BRICKWORLD TRAIN TRIATHLON - POWER FUNCTIONS ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

[BMW]

If you are attending Brickworld 2010 in Chicago next month (http://www.brickworld.us) then consider joining this exciting new contest:

BRICKWORLD TRAIN TRIATHLON - POWER FUNCTIONS ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Think you have what it takes to build the best locomotive ever? Then come join the Brickworld Train Triathlon as the best Lego locomotives battle it out to be top dog. This rigorous competition will average each locomotive’s performance across three important real-world measurement criteria for actual locomotives: Strength, Speed, and Endurance.

Strength – How much weight can a locomotive pull?

Speed – How fast can it pull it?

Endurance – How long can it pull it?

Entry Rules:

- Competition is open to all registered Brickworld attendees.

- Limit of one locomotive entry per builder.

- Locomotives must be power functions powered using any combination of motors but only a single standard rechargeable PF battery.

- Locomotives must be presented for qualification at 10am on Friday June 18th at the RAILBRICKS magazine table.

- Once qualified, all entries will remain on the competition table until all testing is complete at 5pm. During this time models may only be touched with a judge present. Builders will not be allowed to make upgrades/adjustments during this time although reasonable repairs are permitted if something breaks.

- Entries must be recognizable as a steam or diesel powered locomotive model. They will not be judged on prototypical accuracy, scale, detail, snot technique, or artistic merits. However, the judges may disqualify any entry which they deem a non-train. (i.e. submit actual train models and not just a bunch of motors and wheels thrown together designed to win this contest but doesn't look like a real train).

FAQ

Q: How is each locomotive’s score calculated?

A: Single heat for each criteria on the common layout. (Strength + Speed + Endurance)/3 where each criteria is a percentage proportional to the locomotive’s ranking for that criteria. Example: Lok A pulls 10 lbs in it’s strength heat. That 10 lbs falls 50% of the way between the worst pulling lok of 5 lbs and the best of 15 lbs. Lok A would then receive a “50” for its strength criteria. Speed and Endurance would then be calculated the same way and all three averaged equally.

Q: Uh, that’s a little complicated… why not just see who can pull the most?

A: Because the true “skill” of engineering is creating a design which optimally balances multiple requirements and tradeoffs. Real-life locomotives are measured not just on raw drawbar pull … but also on how fast they can deliver goods to market … and how fuel-efficient they are, among other things..

Q: Are there different size/weight categories?

A: No. This year only a single category.

Q: So does my tiny switcher stand a chance against a Big Boy?

A: Well... possibly. A tiny switcher won’t be able to pull nearly as much weight. But strength is only 1/3 of the score. The switcher could score better than the Big Boy in speed or endurance. So there is some strategy involved. Using 6 large PF traction motors will increase strength but at the expense of endurance. Using a high gear ratio will increase endurance but at the expense of speed. Using large drivers will increase speed but at the expense of strength. The best design, as in real life, creates the best balance of these three criteria.

Edited May 10, 2010 by BMW

[TaltosVT]

Endurance – How long can it pull it?

Just curious how this is going to be measured, given the built-in 2 hour time-out of the PF rechargeable battery? Will two hours be the upper limit, or will someone be keeping an eye on the locomotives to start them up again?

[Duq]

Sounds like a really interesting challenge. Too bad I haven't a hope of attending Brickworld... :-(

[BMW]

I don't think trains will run that long as we have a finite amount of time to conduct the testing. I'm trying to rig up a lower capacity PF batt that will take less time to run to exhaustion. Failing this, we can partially charge a regular battery.

Just curious how this is going to be measured, given the built-in 2 hour time-out of the PF rechargeable battery? Will two hours be the upper limit, or will someone be keeping an eye on the locomotives to start them up again?