Rube Goldberg Machine Contest

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Lambda Beta chapter is considering participating the the Rube Goldberg Machine Contest in Spring 2008.

Note: All information below is from the Rube Goldberg website, www.rube-goldberg.com.

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest (RGMC) brings the ideas of Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Rube Goldberg's "invention" cartoons to life. This Olympics of Complexity is designed to pull students away from conventional problem-solving and push them into the endless chaos of imagination and intuitive thought. To be specific, groups are given an elementary challenge: something as simple as peeling an apple, sharpening a pencil, or putting toothpaste on a toothbrush. But instead of just "solving" the problem, students have to make the solution as complicated and as convoluted as possible. In fact, the more steps, the better the Rube Goldberg Machine. And what a machine! An assemblage of ordinary objects, mechanical gadgets, and the oddest odds and ends are linked together and somehow get to the desired goal.

For 2008, the challenge will be:
Assemble a hamburger consisting of no less than: one precooked meat patty, two vegetables and two condiments, sandwiched between two bun halves.

1. The machine must complete the task as described in the challenge.
2. The machine must be no larger than 5'H x 6'W x 6'D.
3. The machine must have a minimum of 10 steps.
4. There are no maximum number of steps.
5. The machine must run, reset and run again in 9 minutes.
6. No corporate logos or names other than the official RGMC Sponsors may be displayed.
7. No live animals may be used in the machine.
8. The machine must not imply profane, indecent or lewd expressions.
9. Any loose or flying objects must remain within the set boundaries of the machine. This includes, but is not limited to, drops of water, slivers of balloon, and other “small” objects. Steam and other gasses are exempt from this rule.
10. No open flames may be used on the machine.
11. No hazardous materials or explosives can be used on the machine.
12. The machine must be safe to the satisfaction of the RGMC officials. RGI must approve any questionable items prior to competition.
13. Teams are limited to 12 members. The number of people allowed on stage once the contest has begun is limited to 2. Some locations may further limit the number of team members - details about each location are given on the schedule.
14. Each team member must be enrolled as a student at the representative school.
15. Any destructive action against another machine is grounds for disqualification.
16. Participation in the contest implies consent to use contest photographs in local, regional and national publicity.

Regional Competitions:

Purdue University	Lafayette, IN	February 24, 2007
University of Toledo	Toledo, OH	February 18, 2007
Penn State	University Park, PA	February 23, 2007
Texas A&M	College Station, TX	February 24, 2007
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology	Rapid City, SD	February 20

National Competition:

Purdue University

Lafayette, IN

March 31, 2007

• Rube Goldberg Homepage
• Pictures from Phi Chapter (Purdue University)