Weir Warman Competition 2004

Sydney, Australia - September 2004

Competition Rules

Project "PEP" - Potential Energy Propulsion

There is growing concern about energy usage on the planet Gondwana. Much discussion has engaged the Gondwanan population in regard to their future and the sustainment of transportation systems in particular has become a major issue. A proposal with significant political support has been a "green" one using the energy of the trade winds - a prevalent energy source across much of the Gondwanan landscape.

In the "Quixote quadrant" of the planet, where windmills abound, a trial is proposed. However, while the concept of a windmill being used to store energy by raising large masses, the challenge is to design a device and associated infrastructure that utilises the energy released when the masses are allowed to fall. Conceivably, an efficient transport network with windmill nodes appropriately distributed could be developed.

In the "ACME Pinnacle Laboratory", the Gondwanan Energy Commission is struggling to arrive at a design for potential energy propulsion of transport devices. Fortunately, teams of engineering students from Earth are about to visit Gondwana as part of their work experience programmes. On previous visits engineering students have rendered invaluable assistance, and the Gondwanans again seek help from these budding engineers.

Objective

The objective is to design, build and prove a prototype device in a laboratory environment that maximises transportation efficiency. Can your team invent the transportation breakthrough for Gondwana and perhaps the Galaxy, using Potential Energy Propulsion?

Winners 2004

1st University of Auckland

2nd University of Western Australia

3rd University of New South Wales

Results of the 2004 Warman Competition:

Photos of 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for the 2004 Warman Competition

Photos of the action at the 2004 Warman Competition

Some of the teams at the 2004 Warman Competition