The TECA/Kelvin Technologies Transportation Contest is about conceptualizing, designing, and constructing a transportation device or craft for optimal efficiency.  The contest has several variations and involves concepts associated with air, land, sea, space and / or intermodal transportation.  Scoring factors involve craft performance (i.e., efficiency) in addition to the design documentation and construction.

TEAM:

Each team will consist of 2-5 students who are members in good standing of a TECA-affiliated chapter.  The team may be composed of no more than 40% graduate students.  A maximum of one transportation team may enter from each institution at each TECA Regional Conference and the annual ITEA Conference.

PROCEDURES:

1.  All teams must "check in" at a designated time and place to receive the contest specifications.

2.  A set of specific contest rules will be included in the contest packet.  The contest rules will identify basic criteria and related details for the competition.  All contest rules must be adhered to.

3.  Aspects of the specific transportation device or system to be developed will occur at each contest site.  Note: The physical work on the solution is often completed off­site.

4.  Each team will have the opportunity to test and modify their craft using any unique guideway or path.

5.  All entries must be completed in total prior to the specified deadline in order to be eligible.

6.  Teams are responsible for cleaning­up their area at the conclusion of the contest.

Violation of any of the rules stated above constitutes immediate disqualification.

MATERIALS:

All materials necessary for the physical construction of the transportation device or system will be supplied at the time of registration for the event.  However, adhesives, abrasives, paint, decals, etc. will not be provided by the contest coordinator.  These materials are the responsibility of competing teams.  The use of any hand tools or portable power tools is permitted but the use of stationary power tools is not permitted.  Tools and supplies that would be most useful include the following:

    Utility saw
    Coping saw
    Needle nose pliers
    Ruler
    Triangles(30°/60° & 45°)
    Sander
    Scissors
    Pencils
    Tape rule
    White glue
    Hot glue gun
    Portable drill and bits
    Hot wire cutter
    Masking tape
    Clear tape
    Brads
    Matches / lighter
    Calculator

JUDGING CRITERIA:

TECA management will appoint several judges to evaluate the contest entries.  On scoring items where qualitative decisions or subjectivity is required, the judges’ scores will be averaged.  The judges’ decisions are final.

All transportation devices will be scored on the basis of the rationale, design, construction, and efficiency.

1.  Ideation:  Written and illustrated documentation that reflects the concept behind the final design.  This preliminary plan of your transportation device should be submitted to the contest judges at the appropriate time.  The ideation phase could include a discussion of technical factors, notes, and an evaluation of ideas that might play an important role in the design of the craft.  Any calculations performed may also be included.

    Points Earned for the Ideation Phase
    Excellent  = 21-25 points
    Good  = 16-20 points
    Fair / Average = 11-15 points
    Poor  = 6-10 points
    None = 0 points

2.  Design Documentation / Sketches:  This portion of the contest focuses on the ingenuity of the contestants.  Original and creative designs will be issued higher scores.

    Points Earned for Creativity and Originality
    Extremely Creative and Original = 21-25 points
    Very Creative and Original = 16-20 points
    Somewhat Creative and Original = 11-15 points
    Not Creative nor Original = 6-10 points

3.  Construction:  This portion of the contest assesses the quality of construction and overall appearance of the transportation device.  Well constructed designs will be issued higher scores.

    Points Earned for Construction
    Excellent Construction = 21-25 points
    Good Construction = 16-20 points
    Average Construction = 11-15 points
    Poor Construction = 6-10 points
    None = 0 points

4.  Efficiency:  This portion of the contest is concerned with the efficiency of transporting humans or freight from one point to another.  Efficiency usually takes into account the amount of cargo hauled in relationship to the fuel consumed and / or the speed of transport.

Note: A set of specific efficiency contest criteria for each individual competition will be provided in the contest packet to be received at the time of registration for this event.  The "efficiency" score may be based on distance, time, or some related criteria.

    Points Earned for Efficiency

    Greatest Efficiency = 25 points
    Second Best Efficiency = 23 points
    Third Best Efficiency = 21 points
    Fourth Best Efficiency = 19 points
    Fifth Best Efficiency = 18 points
    Sixth Best Efficiency = 17 points
    Seventh Best Efficiency = 16 points
    Eighth Best Efficiency = 15 points
    Ninth Best Efficiency = 14 points
    Tenth Best Efficiency = 13 points
    Eleventh Best Efficiency = 12 points
    Twelfth Best Efficiency = 11 points
    Other = 0-10 points

GRADE TOTAL   100 points