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Q&A # 4, Update 1 states that it is permissible to place material
inside of the receiving box. Does this material have to be removed from the
box when the balls are placed in it?
No. See Q&A # 8, Update 1. Everything but the balls, platform and box
are considered to be part of your "system."
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Can a wire be resting under the edge of the platform box at the start
of operation or must all four edges of the platform box be in contact with
the 4x8 board at the start of operation?
You will not be allowed to have anything (e.g., a wire) between the platform
box edges and the plywood surface. The platform box must lie completely flat
and flush on the plywood. (Note - Update 1, Q&A # 10 still holds).
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While keeping the 32cm sides of the boxes parallel to the 4ft sides of
the plywood, can the boxes be initially placed shifted toward one of the
8ft sides of the plywood or must the boxes be centered along the 4ft width?
They can be shifted provided items 4, 5 and 8 in the Design Problem statement
remain satisfied.
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Must the energy storage devices be returned to their starting state by
the end of the transport time or can they complete their reset following
the end of the transport time?
The run is over when the transport is completed (i.e., when the balls come
to rest in the box). No post-transport energy storage reset time will be
allowed.
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Must all masses in the system return to their starting energy state
(elevation) independent of whether their converted potential energy is used
in transporting the balls? In other words, is the mass of every system component
considered a potential energy device independent of function?
The mass of every system component will not be considered a potential energy
storage device independent of function. However, if potential energy of any
system component is used to supply power to the transport process (e.g.,
using a large mass falling over a distance to provide energy to a delivery
mechanism) the run will be disqualified. If, on the other hand, some side
effect in your system causes the CG of a component to be lower at the end
of the transport but the change in potential energy was obviously not used
to power the transport process, (e.g., a piece of your system falls onto
the board or onto a tripping mechanism without imparting significant energy
to the system or to the transport process), then the attempt will not be
disqualified.
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Is the potential energy referring to the entire device or to each individual
element of the device? For example, if there were two identical springs (A
and B), A being initially compressed and B at natural length, could the run
end with B compressed and A at natural length?
The energy storage requirements apply to each system component individually.
Therefore, the answer to the 2nd question is NO.
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Can the motor be modified internally?
No.
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Must consumable items such as tape and aerosol lubricant fit into the
box before assembly and/or placement?
Yes. Everything except the board, platform, box, and balls is considered
to be part of your system.
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Must items used for assembly but not part of the device such as tools
(e.g., screwdrivers) fit into the box before assembly and/or placement?
No. Tools used to help assemble your system are not considered to be part
of your system as long as they are removed from the board area when the assembly
is completed.
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Does the system have to reset itself to its starting configuration after
the transfer?
No.
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Can the box and/or platform move during the "transport"?
Yes.
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Given the previous Q&A, will the distance d be determined by the original
distance between the box and platform?
Yes.
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Can a remote control device, powered by a separate battery, be used to
start the system?
No. A remote control device will be considered to be part of the system,
and the system can be powered only by the single AA battery.
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Q&A #4 in Update 1 states that it is permissible to place material
inside the receiving box. Can this material extend above the top surface
of the receiving box before, during, and after the transfer provided the
balls are below the top surface of the box after the transfer?
Yes.
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Is it legal to have something adhering to the balls when they are put
into the box? (I'm talking about some type of glue or sticky tape that would
remain on them).
No.