Specifically, you are requested to design and demonstrate a well-tested, cost-effective, and reliable prototype apparatus which would allow a quadriplegic to cast accurately a fishing lure using a specified rod and reel.

Since this is to be a prototype, the sip-and-puff input controller will be simulated by switches mounted on a separate input box or console.  All switches must be "momentary" in nature such that they must be held in place for action to continue.  When all switches are released the mechanism must come to rest within 2 seconds and must remain at rest until a switch is activated.

Contest Parameters:

1. The rod and reel to be used in this competition will be the 61 cm long (25") fiberglass rod and spin-cast reel manufactured by ZEBCO as the "Snoopy Catch 'em Kit" (model 1281), which includes the reel, the rod, and line. At contest time this rod and reel must carry at least 12 meters of fishing line.        [This kit is available through Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and other sporting good stores.  It also can be purchased directly from the manufacturer.  To purchase directly, send a check or money order to ZEBCO, Attn. Jenni Foster, P.O. Box 270, Tulsa, OK, USA, 74101.  The cost of the “Snoopy” combination kit, including shipping, will be $10.00 each in US funds.  Make sure that a return shipping (street) address is included with the order (not a P.O. Box number).  Group orders are welcome.]  Reel & Lure Pics
2. The device you design and build to cast the lure will be controlled by one person solely through inputs from "momentary-on" switches, which simulate sip-and-puff switches, or from potentiometers (variable resistors).  These must be located on a separate control box (console) which is linked to the casting device through an electrical cable.  There must be at least one connector between the control box and the casting device.  No more than four single- or double-throw switches may be used in the control box and no more than two potentiometers may be used in the control box..  The control box may not contain any batteries or power sources.
3. The device may be powered by no more than 5 electromagnetic devices (motors or solenoids), each with an excitation voltage of 24 Volts DC or less and each with a maximum power rating of 50 Watts.  A recommended motor is Radio Shack motor “SR-65S” (model number 273-0256), which is rated for 9-18 Volts DC.  Teams using other motors should be prepared to document that the regular Retail Price for each of their electromagnetic devices, including any associated purchased motor controller, is less than or equal to $10.  (Student designed and built motor controllers or electronics are not subject to this limitation.)
4. Except for the rod and reel, all other parts of the device must fit into a 370mm x 165mm x 165 mm (inside dimensions) box or a  Popular Mechanics "16 inch" Tool Box (# PM 00983) which has approximately the same dimensions. If the device is left attached to the rod for transport the tip of the rod may extend out of an opening in the storage box if everything else is inside.   Inspection of the devices for conformance to this and other construction rules will take place during the organizational period prior to the running of casting tests. Once this inspection takes place, teams may assemble their devices if necessary to be ready for later testing.  (Note that contrary to some past contests you will not be required to assemble from the storage box under the pressure of run timing.)   [But teams are limited to 30 minutes to assemble, test, and/or modify their device before it must be given to the impounding officials prior to the start of the contest.  During this time teams may not cast  with any lure or weight attached to the fishing line.]
5. The person controlling the device will be seated on a chair located on a 120 cm by 120-cm square piece of plywood that simulates a dock at the edge of a pond.  The height of this “dock” will be no more than 1 inch (2.5cm) above the height of the target surface.
6. The casting device with rod and reel must be mounted to a vertical support pole attached to the “dock”.  A vertical support pole constructed from a standard 3/4" Schedule 40 steel pipe will be anchored to the dock by a floor flange that is screwed down to the dock surface, or by other rigid connection.  The pole will be centered at a position 30 cm back from the pond edge and 30 cm left of the right edge of the dock.  The top of the pole will be 90cm + 1cm above the dock and it will be open, unthreaded, and uncapped. The device must also be removable without damage to the pole.  Course Layout Sketch
7. At the contest the judges will supply a “lure” for each team to use in the casting trials when it is their turn to run.  The simulated lure will be a bag of light-weight tightly woven cloth, measuring approximately 40 mm by 60 mm, and filled with a loose, dry granular material, such as sand, to a total weight of 20 grams.  The bag will have a small ring sewn into it so that it can be attached to the fishing line by a standard fishing swivel.    Reel & Lure Pics
8. The judges will oversee the laying out of a contest venue which includes free access along the casting range, and is free of obstructions for at least several meters beyond the maximum cast distance of 6 meters.
9. Teams will be assigned their order in the competition by a random process.

10. Teams will have three minutes to do the following tasks. Teams not meeting this time limit will be disqualified.
1. Attach the previously assembled device with the rod and reel to the support pole,
2. Have one team member seated in the chair on the dock ready to operate the device,
3. Make one practice cast and retraction, if desired
4. Make any consequent adjustments prior to the timed tests.  Adjustments to the device must be completed within the three minute time limit.
11. (Blank--dummy number so remainder of items will not change numbering)
12. Once the device has been mounted on the support pole and a practice cast has been completed (if desired), the operator/contestant may not touch the device.  The device must be operated entirely through the control box.  A penalty of 500 cm will be assessed against any cast where the judges observe a  violation of this rule.  A blatant or intentional violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
13. Casts will be made at each of three different targets, all on one line extending perpendicular to the dock edge.  This line, when extended, must pass through the center of the support pole base. Target center distances will be between 3 and 6 meters from the dock edge.  The exact center distances chosen at any contest site will be up to the judges at setup time. Once chosen, the same target distances will be used for all contestants.
14. Prior to revealing the three target distances for the competition, judges will “impound” all devices to prevent any unfair advantage to teams competing later in the order of the trials.
15. Targets will consist of 20 cm diameter circles with clearly marked centers drawn on a 28 cm square piece of stiff paper or cardboard.  The targets must be securely fastened to the floor ("simulated pond") and their edges all taped down.  Targets must be clearly labelled as "A", "B", or "C".Course Layout Sketch
16. A carpeted surface is recommended (but not required) for the simulated pond to minimize sliding of the simulated lure over the floor.  (Or, an outdoor location might be an option, weather permitting.)
17. Using the control box the seated contestant will operate the device to cast the simulated lure attempting to hit each of the targets.
18. During the timed test, two casts must be made towards each target distance.   The team may determine the order of targets, but the selection must be announced to the judges before the cast.
19. After the lure comes to rest following each cast the judges will mark the edge of the lure that is closest to the target center.  Colored "sticky" dots are suggested for markers.   Following clearance from the marking judge, the line must be rewound and the device must be reset to be ready for the start of the next cast.  The finger-tip controls must be used to initiate and control this rewinding and resetting.
20. When all casts for one contestant are finished the judges will measure the accuracy of each cast using a tape measure to determine the distance, to within1 cm, from the marked final lure edge positions to the center of the appropriate target.  The markers should then be removed before the next team competes.
21. If a lure is cast beyond the simulated pond and strikes an obstruction which stops it or changes its direction the distance recorded for the cast will be 600 cm.
22. All casts, markings, and rewinds must be completed within a 6-minute period. The lure and line must be rewound after the last cast.  For any casts and rewinds not completed within the 6 minute period the distance used to score that cast will be triple the measured distance.  No cast may be started after the end of the six-minute period.
23. A distance of 600 cm will be recorded for any casts not attempted, regardless of the reasons for these unsuccessful casts.
24. Teams should be prepared to operate their devices in a room with a ceiling or overhead obstructions as low as 3.5 m (approximately 11.5 feet) if necessary.  A distance of 600 cm will be recorded for any cast if the lure hits the ceiling or any overhead obstruction. Two casts which hit the ceiling or overhead obstructions will disqualify a team.
25. If a supplied lure breaks or tears, timing of the run will stop while a replacement is affixed to the line, and the trials and the timing will resume.   If a line breaks or becomes entangled so that a cast cannot be made, this will count as an unsuccessful cast and penalties will apply as if no cast were made on that attempt. The timing will stop, the team will then have a maximum of two minutes to untangle or repair the line, and a penalty distance of 5 cm per second will begin accruing immediately. When the team is ready to begin the next cast the timed trials will resume.  A team will be disqualified from the competition if it has more than two such unsuccessful casts.
26. The score for each cast will be computed according to the following formula:

Cast Score = Distance from marker to target center + any penalty distances accumulated
 
1. The final score is the sum of the score from all runs.  The team with the lowest score wins!

NOTE:  Contestants should also review the "Guidelines for Conducting the Contest" page, since additional information concerning the contest is available there.  The information is available at   Guidelines for Conducting the Contest

Questions should be addressed to:
Dr. Charles J. Hurst, P.E., address hurstc@asme.org
Answers to all questions will be found in both the
Chronological Q&A section   and the Categorical Q&A section

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