield Inn, 84 South Park Drive, Colchester, VT 05446. To register fer
rooms, ye best be callin’ 802-655-1400 and mention “UVM TASC.” Note:
Rooms may sell out, so be bookin’ yer room early. Cancellations can be made 24 hours in
advance.
Q What time
does the TASC event start?
A
All TASC teams must be
arrivin’ by 8:00 am on Saturday, December 1st. The event be startin’ at 8:00 am sharp. Ye pirates better be ready!
Q 1) We have
found that some steering mechanisms propel the vehicle forward, even when there
are no fans present. Is this going to be allowed? 2) How much weight will be available at each
station?
A
1) Just a
reminder: ye must be getting’ all yer
movin’ pow’r from the wind. So, the
scabrous judges won’t be allowin’ anything that be propellin’ the ship forward
without the wind. 2) At each station, we
should be havin’ more than enough weight available of each type o’ cargo. Can ye be handlin’ it, mateys?
Q For the
Design Notebook requirements, do we need to include the table of contents,
final design, or previous submittals in the final submittal? Or is that
information only needed in the hard copy of the Design Notebook at the
competition? Also, should we include the feedback which we received on the
first and second submittals?
A
Aye, the formatting
(title page, table of contents, etc.) be required fer the final submittal of
the design notebook, not just fer the display table copy. And aye, ye should be incorporatin’ the
feedback from previous submittals into yer design notebook fer the final
submittal.
Q On the
crosswind challenge are we allowed to push the ship to get it started toward
the harbor and if so how hard can we push it?
On the crosswind is there a specific side of the track that we have to
stay on going from one harbor to the other?
A
Nay, ye can’t be
pushin’ the ship t’ get it started in the Crosswind course. This might be a bit
tricky, but we be knowin’ teams t’ be figurin’ it out. In the Crosswind course, the ship must be
usin’ both channels of the course: one
side be fer one direction, and one side be fer returnin’ in the opposite
direction.
Q In the
uphill course, will we have to sail back to the start line or can we carry the
boat to the start?
A
Teams can be carryin’
the boat from the finishin’ line back to the startin’ line in the Uphill
course.
Q The rules
show the plan view of the island, (island challenge) but do not state the
height above the ground surface. This is
important because the sails extend much further than the wheelbase of the ship.
A
Q Does the
Futaba handheld control station also need to fit in the box with the rest of
the components?
A
Ye bilge rats be lucky…
the hand held control is not needin’ to be fittin’ into the box.
Q Every time
we try to Upload our design notebook to the TASC website, we get an error
message “The upload failed.”
A
Unfortunately, there be
a file size limit of 5 Mb fer the file upload.
If there be some way to decrease the file size (mainly by decreasin’ the
picture file sizes in the document), ye can be tryin’ that. You can be e-mailin’ the file too. E-mail at UVM be havin’ a 10 Mb limit; so if
yer file be bigger than that, please be zippin’ it or faxin’ a hard copy to
Dawn Densmore at 802-656-8802.
Q Is it legal
to manually change the tack of the landsailer at a harbor during the harbor
competition, if changing the tack requires lifting the sail off the mast,
turning it over, and replacing it? There
is no major change to the boat, only the direction of the sail's curve.
A
Nay, teams may not be
manually changin’ the tack o’ the landsailer at a harbor by liftin’ the sail
off the mast, turnin’ it over, and replacin’ it. The handlin’ that be allowed at the harbors
includes unloadin’ and loadin carrrgo or placin’ the vehicle at the startin’
line o’ the other lane in the "Across the Wind" challenge. Any movement of vehicle parts should be done
by usin’ the remote control and the servos.
Q The Rules
(page 4) state that "…Fan speed may be adjusted by the team members prior
to deploying their ship to compete on a course. Fans can be set to any setting
prior to the run. However, no fan speed
adjustments are permitted once the team's entry begins motion." Does this mean that the ship can be placed in
the starting position in front of an inactive fan, and THEN the fan can be turned
on? (We are finding that if the ships are
placed and held in front of an operating fan there is severe buffeting and
sometimes actual damage to the ship.)
A
That statement is to be
ensurin’ the teams arrren’t switchin’ the fan settin’s while they are
competin’; once set, its stays set. To
answer yer question, aye, teams may be placin’ their ship in the startin’
position in front of an inactive fan, and THEN be turnin’ the fan on. That be fittin’ within the "before
motion" criteria. No fan
adjustments will be allowed after that.
Q How high
are the curbs? Are sails allowed to be
over the curbs if they don't touch the curbs?
A
The curbs be a maximum
of 2 inches; howe’err they will most likely be less than 1.5 inches. The sails are allowed to be goin’ over the
curbs without penalty.
Q What is the
material that the sail vehicles will be rolling across -wood, cement,...?
A
Ye need to be readin’
section C or the rules. The surface of
the competition courses be a smooth and flat not-t’-be-slippin’-on (non-skid)
type of surface. It be the surface on
stage risers not quite a fathom high (4-ft).
A
The scorin’ fer the
Uphill course be just the weight of yer cargo ye successfully move up the hill
within the time we give ye.
A
Here be some
clarifications of the rules. (The rules on the web site be updated.)
▪
If the ship has more
than one part, the datum must be marked on the portion that contains the cargo.
▪
Cargo must cross the
finish line (in addition to the rule about the datum line).
▪
Manual placement of any
separate part outside the starting box is not permitted.
Q Can the
ship have different sails for each of the courses?
A
Aye, different sails can
be used fer each of the different courses.
Howe’err, all sails and parts used fer the ship(s) must all be fittin’
into the standard paper box at the same time, not just the parts fer one course
at a time.
Q Is the
design notebook required to be submitted by October 12th? We have very little
information.
A
The first submittal of
the design notebook is not meant to be havin’ scads of design information in
it. This information will become part of
the final design notebook. This submittal
is meant to be showin’ that ye understand the project and are plannin’ how ye
be goin’ to approach it.
The
first submittal mainly be focussin’ on the plannin’ process. We be lookin’ fer a schedule developed by yer
team showin’ yer tasks and milestones based on the main TASC schedule. If ye be familiar with Microsoft Project and
buildin’ a schedule, then that be helpin’ ye.
We want the actual milestones listed and the dates. An example:
Start project 9/30/07 All Team
Members
Perform project plannin’ 9/30/07 to 10/12/07 All
Team Members
Develop schedule 9/30/07
- 10/5/07 Team Member 1
(name)
Swab the decks 9/30/07
– 12/1/07 All Team Members
...etc ...dates... Team member x
...etc
Submit Design Notebook (1st) 10/12/07 Team
Lead (name)
Design ship chassis.....
etc...
As
shown, some items may be havin’ tasks that be more detailed under the summary
task. That's what we would like to be
seein’: how ye be goin’ to break out the
tasks ye need to be doin’ to design and build yer ship, as well as the tasks ye
need to be performin’ to submit yer design notebook at the times we be sayin’.
We
are also lookin’ fer how the team plans to approach the design: which competitions ye plan to be doin’ and
what things ye need to be thinkin’ about in yer design fer each of those
competitions.
▪
What are ye required to
do? What things does yer ship need to be doin’ to complete that course? What type of design characteristics do ye
need to be considerin’?
▪
What types of things do
you need to consider fer the other courses?
A
The intent of that
statement is to be ensurin’ the teams do not go around and switch the fan
settings while they be competin’; once
set, it stays set. To answer your
question, aye, teams may place their ship in the starting position in front of
an inactive fan, and THEN turn the fan on.
That be fittin’ within the "before motion" criteria. No fan adjustments will be allowed after that
or ye scurvy landlubbers will be walkin’ the plank.
A
Yer team needs to be
determinin’ how ye plan to navigate the course.
There be no restrictions except if defined in the rules. A-C cargo may be carried directly from A to
C; or can be carried with A-B cargo to B, then with B-C cargo to C, etc. Yer team needs to be determinin’ yer
strategy. Ye have the scoring equation;
be makin’ it work fer ye.
A
If ye feel the vessel
has adequate control that ye don't need steering or other control, then nay, ye
don't need to be usin’ the servos or batteries.
Q
Where do we submit our design notebooks?
A
The committee be
creatin’ an upload area on the TASC website.
Ye scallywags can upload yer notebooks by selectin’ the “UPLOAD” button on the
main page (or by clickin’ the Upload link here). Or if ye be submittin’ harrrdcopies, ye can
fax yer notebooks to Dawn Densmore at
802-656-8802
A
As long as you start
with the basic RC kit required, you can use whatever materials are necessary to
build your ship design. At each
competition arena, the team will be given a specific frequency chip and controller
to use at that arena. So, all teams must
be the same fer the interchangeability of the RC chips.
As long as you use the parts that are in the kit, you can do whatever you want
with them. Please remember to think
about how the modifications will affect the operation of those parts. Testing should help you ensure you'll be OK fer
the competition.
A
All teams must be usin’
the RC kit from Vermont Toy and Hobby includin’ the battery pack and
servos. At each competition arena, the
team will be given a specific frequency chip and controller t’ use at that
arena. So, all teams must be the same
fer the interchangeability. <Big word fer a scalawag pirate> The TASC committee recommends usin’
rechargeable batteries if that makes sense fer yer team.
Q
I am just wondering if we will receive information
about this soon and where to send the fee?
A
If yer askin’ about
registerin’ yer team to participate in the TASC competition, please be
followin’ the link to the registration form.
http://www.cems.uvm.edu/TASC/2007/registertasc2007.htm There be no fee to enter.
If you have any further questions concernin’ registration, please be contactin’
Dawn Densmore at (802) 656-8748.
A
The TASC Committee is
willin’ t’accept all 5 of yer team registrations to compete at UVM. Be sure t’ be contactin’ Dawn Densmore to
update the names of the bilge rats on yer team list before competition
day. (802) 656-8748
A
The only mandatory
items the TASC Committee be requirin’ teams t’ use in their vessel design is
the RC kit defined in the rules. Teams
may be usin’ whatever other materials they want to be constructin’ their
vessels. So, aye (yes), teams can be
usin’ manufactured construction components (i.e. Fischer-Techniks). But ye scurvy dogs need to be rememberin’
that all locomotive power must be comin’ from the wind.
A
The TASC committee be
wantin’ all ye landlubbin’ teams to be usin’ the servos that come in the RC
kit.
Q
Can the 11”x17.5”x10” box be utilized by the Vehicle
during the competition?
A
Ye can be usin’ whatever
ye want fer the design of yer ship; howe’er, everything must be fittin’ INSIDE
a standard paper box prior to competin’. My interpretation of this question is
that you would want to just be havin’ the box ready to go with minor
adjustments or attachments to make it "seaworthy." If this interpretation is correct, the box
itself will not completely fit inside another box; so I would have to say
"nay" (no). Whatever you be
usin’ as part of yer design must all be fittin’ inside a standard paper box, not
be the box.
Q Do I get a
radio controlled (R/C) car?
A Nay. The TASC
committee changed from the use of an R/C car to an R/C transmitter/receiver
kit. The kits be allowin’ the teams more
creativity in the ship design. Ye scurvy
dogs need t’ order the kit defined in the project description. (They be rules, not guidelines… unlike the
pirate’s code) The kits be includin’ one
(1) transmitter, one (1) receiver, two (2) servos, and one (1) four-cell
battery box.
A The TASC project description be statin’ that the
teams need t’ use the R/C kit as defined in the Section B. That kit is the one that be available at
Vermont Toy and Hobby. The teams decide
how they will be incorporatin’ that kit into their design. But the kit is required to be used as part of
the design. Please be referrin’ to the
TASC rules.
B. REQUIREMENTS
AND REGULATIONS
(Second bullet)
Teams shall use a standard
remote controlled (R/C) receiver/transmitter kit around which to build their
ships. (Futaba Model FUTJ25**) Kit is hobby grade, not toy grade. Kit includes one (1) transmitter, one (1)
receiver, two (2) servos, and one (1) four-cell battery box.
Kits can be purchased at
Vermont Toy & Hobby at a discount fer $40.00 (regularly $65.00). Shipping is available fer $5.00. Please contact Stuart Wilkins, Manager of
Vermont Toy & Hobby, fer details.
Kits will be available in early September.
Essex
Phone
802-878-1757
The sole purpose of the R/C
kit is to provide the teams with a standard remote control fer the ship
functions (except propulsion). How the channels of remote control are used will
depend on what a team designs to compete in each course.
Don’t forget, the design must be fittin’ inside the box. It can be folded or disassembled, but all
components must fit (and the cover must be able to be placed on top of the
box).
Q
Must the car/ship be controlled by the R/C
controller?
A Aye. (Yes fer
you land lubbers.) The ship must be
controlled usin’ the remote control kit defined in the rules.
Q
Does the power for the locomotion of the ship have to
come from the wind?
A Aye. The only
thing ye can be usin’ t’ move yer craft be the wind from the fans. The motors in the kit be just fer the remote
control of mechanisms on the craft (e.g. steerin’, sail raisin’, little
mechanical pirates!... but no cannon firin’).
No power be allowed from rubber bands! No power be allowed from fallin’ weights or
cannon balls! Just the wind mateys!
A Well, shiver me timbers! The TASC committee be pickin’ the replacement
model: Lasko 20" Box fans Model
#3720 (without thermostat controller) be available fer $18.99 from Ace Hardware
in
|
© Clown
Magic (www.clownmagicnyc.com) |
Q
What is the Standard Box Fan (Size,Brand)?
A The contraption that be producin’ the blowin’ winds
be the Lasko 20" Box Fan. The Model #3755 can be used if ye can find
‘em. Or ye can use the Model #3720
described in the previous question. The
Model #3720 will be used on the day ye be competin’.
A There be no restrictions on battery type or
brand. The plannin’ committee be
concerned about battery life on the day o’ the competition. Team members need to be decidin’ what type of
batteries would work best to support their design fer competition day.
Q How many
members are allowed on a team?
A
Teams be required t’
have no more than five total land lubbin’ blokes and lasses.
Q
Must the teams attempt all four challenges?
A
Teams be encourag’d t'
attempt all four performance challenges; howe’errr, participation in at least
one perforrmance challenge be required.
In order t' be considered fer the grand prize, a team must compete in at
least one performance categorrry and submit a design notebook.
If you land lubbers be
needin’ t’ ask the Cap’n a question about the TASC project,
click here t’ be
goin’ t’ the “Contact
Us” page.