2008 MIT "Kick Butt" contest

• Apparatus specifications
• Apparatus composition
• Entering the contest
• On the day of the competition
• Questions?

Registration deadline: Sunday, November 9, 2008, at midnight (EXTENDED!)
Contest date: November 20, 2008

Nov. 7 update:

Registration deadline extended to Sunday, November 9 at midnight EST

Nov. 3 update:

Rule change! Liquids other than water may be allowed (see "Apparatus" below)

The goal of this contest is to build a deliberately over-engineered mechanical apparatus that will perform the simple task of extinguishing a cigarette in an extremely indirect and convoluted fashion.

In Great Britain, such a contraption would be referred to as a “Heath Robinson machine,” taking its name from the British cartoonist who was famous for his drawings of outrageously improbable contraptions. In the U.S., such machines are commonly referred to by the name of an American cartoonist known for his drawings of similarly comic inventions (his name, now a registered trademark, we dare not mention).

Please read the following guidelines carefully. Only entries complying with these guidelines will be accepted, and machines that do not follow these specifications will be disqualified on the day of the competition.

Apparatus specifications

• The apparatus must be capable of successfully extinguishing a lit cigarette.
• The apparatus must be no larger than six (6) feet long, 30 inches wide, and five feet tall. It must be able to be assembled and run on a tabletop of these length and width dimensions that is approximately 29 inches off the floor.
• The apparatus must accomplish the task of extinguishing a cigarette using between 10 and 25 steps.*
• The apparatus must accomplish the task in three minutes or less.
• The apparatus must not imply indecent or lewd expressions.
• Any loose or flying objects must remain within the set boundaries of the apparatus.
• The apparatus must be capable of being reset for another run within 15 minutes.
• Once started, the machine should be capable of completing the task without further human intervention or adjustment. A penalty will be assessed for any human intervention on a machine in motion (see judging scorecard).

 * A “step” is defined as a discrete action that contributes to the completion of the task by transferring or releasing energy. A step is further defined as a linear process, and is counted only once, no matter the number of events that result. For example, a toy car rolling down a ramp and knocking over the first domino in a row of dominos would count as a single complete step. And even if the rolling toy knocks over two dominos, causing two different domino rows to begin falling, it would still count as a single step.

Apparatus composition

• No animals may be used in the apparatus.
• Use of power cords and other external sources of electricity are not permitted; however, battery power may be used.
• No flames or electrical arcing may be used on or within the apparatus.
• Pinch points must be avoided.
• No hazardous materials or explosives may be used on or within the apparatus.
• If you wish to use a liquid other than water as part of your apparatus, you must email smokeout-questions@mit.edu with a detailed description of the liquid(s) and how it will be used, so we can obtain advance clearance from the Environment, Health, and Safety Office.
• A provisional step-by-step description of the machine and list of materials used must be submitted as part of the registration application. However, recognizing that small changes may occur in the final construction of the machine, a final description and materials list must be submitted on the morning of the competition.
• The apparatus must be safe to the satisfaction of MIT’s Environmental Health & Safety office (EHS). Teams whose entries have been accepted must complete and submit an EHS Activity Safety Proposal by November 14, 2008. Additionally, an EHS official must inspect and approve all machines before the start of the competition.

Entering the contest

• To enter, fill out the online entry form completely.
• Teams of two to six people are eligible to compete. All team members must be currently affiliated with MIT as students, employees, or affiliates.
• Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through Sunday, November 9, 2008 at midnight, or until the entry limit of 20 teams has been reached.
• A team’s participation in the contest implies consent to use photos of individual team members in local, regional, and national publicity.

On the day of the competition…

• Teams may begin setting up their machines in Lobby 13 at 10 a.m on November 20.
• Each team must submit a concise, typed step-by-step description of their machine (which may also include a schematic diagram) and a list of materials used by 10:30 a.m.
• All machines must be set up no later than 11:15 a.m.
• One representative of each team must participate in a team captains’ meeting at 11:30 a.m., while at least one other must remain with the team’s machine
• EHS inspection of machines will commence at 11:30 a.m.
• Teams will compete in a designated order, beginning at 12:15 p.m.
• A team may choose to void one run of their machine without penalty for any reason. Any team member present can announce the void, but must do so before the machine completes that run. Void requests presented after the machine has finished will not be granted. If a team chooses to void their initial run, their second and final attempt will be added to the end of the order.
• While results are being calculated, audience members and members of the media will be allowed to view the machines more closely. During this time, teams are encouraged to set up and run their machines again and be prepared to answer questions during this time.
• No machine may be taken down or disassembled until the contest is over and results have been announced.
• Each team is responsible for removing their machine and cleaning up their area following the contest. All materials must be removed from Lobby 13 by 3 p.m.

Questions?

Send an email to smokeout-questions@mit.edu.