LEGO Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Rules

LEGO® Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Rules

2005 Theme

Each participating entry must raise a LEGO U.S. Flag (part #10042) and keep it off the ground for at least 5 seconds - in as many steps as you can using only LEGO elements. How you do this is up to you.

Allowable Parts

All parts used in constructing a LEGO Rube Goldberg Machine entry must be built entirely from LEGO elements in original factory condition, with the following two exceptions:

string
rubber bands

Neither of the non-LEGO exceptions may be used as structural parts.

Stickers, tape, glue, oil, etc. are not allowed.

Remote control of any form is NOT allowed! This includes wired, wireless (both infrared and radio), or any other form of remote control.

There is no limit on the LEGO electrical parts that may be used. You may use as many motors, battery boxes, sensors, wires, controller modules (RCX, Scout, microScout, etc.) as needed.

LEGO windup motors and pneumatic parts ARE allowed.

Dimensions

Each entry must be no larger than a 48x48 LEGO baseplate (LEGO Part #628) or approximately 15"x15".

Each machine may not extend beyond its baseplate borders.

Guinness World Record Entry Rules - Community Machine

So that individual machines can be easily connected into a larger, community Rube Goldberg Machine, each entry planning to participate in the Guinness World Record Attempt must adhere to the following guidelines.

The machine must be triggered only by a LEGO ball entering from one of three predefined locations along one edge of the machine. The machine must also deliver a LEGO ball (either the same one or a different one) out through locations defined along the non-entry edges of the machine. It must also raise the flag.

The 48x48 maximum machine size can be divided into a 3x3 grid. Entry and exit are defined at the midpoint of the grids. (8, 24 and 40 studs). See Figure 1 below for more details.

Entry and exit positions along edges of individual Rube Goldberg Machine Entries must reserve space for LEGO pieces used to connect the machines. Within each grid, this corresponds to a 2x2 set of LEGO studs, 2 studs in from each edge. See Figure 2 below for more details.

A machine should deliver its ball at a speed equivalent to being rolled down a simple ramp made of 3 levels of 2x3 33 degree slopes. See Figure 3 below for an example exit ramp. Here are an Ldraw file for the ramp as well as simple web-based instructions.

Each machine must also abide by the specific Guinness World Record Rules.

For the Guinness World Record Attempt, the entire community Rube Goldberg Machine will need to be run through its entire process twice, so make sure your entry can be reset simply.

Teams of volunteers will be assembling the larger, community machine during the weeks of the fair that follow the judging. Directions on how to reset your machine will be very useful if you are unable to participate in the assembling process.

Machine Description

Each entry must accompanied by a written, step-by-step description of the machine. The description must be legible and concise.

A step is defined as a linear process, not a parallel process. If a plane, for example, moves up a wire and triggers a switch, that would be an example of one complete step. If the plane causes two things to happen, that would be a parallel result and would only count as one complete step.

The description must be legible and concise.

Machines that are going to be a part of the community Guinness World Record Attempt must include a designation of their input & output connections. Some example designations are (see Figure 1 below):

A-S1 (enter at A, exit at S1)
B-L3 (enter at B, exit at L3)
C-R2 (enter at C, exit at R2)

Entry & Judging

To enter, download the entry registration form from the Alameda County Fair Website. The official Alameda County Fair Exhibit catalog description for the contest is on page four of the Technology Adventures section of the catalog. The Rube Goldberg Contest is Division 2022 and is free to enter. The contest is open to any California resident.

One entry for is required for each Rube Goldberg machine. All entries need to be delivered to the fairgrounds on Saturday June 18th or Sunday June 19th. The entry will need to be demonstrated to judges at the time of delivery. Day and time is assigned based on the class of the entrants.

We are still assigning judging categories

Getting LEGO Flags, Balls and other LEGO Parts

There are many sources of LEGO sets and/or parts:

shop.lego.com
LEGO Stores: Valley Fair Mall (Santa Clara), Stoneridge Mall (Pleasanton), Hillsdale Mall (San Mateo)
Bricklink
Retail stores: Walmart, Toys 'R Us, Target, etc.
BAYLUG: Bay Area LEGO Users Group - at some meetings members bring LEGO pieces for sale.

If you are unable to obtain a LEGO U.S. Flag or ball, Playing At Learning has a small quantity available for sale at a reasonable cost. All proceeds will be used to support our general programs.

The ball is the same size as the ball that has been used in the past two FIRST LEGO League Challenges. It is available in two current or recent LEGO sets

LEGO Duplo Knights' Castle
LEGO Orient Expedition: Scorpion Palace

Additional Resources

Rube Goldberg Machine Details

Figure 1: Overall Entry/Exit Scheme

Figure 2: Example space reservation for 16x16 grid.

Figure 3: Example Exit Ramp (including reserved space for connections)

Thanks & Credits

Thank you to the LEGO Users Group community, especially the Great Ball Contraption folks for the idea on how to cascade individually built LEGO structures. We contacted the Rube Goldberg folks before we figured out that aspect. This then led us to seek out what was the current largest machine - and thanks to the Guinness folks for accepting this approach.

RUBE GOLDBERG and Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is ™ and © 2003 Rube Goldberg Inc. LEGO is ™ of The LEGO Group. All other trademarks, service marks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners and all rights are reserved.



Home Mission Programs Calendar of Events Get Involved Resources About Us Contact Us Sponsors P@L Store	LEGO® Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Rules 2005 Theme Each participating entry must raise a LEGO U.S. Flag (part #10042) and keep it off the ground for at least 5 seconds - in as many steps as you can using only LEGO elements. How you do this is up to you. Allowable Parts All parts used in constructing a LEGO Rube Goldberg Machine entry must be built entirely from LEGO elements in original factory condition, with the following two exceptions: string rubber bands Neither of the non-LEGO exceptions may be used as structural parts. Stickers, tape, glue, oil, etc. are not allowed. Remote control of any form is NOT allowed! This includes wired, wireless (both infrared and radio), or any other form of remote control. There is no limit on the LEGO electrical parts that may be used. You may use as many motors, battery boxes, sensors, wires, controller modules (RCX, Scout, microScout, etc.) as needed. LEGO windup motors and pneumatic parts ARE allowed. Dimensions Each entry must be no larger than a 48x48 LEGO baseplate (LEGO Part #628) or approximately 15"x15". Each machine may not extend beyond its baseplate borders. Guinness World Record Entry Rules - Community Machine So that individual machines can be easily connected into a larger, community Rube Goldberg Machine, each entry planning to participate in the Guinness World Record Attempt must adhere to the following guidelines. The machine must be triggered only by a LEGO ball entering from one of three predefined locations along one edge of the machine. The machine must also deliver a LEGO ball (either the same one or a different one) out through locations defined along the non-entry edges of the machine. It must also raise the flag. The 48x48 maximum machine size can be divided into a 3x3 grid. Entry and exit are defined at the midpoint of the grids. (8, 24 and 40 studs). See Figure 1 below for more details. Entry and exit positions along edges of individual Rube Goldberg Machine Entries must reserve space for LEGO pieces used to connect the machines. Within each grid, this corresponds to a 2x2 set of LEGO studs, 2 studs in from each edge. See Figure 2 below for more details. A machine should deliver its ball at a speed equivalent to being rolled down a simple ramp made of 3 levels of 2x3 33 degree slopes. See Figure 3 below for an example exit ramp. Here are an Ldraw file for the ramp as well as simple web-based instructions. Each machine must also abide by the specific Guinness World Record Rules. For the Guinness World Record Attempt, the entire community Rube Goldberg Machine will need to be run through its entire process twice, so make sure your entry can be reset simply. Teams of volunteers will be assembling the larger, community machine during the weeks of the fair that follow the judging. Directions on how to reset your machine will be very useful if you are unable to participate in the assembling process. Machine Description Each entry must accompanied by a written, step-by-step description of the machine. The description must be legible and concise. A step is defined as a linear process, not a parallel process. If a plane, for example, moves up a wire and triggers a switch, that would be an example of one complete step. If the plane causes two things to happen, that would be a parallel result and would only count as one complete step. The description must be legible and concise. Machines that are going to be a part of the community Guinness World Record Attempt must include a designation of their input & output connections. Some example designations are (see Figure 1 below): A-S1 (enter at A, exit at S1) B-L3 (enter at B, exit at L3) C-R2 (enter at C, exit at R2) Entry & Judging To enter, download the entry registration form from the Alameda County Fair Website. The official Alameda County Fair Exhibit catalog description for the contest is on page four of the Technology Adventures section of the catalog. The Rube Goldberg Contest is Division 2022 and is free to enter. The contest is open to any California resident. One entry for is required for each Rube Goldberg machine. All entries need to be delivered to the fairgrounds on Saturday June 18th or Sunday June 19th. The entry will need to be demonstrated to judges at the time of delivery. Day and time is assigned based on the class of the entrants. We are still assigning judging categories Getting LEGO Flags, Balls and other LEGO Parts There are many sources of LEGO sets and/or parts: shop.lego.com LEGO Stores: Valley Fair Mall (Santa Clara), Stoneridge Mall (Pleasanton), Hillsdale Mall (San Mateo) Bricklink Retail stores: Walmart, Toys 'R Us, Target, etc. BAYLUG: Bay Area LEGO Users Group - at some meetings members bring LEGO pieces for sale. If you are unable to obtain a LEGO U.S. Flag or ball, Playing At Learning has a small quantity available for sale at a reasonable cost. All proceeds will be used to support our general programs. The ball is the same size as the ball that has been used in the past two FIRST LEGO League Challenges. It is available in two current or recent LEGO sets LEGO Duplo Knights' Castle LEGO Orient Expedition: Scorpion Palace Additional Resources http://www.uwm.edu/CEAS/rube/ http://www.pbs.org/saf/1208/teaching/teaching3.htm http://www.adventuresci.com/rube/ http://www.pen.k12.va.us/Pav/Science/Physics/Contests/RUBE%20CONTEST/rube.html http://www.anl.gov/Careers/Education/rube/ http://www.anl.gov/Careers/Education/rube/rube.html http://www.anl.gov/Careers/Education/rube/rubequestions.html#step_dfn http://www.rube-goldberg.com/ http://www.teamhassenplug.org/GBC/ (another "Rube-like" idea) http://www.teamhassenplug.org/GBC/contraptionideas.htm (lots of mechanism ideas) Rube Goldberg Machine Details Figure 1: Overall Entry/Exit Scheme Figure 2: Example space reservation for 16x16 grid. Figure 3: Example Exit Ramp (including reserved space for connections) Thanks & Credits Thank you to the LEGO Users Group community, especially the Great Ball Contraption folks for the idea on how to cascade individually built LEGO structures. We contacted the Rube Goldberg folks before we figured out that aspect. This then led us to seek out what was the current largest machine - and thanks to the Guinness folks for accepting this approach. RUBE GOLDBERG and Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is ™ and © 2003 Rube Goldberg Inc. LEGO is ™ of The LEGO Group. All other trademarks, service marks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners and all rights are reserved.
	Educational Enrichment Through Play © 2006, Playing@Learning, All Rights Reserved Last Updated: 05/13/2006 9:25 AM