Vincennes Regional Guidelines for JUNKYARD CHALLENGE
I. Variable parameters:

a. The Challenge Object mass will be between 100.0 grams and 500.0 grams.
b. The Challenge Object will be no larger than 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm.
c. Students may not touch the Challenge Object until they are ready to demonstrate their Autonomous Device (A.D.)
d. The Challenge Object will be revealed after the A.D. is impounded.

II. Prohibited Materials used in the Autonomous Device

a. Commercial Scales (balances) and/or components of commercial scales.
b. Commercially calibrated weights and masses.

III. Construction time will be limited to 30 minutes.
IV. Demonstration

a. Students will install the Challenge Object in their device.
b. Timing will be started when either:

i. The Challenge Object is released.
ii. OR when the Autonomous Device is activated.

c. Timing stops when the team delivers the written estimate of the mass to the judge.
d. To qualify for tiers 1 and 3, students must demonstrate to the judges that their Autonomous Device actually measures weight or mass.
e. Students may not simply estimate the mass of the Challenge Object by visual inspection or guessing.
f. The autonomous Device itself may not be touched after timing begins.

Daryle Riegle
Professor, Physics & Engineering Department
Vincennes University
Vincennes, Indiana
driegle@vinu.edu