COMPETITION IS FULL. WE'VE REACHED MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS
Hydraumaton Rally
Location: Maryland Science Center
Cost: Free for automaton owner and up to 2 others
Who should attend: Kids and their cheering squad
When: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Noon
Design and build an automaton with a hydraulic powered arm.
A Hydraumaton uses simple hydraulics to move and power a stick-built contraption that can push, grab, lift or fling small objects. The Maryland Science Center will provides the hydraulics kit (a water-based system), the construction sticks, and a series of hints and clues via our Youtube channel.
Registration is now full.
For those in the competition, you, your hydraumaton, and up to 2 crew members can come to the Science Center on Rally Day free of charge. The Science Center will notify you via email when new clues and videos have been posted. Sign up, build it, and we’ll see you at the Rally.
A few things we ask:
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Please, one kit per family.
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Kits must be picked up from the Maryland Science Center. Kits cannot be mailed.
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Don’t take a kit if you aren’t going to compete – someone else might have wanted to compete but couldn’t because the number of participants is limited.
It’s OK to work together to design and build your automaton – it’s not OK for mom or dad to do it alone.
Stay within the spirit of the competition.
Read the categories that will be judged – one even rewards risk.
- Have fun!
Competition Rules:
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The main body of the automaton should be built using the materials provided by the Maryland Science Center. You may not use any more craft sticks than what has been provided, but you do not have to use all of them.
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The arm must be powered using the hydraulic system provided in the kit. Any other materials used should be inexpensive and easily available.
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The base of the finished automaton must fit inside a 10” X 10” square.
The automaton should be able to push, grab, lift, or fling small objects.
- To qualify for awards and prizes, all entries must be present at the Maryland Science Center by noon on race day.
