Student Robotics Competition

Space Elevator, Jr.

 

Earth & Space Conference 2008

11th International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction, and Operations in Challenging Environments

 

Sponsored by

the ASCE Technical Activities Committee, Aerospace Division

March 3-5, 2008

Long Beach, California

 

For More Information Contact: Dr. Ahad Nasab                        E-mail: anasab@mtsu.edu Tel: (615) 898-2052

 

Space travel using a space elevator system is a fairly recent and quite innovative concept supported by many government agencies, industry and universities.  In this concept, a motorized climber utilizes ground-based beamed power to climb a thin ribbon at moderate speeds covering several thousand miles.  The concept will help to carry payloads to various orbits at a very cost-effective way.  You may also contact http://www.elevator2010.org about the concept and its possible uses and limitations, and for information on other similar activities and competitions.

The purpose of this year’s Student Robotics Competition is to design and build a climber, which is able to climb a ribbon with ground-based beamed power carrying an optional limited payload.

 

Student teams from high schools, 2-year, and 4-year colleges are encouraged to participate in this exciting competition.  This competition requires a multi-disciplinary team of students to contribute to various components of the climber.  However, the project does not have a significant financial requirement.

 

The payload – detachable and provided by the teams - are to represent either the various components carried to space, or in the case of a moon-based space elevator, the payload would represent the components of command module to be established on the moon surface.

 

Objective: To design and build a climber that would climb a 20-foot vertical ribbon solely under radiative power (light) received from a light source at the base of the ribbon

 

 

1.      Ribbon

The ribbon will be used by the climber to travel vertically upwards.  The ribbon, provided at the competition site, will be a 2-inch webbing ribbon, similar to the one offered by REI stores.  (BlueWater 2-Inch Climb-Spec Tubular Webbing  $0.60/ft, Item 472049 )

 

The ribbon will have a length of about 30 ft and will be hung from a ceiling truss or other device with a weight of at least 50 lbs hanging at the bottom. This will create adequate tension for the climber.

 

2.      Light source

The light source will be furnished at the competition.  Tentatively, the light will be the kind used in theater lighting with Fresnel lens focusing.  The total amount of power consumption by the light will be limited to 5,000 watts.  Notice that the amount of radiative power available by the light will be less due heat and beam divergence losses.  The light will be mounted at the base of the ribbon and directed upward along the length of the ribbon.  The starting and stopping of the climber will be controlled by the status of the light only. 

 

More details on the specific type of light source and its spectral properties will be provided as it becomes available.  It is anticipated that the light source will have a beam diameter of 12-16 inches at the base and about 24 inches at 30’ elevation.

 

3.      Climber

The climber is expected to have means of collecting the light radiation by solar cells or other means to generate electricity to power motors used in climbing the ribbon.  Teams are encouraged to use other ideas and innovative schemes to accomplish the task of climbing the ribbon.

 

The ribbon will not be available for teams to thread it in the climber.  The climber design must be such that it can be mounted on the ribbon without needing the free end of the ribbon.  However, the ribbon can be loosened to ease the mounting operation.  The climber must not fall or roll down when the light power is off.  However, the climber must be designed so that it can be pulled down with a belay line or under battery control.

 

Important Requirements

Teams are required to incorporate a battery-based system for raising and lowering the robot using a remote control (remote control could be accomplished with systems as simple as a fishing line connected to a toggle switch.  This is the only instance where an on-board power source could be used.  The weight of the battery is NOT considered as payload.  Part of the competition score will depend on the climber performance under battery power.

 

4.      Safety

Teams are expected to design their climbing systems in a way that is safe to operate and transport.  Climbers are to be designed in such a way that they stay on the ribbon at all times.  No part of the climber should separate from the climber while on the ribbon.  No explosives, chemicals, liquids, or expendables are allowed.  No balloons can be used either, since the purpose is to simulate space environment.

 

Belay lines will be provided to control the climbers in motion.  Teams must provide a means of hooking belay lines at the top and bottom of their climbers using typical carabineers. 

 

5.      Fabrication and Component Costs

Teams are encouraged to fabricate as many components as possible to minimize the purchase cost of their systems.  Extra points will be given to teams who use innovative techniques to reduce material cost.  Cost of student labor will not count towards the total system cost.

 

6.      Other Rules and Limitations

  1. No batteries, capacitors, or other means of storing and re-using power is allowed on-board the climber except for batteries used for raising and lowering the climber under battery control.
  2. No tether will be attached to the climber other than the belay line.
  3. Climber total weight must be limited to ten (10) lbs.
  4. Small batteries for operation of the on-board electronics (if any) are allowed.
  5. Any payload must be detachable for weighing purposes, but must be verifiably secured to the climber while on the ribbon.
  6. The climber must stay on the ribbon and track the ribbon at all times.
  7. The climber must in no way damage the ribbon – very important.
  8. The climber will be limited to three (3) feet in any dimension.

 

7.      Technical Report/ Poster Presentation

Prior to the testing of the climbers, each team shall submit a technical report and prepare a poster for the conference poster session.

 

Competitors’ technical report must be submitted to the designated judges by 12:00 noon on Monday, March 3, 2008.

 

All participants must be present for the poster session.  In addition, each team’s robot must remain on display in the presentation room for the entire duration of the poster presentations.  Team members may neither work on, nor test their robots during the poster session.  The judges will perform their static judging of the robots during the poster session.

 

The objective of the posters is to describe the engineering design process that the team used to arrive at the final solution.  The poster should include the components listed below.  Each of the six (6) topics is worth five (5) points.  A perfect score for the presentation is 30 points.

 

A.        Problem Identification (Worth five (5) points):

            What tasks must the robot perform?

            What constraints were present that limited the design choices?

            What technical problems had to be solved in order for the robot to perform the required tasks?

 

B.        Preliminary Ideas (Worth five (5) points):

            Describe the ideas that were generated for solving the problem.

            Were these ideas adaptations from existing products?

            What criteria were used to narrow the list of possible solutions?

 

C.        Refinement (Worth five (5) points):

            What physical, CAD, and/or analytical models were built in order to evaluate the

            design alternatives?

 

D.        Analysis (Worth five (5) points):

            What data and results were obtained from the models?

            How did this information help guide the design process toward a final solution?

 

E.         Final Solution (Worth five (5) points):

            Display images of the robot, wiring schematics, and flow charts of programs to describe how it

            works and how it was fabricated.  An itemized cost analysis should also be shown.

 

F.         Presentation Quality (Worth five (5) points):

            The following items will be evaluated by the judges to determine the quality of each presentation: team appearance, organization, and visual aids.

 

Technical Report

Each team is required to prepare a technical report which would outline the design process and detailed technical description of their climber system.  Each team must present the judges with five (5) copies of their written report before the poster presentation. The report should have the following components. The technical report is worth 25 points.

 

A.                 Cover Page – identifying the climber name, school name, and team members

                                    (Worth five (5) points)

 

B.                 Introduction – describing space elevator concept and applications (Worth five (5) points)

 

C.                 Climber Design – this section may be divided to describing various components

 

                                      (Worth five (5) points)

 

D.                 Team Work/ Project Management (Worth five (5) points)

 

E.                 Budget (Worth five (5) points)

 

 

8.      Judging and Scoring

Members from space industry and educational institutions will serve as judges for this competition.  The overall score will depend on scores on each of the following categories.

 

► Technical report                                                     25 points

► Oral presentation                                                    30

► Climber speed under battery control                     25

► Climber speed under radiation control1                 50

► Climber payload1                                                   50

► Climber weight                                                       20

► Innovative ideas                                                     20

► Climber reaching the top2                                      200 points

 

1 Speed and payload points will only be given to the teams reaching the top.

2 Climbers not reaching the top will receive a maximum of 100 points proportional to

   the achieved height

 

9.      Deadlines

► Interest Forms Due:                                                                     Friday, January 25, 2007

► One (1)-page Project Summary & Project Status:                   Friday, February 15, 2008

► Final Report:                                                                                 Monday, March 3, 2008 (Onsite)

 

If you have any questions about the competition – concepts, logistics, costs, etc. – please contact

 


Ahad Nasab, Ph.D. , Student Robotics Competition and Poster Session Chair:

Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN
Tel: (615) 898-2052

Fax: (615) 898-5697
E-mail: anasab@mtsu.edu

 

 

 

 

2008 ASCE Student Robotic Competition Interest Form

 

 

 

Instructions:

1.                  Print clearly or type.

2.                  Make a copy for your records.

3.                  Return this form by Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 (by US mail , fax, or email)

4.                  Everyone participating onsite in the competition is required to complete and return an official Conference registration form.  Badges will only be provided for registrants.

 

Submittal Date: _______________________________________________________________

 

Name of College/University: _____________________________________________________

 

Name of Faculty Advisor(s): _____________________________________________________

 

Street Address/PO Box: _________________________________________________________

 

City: _______________________________________ State: ________ Zip: _______________

 

Tel: ___________________________________  Fax: _________________________________

 

Email: ________________________________________________________________________

 

Number of Model Entries (maximum of 3): __________________________________________

 

Student Team Captain: _________________________________________________________

 

Other student team members:

 

1. ______________________  2. ______________________  3. ________________________

 

4. ______________________  5. ______________________  6. ________________________

 

7. ______________________  8. ______________________  9. ________________________

 

Please submit this form to the Student Robotics Competition and Poster Session Chair:


Ahad Nasab, Ph.D.
Middle Tennessee State University

Murfreesboro, TN
Tel: (615) 898-2052

Fax: (615) 898-5697
E-mail: anasab@mtsu.edu