Scientific truth is simple but fancy. Even the most sophisticated and complex mechanisms of modern times draw it's power from a principle as fundamental as the fact that “water is incompressible”. Keeping this motto of basic simplicity at the core of this competition, we present to you Hydranoid: Ascent, an opportunity to ascend your way up using hydraulic mechanism. Energize your machine with syringes filled with water and discover the joy of playing with the basics of our apparently complicated science.

Task

Teams have to make a rope climbing machine using only hydraulic mechanisms, should be able to push the ball from an adjacent platform. In this action it will have to compete with another machine in a knockout tournament.

Cash prizes worth INR 27,000 to be won.

Download the Problem Statement.

Register for Hydranoid:Ascent

Last date for registration is extended to 31st December,2011

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1. The arena will be four ropes.The ropes will look like corners of a square when arena is seen from the top.
2. There will be a central rigid pipe at the centre of square mentioned in point 1.
3. The ropes will be tied at both the ends to rigid surfaces.The rope will be taut.
4. The horizontal distance between the ropes, on the diagonally opposite ends, will be 600 mm.
5. The rope would be a jute rope of diameter approximately 3.7 cm.
6. There would be platforms at three different levels attached to a support pillar at distances of 500mm, 1000 mm, and 2000 mm from the start line. (Please refer to the diagram below for further details about the platform.)
7. The Arena from here on is defined form the perspective of a single rope and will be the same for the remaining ropes.
8. The distance from the centre of the rope to the centre of platform support pillar will be 300 mm.
9. Each rope has a corresponding platform.
10. The distance between the centre of the rope to the near end of the platform will be 200mm.
11. There would be a table tennis ball of diameter 40 mm kept on the platform at a distance of 50mm from the end i.e at a distance of 250mm from the centre of the rope.
12. The balls will be held stationary by mounting them on a holder.
13. The topmost platform will have a single ball at the centre of the support pillar. This ball will be at a distance of 300mm from the centre of the rope.
14. Checkpoints: There would be two major Checkpoints. Each major checkpoint has two minor checkpoints. The completion of the minor checkpoints will be considered as completion of major checkpoint. The minor checkpoints in a particular major checkpoint can be completed in any order. The minor checkpoints will be used for reinstallation during the run.The minor checkpoints are -
    a.Pushing the ball off the platform
    b.All the parts of the bot must cross the corresponding distance line for the platform i.e 500mm/1000mm.

Figure 1: Arena Structure with measurements	Figure 2: Platform dimensions with ball space
Figure 3: Platform dimensions	Figure 4: Distance of platform from rope
	Fig 5 : Jute Rope

Machine Specification

1. Machine should fit into a box of dimension 300 mm x 300 mm x 300 mm at the time of start. The extensions used to control the machine are excluded while measuring the machine dimensions.
2. Machine can expand or compress during the run.
3. Locomotion of any part of the machine should be governed by some hydraulic force.
4. Use of batteries or any other source of stored energy is prohibited.
5. Use of any type of electrical motors,springs,compressor, pressurised cylinders is prohibited.

Controls

1. The machine should only be controlled with the help of syringes(any other cylinder piston arrangement).
2. Maximum of two people will be allowed to control the machine at any point of time.



Materials Allowed

Any material from this list can be used in making the machine:
• Syringes (or any other cylinder-piston arrangement)
• Tubes
• Wood
• Metallic frames
• Rubber bands
• Plastic
• Water
• Metal pulleys

1. The maximum time given for completing the task is 6 minutes. A setup time of 2 minutes would be given before the start of the run.
2. The machine should not cross the marked line before the start of the run.
3. The control of the machine by the participants must only be syringes.
4. The machine has to climb the rope using hydraulic mechanisms only.
5. The run time starts from the moment any part of the machine crosses the starting line and stops the moment the ball on the topmost platform touches the ground.
6. Maximum of three interventions are allowed during a trial. Teams will have to start from the previous checkpoint. Time will not be stopped during the positioning of the machine.
7. Elimination Round:
   
   • The participants should complete the task of pushing the ball off the platform which is at a height of 500mm and then proceeding to climb a total height of 1000mm.
   • The time in this case stops when any part of the machine crosses the 1000mm line.
   • The only checkpoint in this task will be dropping the ball off the platform.
   • The run time of all the participants will be noted down and the top 32 teams with the minimum time for completion of the task will qualify for the next round.
   • The machine should physically come into contact with the ball to push it off the platform.
8. The knock-out round:
   
   • Teams will go four at a time in a race to drop the ball of the topmost platform and the team that pushes the ball out of the top most platforms first will win the knock out.
   • The participants cannot clear a major checkpoint without clearing any previous major checkpoint i.e. a participant cannot drop the ball of the second platform without dropping the ball off from the first platform.
   • The machine should physically come into contact with the ball to push it off the platform.
   • If the organizers feel any necessity to conduct a rerun to differentiate the teams then a rerun will be conducted.
9. The tubes containing the fluid should not be taut at any point of time while the run is going on and no direct pull or push force should be applied via tubes.
10. The machine should not damage the ropes in any form. This might lead to disqualification.
11. It is suggested that people add colours to the fluid used in tubes. This might help them while controlling the machine.
12. The maximum time limit for the run is 6 minutes. If the team is not able to reach the Finish Line within the maximum time then points will be awarded in accordance to path travelled.
13. The machine cannot damage the rope in any way.This may attract disqualification from the event.

General Rules

1. The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition.
2. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be disqualified from the competition automatically.
3. The organizers reserve all rights to change any of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any will be highlighted on the website.
4. In case of any discrepancy decision of the judges shall be treated as final and binding on all.

Elimination Round : Top 32 teams with minimum time will qualify for the knockout round.
Knockout Round : The team that drops the top ball first, will be declared as the winner of that particular round.

Eligibility

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institutes are eligible to participate in Hydranoid: Ascent at Techfest 2012.

Team Size

A maximum of three members are allowed in a team. Students from different educational institutes are allowed to make a team.

Certificate Policy

1. Certificate of Excellence will be awarded to all winners.
2. Certificate of Participation will be awarded to the top 32 teams that qualify for the final round.

1. Climbing Robot Simulation
2. Video of climbing robot
3. A video of hydraulic Arm
4. A video of Stirling Motor

The following teams have been provided with the accommodation on the basis of the abstract that has been submitted. Please note that even if you are not provided with the accommodation, you are still eligible to participate in the competition. Further additions will be made to the list.

1. 1292
2. 1304
3. 1346
4. 1248
5. 1043
6. 1302
7. 1314
8. 1306
9. 1285
10. 1323
11. 1265
12. 1328
13. 1332
14. 1344
15. 1349
16. 1324
17. 1260
18. 1254