IMechE Design Challenge

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 >>>>Table Of Contents<<<<

No Heading Page
1 What is design challenge……………………………………………………………. 03
2 Local Design Challenge……………………………………………………………… 03

3 Design Challenge As Semester Project…………………………………………….. 03

4 Benefits for department…………………………………………………………….. 03

5 Details of teams……………………………………………………………………… 04
6 Mentors………………………………………………………………………………. 04

7 Requirements of 2019 Design challenge……………………………………………. 04

7.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………. 04
7.2 Rules……………………………………………………………………………. 05

8 Other IMechE chapters……………………………………………………………... 07

9 Judging criteria……………………………………………………………………… 08

10 Prize………………………………………………………………………………….. 08

>>>>List Of Figures<<<<
Figure Page

Figure 1.1 04

Figure 1.2 05

Figure 2 05

Appendix A 07

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 1) What is design challenge:
Design Challenge is a competition which encourages the freshmen students of undergraduate
engineering programs to employ their engineering techniques, while also broadening their brain
storming capacity, in order to triumph over a certain challenge. It gives exposure of real world
problems to first year students.
In this challenge students are supposed to make a device according to instructions provided by IMechE
International. The requirements of design challenge are updated every year. However, the overall
project maybe repeatable vehicle or pipe climber. This challenge has three stages
1. Local
2. National
3. International
The Challenge consists of four elements which are.
1) 1a - Work in teams to design, build and test a self-contained device from a precise
specification. From this specification they have to produce a design solution, make it, test it
and compete to win a place in the IMechE Regional Competition.
1b - Compete with other teams in the regional competition to achieve the fastest or most
accurate device.
1c - Produce a “poster” to demonstrate pictorial and graphical skills and the team’s ability to
sell
their design solution.
2) Deliver a “presentation” to demonstrate verbal and presentational skills.
3) Carry out a “peer review” of the devices produced by all of the other teams and rate them so
that a winner can be determined.
This proposal is meant for approval of local design challenge.
2) Local Design Challenge:
In Local design challenge first year students are given specific instructions to make a project within
specified time limit along with their semester studies.
3) Design Challenge as Semester Project:
Design challenge should be approved as semester Project and assigned to students along with subject
of dynamics. Because, in first semester first year students have studied subjects of Statics and in this
semester they will be studying Basic Electrical Engineering along with other subjects which will help
them in the project. This will enable students to apply the theory to a practical problem and towards
its solution. After that approval of project by authorities this project will be assigned to the students by
their course teacher and will have designated marks which will contribute in overall grade of the
subject.
4) Benefits for department:
This competition will be beneficial for department in terms of appreciation at National level about
organizing extra technical events for engineering students along with their studies.
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 5) Details of teams:
The whole session of 2018 contains 150 students. The total number of sections are 3(50 students in
each section). Within 3 sections there will be 30 groups with 5 students in each group.
6) Mentors:
In order to help the students during the project, each two groups will be assigned a mentor. The mentor
will a second year student or a third year student. The duty of mentor will be to help first year students
during the project and keep in track the progress of the project.
7) Requirements of 2019 Design Challenge:
7.1) Introduction:
This year the challenge is to design, build and test a device to climb up the outside of a piece
of 15 mm copper pipe lifting an increasing load in the form of a chain. At the top, the device
will reverse and return down and the top of the device must pass or stop at the datum line
(original starting position). The device can be of any construction but it must be electrically
powered and meets the size and cost specification detailed below. The relative performance
will be determined on the quickest time taken for the device to pull the load to the top of the
tube and return to the starting position at the bottom. The rig will comprise of the pipe located
into 16mm diameter holes. These will allow the pipe to be lifted upwards if required so that
the device can be fitted onto the pipe. The pipe will then be replaced before the commencement
of a run. An illustration is below in figure 1.1 with the chain removed for clarity. Figure 1.2
dimensions the external pipe climber test rig.

Figure 1.1
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 Figure 1.2

7.2) Rules:
7.2.1) The device can be of any type, but it must be self-contained and at all times during
the competition fit within a cylindrical envelope of 200 mm radius and 300 mm
height, as shown in Figure 2 below. On the day of the competition this will be
checked using a gauge.

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Figure 2
7.2.2) The test area will consist of up to four identical pipes to allow for parallel runs. The
“Device Controller” is allowed to hold their device in position up to or below the
datum line (0.4m above bottom of the pipe) before starting. The teams competing
in a heat will be required to start their devices simultaneously. Once started there
can be no outside interference. Having started their device, the Device Controller
must then step away from the tube.
7.2.3) The devices must have a method of attachment/detachment to a length of chain.
Failure of the attachment or loss of the chain will result in disqualification from the
heat.
7.2.4) The parts list must be clearly displayed by all teams during static judging and
scrutineering. Teams will be expected to justify the purchase cost of any item
detailed on or off the parts list. All devices must be ‘signed off’ by the academic
staff member of the individual universities to say that their student’s device meets
all of the scrutinizing rules concerning cost, specification and safety, before the
final competition. On the day of the competition after successfully completing the
scrutinizing process teams will be given a sticker, this must be attached to the
device as proof of conformity. Any team that enters a heat without this sticker will
not be allowed to compete.
7.2.5) Once a heat has started the device may not be touched until it is over. The device
may not be caught, if required impact protection should be designed as part of the
device.
7.2.6) No adhesive or lubricant is to be used between the device and the tube. Devices
must not cause any damage or leave any debris on the external surfaces of the tube.
7.2.7) Heats will consist of up to four devices running in parallel. Each team should
attempt all three heats. The time will be recorded for each successful attempt. The
time is measured from the “Starters Order” until the top of the device passes the
datum in the downward direction. The device must make contact with the top after
the upward travel and before the downward travel.
7.2.8) The top four teams in the heats returning the quickest time and meeting the
specification requirements will progress to the final. A record of performance of
each group will be recorded using the table shown in Appendix A.
7.2.9) In the event if a tiebreaker at the end of the heats or for a place in the final or in the
final there will be a rerun of one single attempt and if there is a further tie the
lightest device will be the winner.
7.2.10) In the unlikely event of there being no clear winner on reaching the time limit, or
there is a technical fault to test apparatus (not devices) deemed to unfairly
disadvantage a team, there will be a rerun. For any tie after a rerun then the lightest
device will be designated the winner. The time limit for the heats and final will be
two minutes. Time will start from the end of the timekeepers starting countdown.
7.2.11) Heat one will run with the first group of teams and then the second group and so
on. This will allow some time for adjustments between the heats.
7.2.12) It is permissible to replenish the device’s energy source between testing.
Competitors should consider this during their design process so as to minimize

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 disruption to the smooth running of the event. Any team not ready to compete
within three minutes of being called will be disqualified.
7.2.13) If a device fails to operate and the team have completed at least one run the time
will be used as their quickest time recorded provided they attempt to compete in
all other heats.
7.2.14) The total cost of the device must be under Rs4000. The cost of any batteries must
be included as part of the design.

Appendix A

Record of Performance Template

8) Other IMechE chapters:

National design challenge has successfully been carried out by IMechE chapters at NUST and NED
for last 3 years. During these three years the quality of event has flourished and increased. Same
methodology has been adopted in these universities for successful execution of design challenge.

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 9) Judging criteria:
On the day of competition, the course teacher will evaluate the project on the basis of time taken by
devices to climb the bye and come back to the original position. The device which will cover the
distance within shortest time limit will get maximum marks. There will also be a viva and a
presentation of the project in which the group members will present their project and defend their
design in front of their course teacher. At the end all the marks will be added and the group which will
get maximum marks will be the winner.
10) Prize:
In order to encourage the students, winners will get a prize money of 5000 and runners up will get
prize money of 3000 along with certificate.

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