Mind A-Mazes 2023

The metal washer IS the pendulum bob, or should be directly part of it, so yes, the washer needs to be directly on the bob.  If the washer were above the pendulum bob (such as on a string), then any actions of the bob below it wouldn’t count as completed events.  Make sure the washer is directly part of the pendulum bob for judges to see, and not considered noticeably separate from any parts of the pendulum parts.

If one person is holding the pendulum or bob by a string, then NO, another person cannot cut that string and it be considered an allowable trigger.

One suggestion would be for the device to be holding the string that’ll be cut, not a person!    So when the string is cut, the device is triggered and the pendulum begins its motion away from the triggered location on the device (not away from a human holding the pendulum or string).

This rule is important as judges need to be sure that no human (team member) has the opportunity to provide additional direct energy to the motion (or triggering) of the device.

No – it sounds like in your question that the apparatus would be built largely (if not entirely) of LEGO blocks.  Even if the LEGO blocks are not from one set, they’re still LEGOS and considered a manufactured toy.  You CAN use some LEGOS in your apparatus (for a certain part or two), but Rule #6 (packet) is an important one for judges to consider.  *The majority of your device or apparatus should be made from ‘found’ objects for judges to consider it a device that will be scored – found objects include (but are not limited to) cardboard, wood, plastic, foam, string, metal, glue, tape, etc.   If a judge were to see a device that was largely built from LEGOS or another similar building set, they would not be able to give that device any points, since Rule 6 wasn’t followed.

Yes

I can try 🙂  Notice that the scoring example in the packet shows a maximum of 25 points for ‘completion of tasks in separate planes’.  No more than 5 separate planes will be counted for completed tasks (so 5 planes x 5 tasks = maximum of 25 points).  There are 4 sides (or vertical ‘planes’) to a regular box (not counting top or bottom) – those each count as separate ‘planes’.   Tasks would need to be completed ON those 4 separate planes (directly by bob pendulum) in order to get those extra plane points.  Also, the bottom of the box is the 5th and final ‘plane’ that could count for event completion by judges (if bob pendulum directly causes an event to occur on that plane on one of the swings of the pendulum).    No extra points will be provided for the ‘top’ of the box (another horizontal plane).  *Remember that you don’t HAVE to complete tasks on all 5 planes – teams could attempt to complete them on just 1 or 2 if they’d like – striving to get 5 tasks on 5 separate planes just gets teams more points (if successful), makes the problem more challenging for the ‘mind’, and more ‘amazing’ if a team can get it to work right!

Yes, you may use LEGOS as part of your device, as long as most of your device is not ‘based upon a manufactured toy/object’.  Thank you for pointing out that the bulk of your device is not from a LEGO set.  *Teams should be aware that devices should very obviously follow this rule – if judges have questions about the materials used or feel as though a team based too much of their design on a pre-existing or manufactured toy or set, they could very well determine the device would not receive points.  Make it easy for judges by having your device obviously be made up of ‘found’ materials (See Limitations #6 – page 2 of packet)

Yes, this could be an allowed trigger, as long as judges observe that you’re only cutting the string to trigger the pendulum.

No, moving an object will not count as ‘picking up an object’.  Judges will need to see that the object or objects are noticeable picked up from a surface (directly by the bob) for it count.  For example, if the pendulum bob slides an object from one location to another, that will not count as ‘picking up an object’.

Yes, judges need to be able to hear that the bell or bells are ringing to count that as a completed task.

And remember that the pendulum bob has to directly cause the bell to ring for it to count as a task.  For example, if the bell or bells are ringing because of device vibration or chain reaction (not caused directly by the bob itself), then that task can’t be scored as completed.

In the competition packet, on page 3 (Competition – #4), all devices must be set in motion by a ‘triggering’ action.  Drawing the bob back by hand and then releasing it would NOT be a triggering action.   Even holding the bob back with a pencil or stick (in your hand) and pulling away the pencil or stick with your hand also would NOT be considered a triggering action, since the energy required for bob movement must be other than DIRECT human energy.   Judges need to observe the triggered release of the bob and be sure that there’s no opportunity to provide extra human energy directly to that triggered release.  Also, if a team member ends up holding a triggering device in their hand (not part of or connected to the device), then the person is technically part of the device at that point, which is not allowed.

If, for example, the bob were to rest on a lever and the lever was moved to release the bob – that IS an allowed trigger.  Or if the bob was released by unfastening a binder clip, that too IS an allowed trigger, since all the ‘human’ is doing is releasing the bob and there’s no observable opportunity to influence the bob’s motion with additional direct human energy.  There are other allowable triggering actions as well that don’t rely on ‘direct’ human energy.  *If you’re not sure you’re trigger is ‘legal’, be sure to check on the blog or ask your coach to make sure it’s considered an allowed trigger!  **If a device isn’t triggered by an allowed ‘triggering action’, judges will not score any task/event points for your device!