Technology

There is no requirement that teams must use all 3 bolts to attach their Boomilever to the testing wall.

No, Teams must use the equipment provided by the Event Supervisor.

Yes, they will be considered one device at the National Tournament. Para 1 gives the general requirements for the event. But Para 3 defines the specifications and limits of the device. Specifically, para 3 says ” Device includes the Arm(s), an optional permanently attached Base..." para 3.a says "The Arm(s) may be attached to a Base..." and para 3.b says "...have any number of arms and joints." This means that the device may have any number of arms and there is no need for a physical connection between them.

Yes, the Science Kit Robot Arm (or any other Robot or its parts) may be used, but according to paragraphs 1. and 3.b., some design modification (technically one modification) must be made to be scored in Tier 1.

Damaging the ping pong balls would be a competition violation and result in the team being placed in tier 3 (see para 7.k.iii).

Yes, if residue is still on the ball after you remove the adhesive the ball will not be usable by the next team fairly, therefore would be considered damaged. Note, you must be able to clean and return the ball to the event supervisor quickly to allow the next teams to run fairly.

Damage to a ping pong ball would be anything that physically changes the ball so that it is not suitable for fair use by the next team. Including, but not limited to: changing its shape, mass, structural integrity, surface texture, fill gas, etc.

Yes, items fully supported by other objects that are in turn supported by a goal box get points, except in the case of a goal/bonus box supporting another goal/bonus box. In that case the supported items only get 1 point each per rule 7.e since they are not being supported by 1 goal or bonus box.

If you raise the ping pong ball throughout the run, NO OTHER POINTS COUNT or NO BONUS POINTS ARE AWARDED! The wording is: " Raising the ping-pong ball must be the team's final task to receive the Bonus Points." The task begins when the ball starts rising and no other points can be scored, or the bonus does not count! It is a separate, distinct, and FINAL action. And rising stops when time stops.

The ping pong ball may be raised or moved at any time during the run in actions that are independent of the "separate, distinct, and FINAL action" of lifting the ping pong ball for the bonus points. However, in order for both the bonus and all other points to count, a distinct raising action must begin with the ball at the same elevation as it started the run at (ie, touching the ground). For example, the ball may be placed into a cup that elevates the ball by any amount at any time during the run, so long as the ball is removed from the cup and is touching the ground immediately before a distinct lifting action begins.

Students, not the glider, must be at floor level (standing, sitting, etc.) when the glider is launched.

Launch is to release, catapult, or send off; therefore according to para. 1 and reference to the starting time in 4.k.2, the end of the launch process (not to be confused with the end of the flight) is when the glider leaves the competitors hand (which is also when the time starts).

Yes, the elastic material used with a launch handle may be metallic as long as the supervisors officiating the event feel the application is safe for use.

Yes, the launch handle can be any configuration desired, as long as energy to launch comes from elastic stored energy and the launch handle is safe.

No, but the launch handle must be of a safe configuration. If there is any perceived safety hazard, the event supervisor may prohibit its use or the students' participation in the event.

The elastic material used to launch the glider must be a) elastic and b) of a safe configuration.

No, the elastic does not necessarily have to be a complete loop but it must have a loop.