MechCompute

Last date of registration for accommodation is 20th December 2009.
Last date of abstract submission for accommodation is 25th December 2009.
Registrations for MechCompute close on 31th December 2009. Click here to register.
Results for Accommodation announced on Forum. Click here.

Devices have been used to aid computation for thousands of years, using one-to-one correspondence with our fingers. Abacus, slide rule, analytical machines, punching cards and the microprocessors; machines have redefined the definition of computing over the past few centuries. The evolving world is killing our curiosity and quest for learning the basics behind all these things. In this race for speed, let's go back to the fundamentals and come up with an innovative mechanism to perform simple calculations.

1.1 Problem Statement

The challenge is to make a Mechanical Calculator. No type of electrical/chemical power should be used to make this model.
The device should be able to perform operations of addition, subtraction and multiplication on any set of Non-Negative Integers at least for digits upto output of a two digit number.

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View the Machine Specifications »

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2.1 Machine Specifications

1. The internal functioning of the machine should be visible from outside. The machine should have provision for the inspection of its functioning. This clause will be judged subjectively.
2. For any operation (i.e. addition, subtraction or multiplication), the inputs need not be given in same locations.
3. Input and output of the working model should be defined explicitly before the start of the run.
4. At any point of time the model should be driven by mechanical energy only. Electrical/chemical power is strictly prohibited.
5. Stored potential energy can be used to drive the system.
6. The output of difference can be the modulus of the result of the inputs given.
7. In case the Actual Output during an operation exceeds "99", the machine should be able to show the last 2 digits of the actual result as output. (E.g. 25*6=150, Machine Output Acceptable= 50 or 150 both)
8. The device should consist of as few ready made mechanisms as possible. This clause will be judged subjectively.

View the Rules »

3.1 General Rules

1. The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any team indulged in misbehavior.
2. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the competition automatically. The teams will be given one hour setup time prior to the event. No extra time will be allotted for the same.
3. The machine would be checked for its safety before the competition and would be discarded if found unsafe for other participants and spectators.
4. The organizers reserve the rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any will be highlighted on the website and notified to the registered participants.

3.2 Team Specifications

A team may consist of a maximum of 3 members. Students from different educational institutes can form a team.

3.3 Eligibility

All students with a valid photo identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate in MechCompute at Techfest 2010.

3.4 Accommodation Criteria

1. Teams availing Accommodation facility have to summit a description of their model, supported by blue print of the model after filling up the Accommodation Application Form.
2. The typed abstract should not exceed two A4 sheets of text with Arial font size of 12 excluding the first sheet containing the Registration No., Title of the Machine and Details of the Team Members.
3. Diagrams should be on additional sheets (graphic/animation representation of the project is encouraged). The abstract should be concise and to the point.
4. Once the abstract is submitted then the participants will not be able to change the machine, if they wish to change the logic of the machine they will have to re apply and submit the same.
5. Abstract should be mailed to mechcompute[at]techfest[dot]org.
6. Last date of submission of abstract for participants who require accommodation is 15th December 2009. Abstracts submitted in the format specified will only be eligible for accommodation consideration.
7. Click here for the format of abstract.

3.5 Important Dates

1. 15th December 2009: Last date for submission of online Accommodation Application form for participants who require accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest 2010.
2. 15th December 2009: Last date to submit abstract to get accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest 2010.
3. 20th December 2010: Last date of registration for participants who do not require accommodation during Techfest 2010.

View the Judging Criteria »

4.1 Elimination Round

This round tests the proper functioning of the system for unit integers. The mechanical system of each team will be given 3 sets of input (all unit digits) one after the other, the machines which shows correct answers for each operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication) will qualify the elimination round.

Example :

Input set

• (A,B,C) : (2, 4, 6)

Output set

• Addition: (A+B, B+C, A+C): (6, 10, 8)
• Subtraction: (A-B, B-C, A-C): (2, 2, 4)
• Multiplication: (A*B, B*C, A*C): (8, 24, 12)

4.2 Final Round

In the final round, machines will be judged by overall user-friendliness on the basis of following criteria:

1. Minimum number of adjustments needed to bring the system to its initial configuration.
2. Portability and size of the system.
3. Creativity and ingenuity of the design.
4. Additional tasks that can be done by the machine.
   • a. Output if can be taken as input.
   • b. Calculations with higher number of digits.
   • c. Other operations like division, square root and others.
   • d. Storage system for numbers.
   • e. Any other task which adds to the utility of the device.

4.3 Certificate Policy

1. Certificate of Excellence will be given to all the winners.
2. Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams that are able to clear the elimination round at Techfest 2010.

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