The machine should fit in a box of dimensions 70cm X 40cm X 50cm at every given point of the race. The external device used to control the machine is not included in the size constraint.
The machine has to be controlled by a wireless remote control mechanism throughout the competition.
The machine must have a dual frequency remote control circuit or two control circuits which may be interchanged before the start of the race to avoid frequency interference with other teams.
Remote control systems from toys might be used. Remote control systems available in the market may also be used.
The machine may be roughly classified into structural and functional parts:
Functional parts
- Gears, differential gear shift, engine with clutch, pulley and pulley belt, springs, motors and servos (non propulsion purposes only),batteries, wheels and suspensions are allowed to be used as available in the market.
Structural parts
- Chassis, body and body cover, steering mechanism have to be built by the participants themselves. JUDGING for the same will be strict and the participant will be IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFIED if any of the above structural components is found to be ready made.
Important : Use of joints (wherever needed in the steering mechanism,) which have degrees of freedom more than a revolute joint can be used as available directly in the market. Although, while using such a joint, the following rule has to be obeyed: if the ready made joint comes with a subassembly, then the links connected by the joint can NOT be used directly. The linkages have to be separately fabricated and joined to the ready made joint. As an example, a ball and socket joint (a "spheroidal" joint, or a joint in which the ball-shaped surface of one link fits into the "cup" like depression of another link. refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_and_socket_joint ) can be used as available in the market, but without the linkages (in the subassembly it came from). The required links have to be fabricated and then joined to the above ball and socket joint (which will thus form an entire new subassembly containing fabricated links connected by a ready made ball and socket joint).
A revolute joint (which allows rotation along single axis, examples are: a ball joint or a steering knuckle : refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heim_joint ) ; wherever required in the steering mechanism; has to be fabricated by the participants.
The machine must use only mechanical power generated by an internal combustion (IC) engine for propulsion. Only one IC engine should be used in the machine. Use of any other sources such as chemicals, compressed gas, rockets etc is not allowed.
The use of IC Engines for propulsion is essential. Any machine which uses DC Motors for propulsion will be disqualified. However DC motors and servos can be used for steering mechanisms or any other mechanism apart from propulsion.
The machine must have an onboard power supply to provide power to any mechanism requiring electric power.
The maximum allowed capacity of IC engine to be used is 3.2 cc.
The electric voltage anywhere in the machine should not be more than 12V at any point of time.
Start Control Mechanism: There shall be a countdown preceding the start of the race. No participant is allowed to touch the machine during the countdown period. This implies that teams have to devise a starting mechanism which controls the start of the machine. However, this starting mechanism must be removable and must not interfere with the race. If found to be doing so, the team will be prohibited from using it.
The start control mechanism must NOT provide any thrust to the machine in the direction of motion along the track.
The size of the start control mechanism is not included in the size of the machine.
Providing a clutch mechanism between the engine and the wheel would prove useful, as it would discard the necessity of a start control mechanism; and also prevent the engine from dying out at any stage of the race.
Participants are advised to use a proper cooling mechanism to prevent overheating of the engine.
Ready made wheels from the market are allowed.
The machine will be inspected and if found to be dangerous the team will be disqualified. This decision rests solely with the judges and the organizers.
The machine has to be necessarily controlled by a wireless remote control system. The participants have to bring 2 remote controls of distinct frequencies or a dual-frequency remote control, which can be switched to either frequency just before the start of the run. This is done to avoid frequency interference with competing machines.