2009 Challenge: Explore the Volcano!
Tens of thousands of people have died as a result of volcano eruptions in just the last 50 years.
We need your help to solve this real-world problem:
There are 1500 potentially active volcanoes on Earth. 20 volcanoes are erupting at any given time in locations all over the world. One out of 10 people
live in areas directly threatened by volcanoes. In just the last 50 years, 30,000 people have died as a result of eruptions, including several volcanologists.
To learn about volcanoes without risking human life, volcano scientists (also known as "volcanologists") use remotely-operated devices to gather their data.
Conventional robotic vehicles are sometimes driven into volcanoes. However, the steep slopes and loose rocks make it very difficult for these vehicles to get close to active lava flows and other interesting features. In 1994, a robot named "Dante I" was sent into an Alaskan volcano. While attempting to climb out, it tipped over and was lost. A few years later, Dante II was lost in a similar mishap.
Flying machines have proven useful for reaching inaccessible areas inside volcanic craters. A remote-controlled helicopter built by Yamaha is being used successfully inside Mt. Usu in Japan. Lighter and smaller than wheeled vehicles, flying machines are easy to transport and take less time to get to their destination. However, they have a low payload capacity and can be expensive.
The Challenge
Scientists would benefit from having a low-cost device to transport sensor packages to the center of a volcano.
This low-cost delivery device does not need to make a round trip - it simply needs to deliver the payload to the desired
location without damaging it.
Your challenge is to design a simple device that can safely deliver a small payload to a specific target inside a
volcano. Of course, we don't have a real volcano at The Tech, so we have created a simulated one for this challenge.
Check out the drawings of the volcano Test Rig.
Here are the details:
Create a device that can deliver a payload of up to 6 geological instruments (a/k/a ping-pong balls) to the top of the volcano in
3 minutes.
- The device can have a motor or not
- Each geological instrument is represented by a ping-pong ball
- Your payload (ping-pong balls) has to stay on the top tier of the volcano to score maximum points, but you will still score points if the
payload makes it to the lower tier (again, check out the Test Rig drawing to see what we mean by "tiers".)
- The optimum goal is to end up with 6 ping pong balls independent of each
other resting undamaged on the top tier of the volcano at the end of the 3
minutes.
- The ping pong balls: must not be altered, must not leave a residue on the
volcano; judges must be able to play ping pong with the balls immediately
after your 3-minute device demonstration.
- You can create multiple devices to do a "swarm" approach to the volcano
- If the device has a motor and it is remote controlled then it MUST be able to return to the launch area
- If the device is motorless or has a motor that is not remote-controlled then it does NOT have to return to the launch area
- It is OK to build a "Launching Device" to help your device reach the top of the volcano to deliver its payload
- You CANNOT drive up the side of the volcano as it is an unstable surface - much like the ash mounds that occur at the top of active volcanoes
- The launch area/safety zone will be a 10' round area for the team and/or judges to stand in and your
device cannot extend beyond the launch area boundary during set up.
- The launch area is approximately 20' away from the outer edge of the base of the volcano
- Using your body to throw or kick your device is NOT acceptable.
- Your device can in no way damage the volcano.
- TETHERING - your device can be tethered or untethered, BUT your tether lines
cannot be used to steer your device. SAFETY is of the utmost importance.
Judges may stop any device deemed unsafe.
-
RESETS - Assuming the judges have no safety-related concerns, one member of
the team may leave the launch circle to retrieve a device that has landed
either on the floor or on the volcano side where it can be reached without
climbing on the volcano. The device must be returned to the launch circle
for a re-launch. You may not retrieve ping-pong balls from floor areas
outside the launch circle. Any device retrieval will be considered a reset
and will be so noted by the judges. The clock keeps running during any
reset.
Here is an outline of the launch area for your review.
Register Now!
Registration for Tech Challenge will be $40 per team. Financial assistance and scholarships are available.
If you are interested in participating in the 2009 Challenge but have questions, please email challenge@thetech.org or call
the hotline at 408-795-6105 and we will be happy to answer your questions.
EXTRA VALUE! YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES Trial Museum membership for each team member valid through April 25, 2009.
Photo copyright: Tom Pfeiffer
www.volcanodiscovery.com
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