Scrambler
Division: Div B – Middle School
Event Rules: See the National Rule Manual
National Event Page: Here
Clarifications: Clarifications can be found at https://www.soinc.org/events/rules-clarifications
Description:
Participants will design, build, and test a mechanical device, which uses the energy from a falling mass to transport an egg along a track as quickly as possible and stop as close to the center of the terminal barrier without breaking the egg.
Materials:
- Participants must impound one Scrambler (with failing mass detached), alignment devices (if used), additional spare parts, and paper and practice log
- Data and a stand-alone calculator (Class III)
- Must bring wear eye protection
Scoring:
Each team’s final score is the better of the 2 run scores + final run score penalties.
Lowest score wins
Event Resources:
2023 General Vehicle Lesson & Tips
2017 Scrambler Event Supervisor Training Video
- 2024 Scrambler Backstop & Egg Holder Diagram
- 2024 Scrambler Track Diagram
- 2024 Scrambler Event Poster – This poster presents the Event and Rules in a simplified fashion and is great for recruiting new students or teams
- 2023 General Vehicle Construction & Tips Video
- Scrambler Event Guide
- Scrambler Example Practice & Design Log
- Sample Photo Gate Set Up (PDF)
- Photos 1-4 of Photo Gate Set Up at a Competition (PDF)
- Photos 5-8 of Photo Gate Set Up at a Competition (PDF)
- Sample Laser Set Up (PDF)
- Sample Laser Set Up 2 (PDF)
- Sample Laser Set Up 3 (PDF)
FAQs:
10/28/24: I know we may not be allowed electric parts, but can we use movable parts that can stop our car that don’t use electricity like legos?
As long as there are no electric / electronic parts, any other mechanical moveable parts are acceptable.
10/30/24: 1 – In Rule 3b, it says “The Scrambler (Vehicle and energy propulsion system) including the egg, falling mass, and cushion to protect the floor, in the ready-to-run configuration, must completely fit within an imaginary rectangular box with 100.0 cm x 50.0 cm base and a 100.0 cm height.”
My question is if it is acceptable to have the energy propulsion system extend outside of those dimensions when it is in the rest configuration? It would then fit inside of those dimensions when it is in the ready-to-launch configuration.
When the system is at “rest” it can be any dimension, but when it is in “ready-to-run” configuration, EVERYTHING must fit within that 100x50x100 box including the energy propulsion system. see the diagrams below:
2 – In Rule 6e, it says “In the ready-to-run configuration, the pointed tip of the egg must be placed directly above the Start Point. The launcher may extend in front of the Start Point. The Scrambler must remain in the ready-to-run configuration without being touched until triggered by the #2 pencil. Participants can only touch or hold the #2 pencil and not the Scrambler during the triggering action.”
My question is, can the ready-to-launch position be held in place by the pencil while the pencil is being held by the participant? For example, if a team is using a swinging arm to provide the propulsion force for their scrambler car, can they hold the pencil and use it to hold up the swinging arm as the ready-to-launch configuration? They would not be touching the launcher. The participants would be touching the pencil, which is touching the launcher.
When in the “ready-to-run” configuration, the system needs to be able to sit without being touched or held, so the pencil holding the arm in place needs to be designed to sit without the students holding it and is only activated when they remove the pencil.