Abul Kalam Design Challenge: Guidance, Design Specifications and Rules

ABUL
KALAM
DESIGN CHALLENGE
2021
GUIDANCE, DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
AND RULES
Contents
List of Amendments: ................................................................................... 2
1. Introduction ........................................................................................... 3
2. Main Competition Conditions .................................................................. 4
3. Technical Regulations for the Device ....................................................... 5
4. Judging criteria ………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 6

5. National Heats …………………………................................................................ 6
6. Timeline …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………6
INTRODUCTION:
The Design Challenge, organized by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, is an annual competition for
students in their first year of study on an undergraduate engineering degree programme.
This year, the competition is to build a repeatable vehicle. The ‘vehicle’ can be any movable device -
heeled, walking, sliding, jumping, rolling or other. The vehicle runs in a ‘lane’ with a wall at one end and
a circular target marked on the floor. The device starts at an origin on the target and must move to touch
the wall placed at right angles to the point and then return to stop as close as possible to the start point.
The device is to be started manually, but once it has, no interference or outside control is allowed. The
project represents the first stages of a robotic device that could be used for materials handling purposes.
Schematically (in stages) what needs to be done is shown in Figure 1. The aim of the
competition is to make a device stop with ‘d1’ as small as possible.
The device can be of any construction and propulsion method, limited only by cost, and
size, within the specification detailed below. However, the device must be totally self-contained and must
have no other means of external control, except for a start switch.
The device can only measure the distance travelled mechanically and cannot use any
method of programming. Full details are given later.
Points will be awarded for the accuracy of the device based on its ability to return to
the original starting position on the target. In the spirit of the competition, it is expected that the device be
designed, developed, and manufactured by students within the facilities of their university. Any member
of the team should have a good understanding of the design principles, theories,
manufacturing methods and materials used.
MAIN COMPETITION CONDITIONS:
Devices run on a 1m wide lane over a range of distance from 1.4m – 4.0m. The lane will be horizontal
and the wall vertical, noting that surfaces will be flat and level within normal building tolerances. The
distance to the vertical wall will be varied over three ranges for the competition heats, and teams will
make attempts at each of the short, medium, and long-range distances.
The range distances (minimum to maximum) are shown in Figure 3 and are as follows:
Short range 1.4m – 2.4m
Medium range 2.4m – 3.2m
Long range 3.2m – 4.0m
The lane will be a flat, horizontal, wooden surface; the wall will be 0.3m high, vertical, rigid and heavy.
The target distances will not be announced to competitors. This is so that the distance is measured
mechanically and to ensure teams do not have a programmable device. Consistency amongst heats will be
maintained within the spirit of the competition.
Target Area and Scoring Zones:
Datum Point:
Scores are determined by a datum point mounted on the device, which is aligned with the centre of the
target at the start of a run. The score is determined by the position of the datum point at the end of the run.
If the datum point is on a line between scoring zones, the higher score will be given.
Technical Regulations for the Device:
 Each team shall produce one single device.
 The device can be of any type, but it must be totally self-contained, and at all times during the
competition fit within a working envelope of 400mm x 400mm x 400mm. On the day of the
competition this will be checked using a gauge.
 Nothing used by the device to navigate or move can be outside that volume during the race (no
remote control, power leads, laid tracks, left behind markers, gps etc)
 The final position of the device will be determined from a datum point on the rear of the device.
The datum point will be the tip of an ‘RS Pro Steel Brass Plated Square Hook 20mm’, which is to
be held in the vertical position. The square hook must be securely fastened to the rear of the
device.
 The means of determining distance must be mechanical.
 The device must be fully autonomous during the entire process after the start switch has been
pressed.
 No proprietary, pre-programmed control units or devices may be used.
 Parts from existing devices (i.e. chassis, drive systems, suspension, etc.) are not permitted.
 The device cannot be operated wirelessly at any time, nor can it be controlled remotely.
 Any electrically operated device must be fused appropriately to the motor maximum operating
current. If motor maximum current cannot be proven, a maximum current draw of 10A is
permitted.
 It is permissible to replenish the device’s energy source between heats. Competitors should
consider this during their design process so as to minimise disruption to the smooth running of
the event. Any team not ready to compete within three minutes of being called will be
disqualified.
 There will be three competition lanes in the Main Competition, set at different wall distances.
 The wall distances will be the same for all teams, but will not be known in advance, and will be
determined on the day.
 Organizers will not announce the target distances during the competition and teams are not
allowed to measure the distance using a tape or any other means.
 Participating teams will have a maximum of 3 minutes before a heat to prepare and position their
device on the target center.
 Teams not ready within the allotted time before a heat or final will forfeit that attempt.
 The time limit for runs in the heats and final will be 2 minutes. Time will start from the end of
the timekeeper’s starting countdown.
 In a run, the device will have one attempt to return to the target. The run is scored on accuracy
alone, not on speed, but the run has to be completed in the allocated 2 minutes.
JUDGING CRITERIAN:
The design would be judged on three basis as follow:
● Visual Representation (to the best of their abilities using any software or paper based engineering
drawings with dimensions provided).
● Bill of Materials.
● Mass and inertia components.
The change in presentation time will be 10-5 or 12-8 minutes for the local heats only (Presentation Time -
Q/A).
NATIONAL HEATS:
The winners of local heats will self-learn and prepare their CAD models to conform with the IMechE
UK's policy, as the winner of the National Heats qualifies for the International competition, so that they
can participate in the International competition to be held in October 2021, tentatively. (they will have
about a month and half to do so as the tentative date for AKDC is Mid of July 2021.)
Timeline for the AKDC challenge:

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4. Judging criteria ………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 6

Target Area and Scoring Zones:

Timeline for the AKDC challenge:

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