This is my First Engineering Competition
- Nina Alicbusan
- Dec 4, 2016
- 1 min read
Updated: Sep 2, 2019
Ryerson Engineering Competition (REC) is an annual event with varying competitions that emphasizes different skills of the competing groups. For this year, my partner, Deanna, and I embarked on this challenged and competed in Junior Design.
The Objective
The design scenario was: three camps surround the base camp and the camps and the base camp are separated by a wall for added defense. The objective of the design is to build a system with limited dimensions that can transport or send a load, in this case, food and other supplies, to the camps outside the base camp. The competitors were given a bag of craft items and more. The challenge is to design and implement the design prototype in 5 hours and create a presentation for the panel of judges.
The Design
We designed a launcher that is capable of catapulting a load over the wall.
Prototype 1
Main Component: Mouse Trap ( as the catapult main system)
Stopping Mechanism: Tension from Elastic
Stabilizing Structure: Duct tape Attached to Table
Load Launch Position: Sticks attached to mouse trap wire (frame) and duct tape (mesh)
Prototype 2
Stopping Tension was decreased
Duct tape added to accommodate for more positions
Weight was distributed across the device by adding weight on the front of the device and Popsicle sticks to make the device more rigid.
Prototype 3
Duct tape at the very top is cut off to reduce air resistance
Result
The design managed to deliver a medium load to all three camps! Even better result is that we won third place in the competition. We didn't get the chance to compete in Ontario Engineering Competition (OEC) but this gave us confidence to compete more and strive to do better.
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