ENGR 100

Rube Goldberg Project

Information

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 Rube Goldberg
 Rube Goldberg (1883-1970)
was a Pulitzer Prize winning
cartoonist, sculptor, author,
and an engineer by training.

 He was famous for his

cartoons, which showed
most complicated ways to
achieve very simple tasks.
 Maximum effort to
achieve minimal results!

 Note: visit the class web page to see the cartoons (click on “Links” on the
left, then on “Cartoon Gallery”).

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 Rube Goldberg Project

Design and build machine

that uses the most
complex process to
complete a simple task.

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 Machine theme ideas
 What can your machine do?
 put a stamp on an envelope
 screw in a light bulb
 make a cup of coffee
 select, mark, and cast an election ballot (2004 contest)
 select, crush and place a 12-ounce aluminum can into a
recycling bin (2003 contest)
 raise, secure and wave an American flag (2002 contest)
 select, clean and peel an apple (2001 contest)
 snap a picture of your friend

 Each team should pick a different theme.

 Try to come up with something new!

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 Competition guidelines

 Machine has to act in a chain reaction to

accomplish a simple task.
 Think of it an en energy conversion machine.
 You need to use 8 or more steps
 a student can start the sequence of steps (but this
does not count as one step)
 Maximum machine size:
 Length – 1.5 meters
 Width – 1.5 meters.

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 Competition guidelines
 The design has to include
four of the following
 lever
 inclined plane
 wedge
 pulley
 process which converts
potential energy to kinetic
energy (i.e. something
should fall or roll down)
 gear system
 funnel
 tube with marbles

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 Competition guidelines
 Extra credit for using:
 wheel and axle
 screw
 second class lever
 chemical energy
 electrical energy
 more than 8 steps
 Purchased simple machines may not
be used (except for wedges and
pulleys). Hand made pulleys are
preferred.

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 Competition guidelines
 SAFETY IS THE TOP PRIORITY!
 The machine will be disqualified if it is dangerous to
operate.
 The machine cannot use:
 animals
 fire
 flammable or corrosive substances
 liquids in excess of 2 liters
 falling weights in excess of 5 kg
 electrical components unless they are battery
powered (9 V or less)

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 Competition guidelines
 Machine should be easy to reset.
 Similar steps (like a marble rolling down
a tube) can be repeated only once.
 No limitations on the type of materials
used.
 Loose or flying object must remain
within the boundaries of the machine
 i.e. no flying champagne corks

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Project hints

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 Competition judging criteria
 Demonstration will be graded based on the
best of the three trials.
 Judging will be based on the following
categories:
 general impressions (theme, Rube Goldberg spirit,
explanation, team chemistry)
 timing issues (description length, run length)
 run related (completing the task, how easy it is to
follow the flow of the machine, presence of Rube
Goldberg style steps, human interventions, objects
leaving the machine).

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 Grading

 Result from competition 50%

 Poster 15%
 Final report 20%
 Oral presentation 15%

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 Project schedule
Friday 1/9
intro & brainstorming

Monday 1/12 Wednesday 1/14 Friday 1/16

more brainstorming prototype design prototype
(prototype design due) construction
Monday 1/19 Wednesday 1/21 Friday 1/23
Holiday! prototype prototype testing
construction
Monday 1/26 Wednesday 1/28 Friday 1/30
prototype revision prototype revision competition & poster
session
Monday 2/2 Wednesday 2/4 Friday 2/6
final report due oral presentations

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 Materials

 There are some materials in the lab

 Try to find things you can use at home
 Buy your own materials
 we will return the money you spent (keep
your receipt)
 each team can spend $20 - $25

 The machines are recycled after the

project is done.

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 How to start?

 Use the Internet to find purpose for your

machine
 start with the links provided on the class
web page (click on “links” on the left)
 use Google to find more ideas
 Think of steps you would like to use
 use the list provided in this presentation
 look around your room/garage for ideas
 Start today!

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 More tips
 Plan on paper first.
 Start with one or two steps.
 Play with things that you already have to see what
you can make happen (or knock over).
 Look at things in a new way.
 Gravity is your friend.
 Test, test again, and then test some more. Do it
for each step.
 It is better to have 8 steps that work well than 20
that do not work at all.
 We have a camera in the lab to picture your results
and intermediate steps (for poster and final
report).
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