NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium

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Quick Links and Common Questions

• Idaho TECH Quick Facts

• Pre-Competition Checklist

Commonly Asked Questions

1. What are the competition courses like? Are they elevated, smooth, rough, etc?

   
   Answer:

   The Idaho TECH courses are rough and painted, with canyons, hills, etc. based on which area of competition the course has been designed for. The "Martian rocks" resemble the weight and structure of a "Mars" rock in a near "zero-gravity" atmosphere. The rocks range from marble to golf-ball size. The hill climb begins at a 20 degree angle. For competition purposes, the courses are elevated off the ground approximately 24 inches. The size of the courses are approximately 4ft X 8ft.

2. Does the battery box and wires count as part of the weight?

   
   Answer:

   The battery boxes and wires DO NOT count as part of the total weight. However, the motors DO count towards the weight, since it is part of your main rover design. Weight is one area the rover is judged on, so remember to design accordingly ("weigh out" the consequences of less weight/more weight in the different areas of competition besides the weight portion, etc.)

3. We have defective or missing parts from our Lego kits - what do we do?

   
   Answer:

   If you discover that part of your kit is defective and/or missing, please inform the Idaho Space Grant IMMEDIATELY. We will send you a new part or order one to replace it. A word of caution - inventory your kit EARLY and try out the parts to determine if they all work okay. All kits are inventoried before they are sent out, but with 150 kits, mistakes can occur.

4. How does the budget work in respect to extra LEGO parts?

   
   Answer:

   Each team has a $50 budget, which may be used to buy more LEGO parts for their rover. This $50 is either actual or in-kind, based upon your team's accessibility to LEGO parts.  The ISGC will be the sole determinate in the estimated value of your LEGO parts. Shipping and the batteries required to operate the battery box are NOT considered a factor in your $50 budget. The cost of the LEGOs, if ordered, is the responsibility of the team. You CANNOT use more than $50 worth of extra LEGO parts on your rover, EVEN IF your school has access to additional parts or is willing to purchase more than $50. Any team that violates this regulation is automatically disqualified from the competition. All rovers are inspected for proper pieces at the competition site, including add-ons. If you already have access to LEGO pieces that you would like to use on your rover, you may do so, as long as the ISGC estimates the price of the LEGOs falls AT OR BELOW $50.

5. What about the required poster - budget, etc.?

   
   Answer:

   Posters also have a maximum $30 budget that is SEPARATE from your $50 Lego budget. This means that the cost of constructing your poster display CANNOT EXCEED $30. The cost of the poster supplies is the responsibility of the team and supporting school district. Your poster will be judged on the items listed in the coach's manual that came with your kits. The poster is to display the engineering and design process that the team went through in developing their rover. This includes teamwork, time spent, difficulties, etc. Remember that the poster MUST BE FREE STANDING, and is NOT to exceed the measurements listed in the coach's manual in respect to height, etc.

6. Can you touch or pull on tubing, extensions, etc. while your rover is in competition?

   
   Answer:

   NO. Your rover must be able to complete each competition area with the use of either the motor and battery box, or by "pumping" the pneumatic pumps for items such as picking up rocks, etc. You are also allowed to "flip" pneumatic toggles that enable air within your rover's tubing to travel in a different directions, if needed. You CANNOT pull on or touch tubing, ropes, strings, etc. that is attached to the rover in order to move arms, pick-up items, change the rover's direction, etc. You CANNOT remove parts of your rover to complete different competition areas either (such as removing your arm for the speed test). Your rover must be able to complete the all tasks on its own, based on the original rover design and the power supplied by the battery packs to the motor, or power supplied by "pumping" air with the pneumatic pumps.

7. How big can our team's rover be?

   
   Answer:

   As big as it needs to get the job done. Remember that you must be able to store rocks on your rover, as well as complete the hill climb, speed test, etc. Keep all of these areas in mind when designing your rover. The courses, as stated before, are 4ft X 8ft. There are some parts of the courses that require the rover to clear a width of 1 foot across. Keep this in mind as you build your rover. Height and length can be what you need!

8. When the competition is over - what do we do with our kits?

   
   Answer:

   At the end of the Idaho TECH 2013 competition, it is mandatory that you return the Lego kits to the Idaho Space Grant Consortium. The kits are reused every year for this annual competition. To return your kits in good order, please follow these steps:

   1. Have your students disassemble their rover and INVENTORY the pieces of each kit. Extra pieces may be kept or returned with the kits, depending on how you obtained the pieces originally. Using an dry-erase marker and the colored inventory sheets included with the kits, mark which LEGOs are missing, broken, etc., by circling the missing item and writing how many are missing next to the piece. When returned, the cost of your missing pieces will be inventoried, and if necessary, an invoice to replace the missing pieces will be sent to your school.

   2. Pack the kits in a SECURE box and TAPE the lids onto the kits (so pieces won't be lost in the mailing process). It is NOT necessary to FedEx your kits, they may be returned via regular mail. Return the kits to:

      Idaho Space Grant Consortium
      University of Idaho
      875 Perimeter Drive MS1011
      Moscow, ID 83844-1011

   3. The deadline for returning Idaho TECH 2012 kits will be Friday, June 14, 2013.

   4. Please complete all of these steps to keep your school in good standing with the program, and to assist in keeping costs down for future competitions. It is necessary to return your kits EVEN IF you plan to compete in Idaho TECH 2014. All kits must be inventoried to ensure fair competition practices and to replace defective and missing parts. NOTE: Kit(s) returned late will be assessed a $5 per week late fee per kit until kits are returned.