New Mexico Science Olympiad Mission Possible Event Tips

Strategies for building good devices, making the most of your score, and ensuring you know and follow the rules.

This is a list of suggestions and tips for building a successful Mission Possible device. All of these pointers have stemmed from actual observations during previous Mission Possible competitions. If you keep these comments in mind while designing and building your device, you will be more likely to go home satisfied with your experience. Asterisks * denote the most common and most easily fixed issues.

Try not to be overwhelmed by the amount of material here. This is a complex event but it is also a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Rules

• Read carefully and understand the rules absolutely: If you are not completely clear on what each rule means you will have trouble complying.

• Check the Science Olympiad national Mission Possible web site for corrections and clarifications: You may inadvertently violate a rule if you don't take advantage of that information

• Request rule clarifications of ambiguous rules or others that you don't understand: Go to the Science Olympiad web site and follow links to the clarification request.

• Pay attention to detail and be sure your machine matches exact requirements: Here are some common avoidable oversights that have cost points, and in some cases, have won or lost competitions:

  • * Maximum dimensions: The device must fit into an imaginary box of the given dimensions. The ENTIRE device includes any material that it is mounted on or contained within, any object/s protruding in any direction, etc.

  • Specific details: If your flag should be rectangular and at least 5 x 10 cm, then take care that it meets those and other requirements. You would be surprised how many teams lose points by ignoring or overlooking small simple details. In most cases these kinds of mistakes are very easily corrected. Remember, your device will be evaluated on every minute aspect of the rules.

• Follow the proper format for the Task Sequence List:

  • Make it legible (typed is best) and have it ready on time!

  • Be sure each listing is correct, in the proper order, and actually performs the claimed function.

  • Be sure the numbers correspond to the properly numbered item in the device.

  • Listed items are counted for points only if they are properly listed and contribute to the Final Task.

Design Considerations

• Plan Ahead: When you set out to build your device, make a project schedule. Use a calendar to create goals and stick to your plan. Set goals for final design plans, phases of construction, preparation plans, checklists, etc. Be sure to plan to complete construction at least 1-2 weeks before the event. Use that time for testing and redesigning your components, formulating contingency plans, making checklists, etc.

• Quality over quantity: A simple device with just a few action components that work reliably will place high in the standings. The lesson to be learned is that one working component is infinitely more valuable than ten that are questionable. Work on designs that have robust components rather than hurrying to make the maximum score. While it is desirable to attempt the maximum points, don't be afraid to keep it simpler and more reliable. Many entries that try to cram in the maximum number of actions end up failing in multiple places needing lots of 'touches'- and those penalty points add up fast. If many of your components fail to work properly you can end up with a negative score if you make a lot of touches.

• Haste makes waste: Hurrying through the design, construction, or preparations often ends with disappointment. Try to focus on keeping calm, planning your work, and being organized. These will all contribute to a mindset in which you can do good work and keep your composure. Often the intensity of the competition time causes teams to rush things. The best approach is to remain relaxed, keep to the plan, and use your head. Prepare as well as you can, make checklists, and double check them. Practice your setup routine with a stopwatch, and try to think of contingency plans ahead of time. Know what you will do if certain problems come up. Be willing to reprioritize as needed and try to make the most out of any unfortunate situation.

• Simpler is better: Simpler approaches often result in successful machines. Add complexity only where necessary. Finer touches and fancier approaches are nice, but you must weigh that against the reliability of simpler designs.

• Be careful counting 'black-box' devices: Manufactured items that contain energy transfers and simple machines may be used in the device. However, you may not claim separate internal workings hidden inside a manufactured product in your list - the energy transfer or simple machine counted for such a component is between the input and the final output of the black box. A popular example is a laser lock. Ignoring the remote control which has its own transfer, a laser lock is counted as a single electromagnetic spectrum input to mechanical output. The hidden internal conversions between electromagnetic to electrical, and electrical to mechanical can not be counted. This year the B rules also specify that certain items can be used but cannot count as simple machines: Springs, mousetraps, magnetic devices and gravitational potential. Some of these had brought up the black box issue in the past.

• Be sure the last two tasks work: In case of failed components, you can touch your machine as many times as necessary (with a point penalty for each touch). The task completion is a large part of your score, but it cannot be earned if a touch results in completion in the next action. Therefore, the most reliable of your components should be the last two. If all else fails, you can activate the second-to-last component manually and still get credit for task completion.

• * Items that require setting or adjustment should be accessible: Chemical vials to fill, candles to light, springs to set, etc. Bring funnels, reaching tools, and other clever items to help you do this right. If your settings are cumbersome to reach, you risk damaging your machine or triggering components prematurely. These issues can be very difficult to overcome at evaluation time.

• Tidy work is easy to follow and repair: Spend the time to make quality connections, fastenings, and exhibit tidy wiring and placement of parts. Use color codes. Break into subsystems.

• Do not plan on doing any construction on event day: This time is for final preparations only. If the machine is not finished and fully working when you get on the bus, it will not be finished for the competition. This lesson has been learned from consistently watching the painful disappointment of teams that came under-prepared.

• Build it so it can withstand transportation to the event: Next to unfinished designs, this is the single most common source of competition-day problems.

• Duct tape seems like magic but that's an illusion: Duct tape usually represents the potential for a better solution. Usually the quantity of duct tape is inversely proportional to score. :-)

• Allow time for testing, redesign and rebuild: Too many teams show up with what essentially amounts to a prototype. If you test and redesign your device as necessary you will work out the bugs before the competition.

• Above all, be creative: Re-assess your thinking when you get stuck. Try to think outside the box. When you get frustrated take a break and come back to it when you're refreshed. This is meant to be a fun and creative learning experience. Try new things, learn from each other, and have fun!

Preparations

• Make a checklist of everything you need and be sure to bring it all: The best groups come with clever storage systems for organizing and transporting their materials. Double check your list and be sure you don't leave something essential at home or on the bus!

• Bring a supply kit with extra parts for everything possible: Transport damage is a frequent issue - bring spare fuses, light bulbs, tape, glue, matches, candles, etc.

• * Make a checklist of all the preparations necessary to set up your device: Double and triple check it. It's heartbreaking to watch a device fail because of a simple preparation oversight - an unlit candle, untripped switch, unfilled chemical vial, etc. These can often be fixed with 'touches' which cost points, but usually one touch leads to another and a cascade of penalty points.

• Assign each team member a job description: For example, there could be three officers in the group - a safety director, a transport specialist, and a set-up coordinator. Or have team members responsible for subsystems - an electrician, a plumber, and a mechanic. However, be sure at least one other group member is familiar with your role in case of illness or scheduling conflicts. This can be a very rewarding learning experience in teamwork and coordination.

Safety Issues

• Read understand, and follow all safety rules. Most disqualifications are due to safety violations.

• Handle all materials carefully and consider the safety of others.

• Provide secondary containment and cleanup supplies for liquids, powders, and other items prone to spillage.

• Alert event staff immediately if you notice any kind of safety concern.

Learning opportunities in this event

• Teamwork
• Project management
• Planning
• Design
• Re-design
• Hands-on skills
• Educational concepts applied
• Sense of accomplishment
• Competitive spirit
• Fun!

Last updated 11/5/09