Weir Warman Competition 2002
Sydney, Australia
Project "BALLDROP"
The inhabitants of the remote planet Gondwana are struggling with two major environmental problems. Their Ozone layer is almost depleted and the incident radiation from Phoebus is heating the planet's core causing major quakes and volcanic eruptions.
The highly skilled Gondwanan scientists have proposed a solution - the Plasmatron. They have discovered that a highly reactive fuel can be detonated within the Plasmatron to temporarily liquefy the surrounding area (thus levelling the terrain) and produce Ozone as a by-product. They have built a small Plasmatron and tested it within the laboratory with great success.
The Plasmatron consists of a steel reaction core and a large vertical vent that directs the Ozone toward the upper atmosphere. A catalyst is added to the fuel in the laboratory and this will cause spontaneous explosion exactly two minutes later. The explosion and subsequent reactions are most effective if the fuel is allowed to settle for as long as possible after addition of the catalyst. The Plasmatron and vent survive the chemical reaction and explosion but the surrounding laboratory equipment does not. The Gondwanans are having trouble in devising a suitable system that will work in the field in the many locations where this reaction is required. In particular, they must move the fuel from the laboratory to the detonation site as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, teams of mechanical 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 and build a device that will deliver the reacting fuel to the Plasmatron in the minimum time and remove the delivery device to a safe location before detonation. Can your team Build A Land Levelling Device that will Refuel the Ozone Plasmatron?
2002 Winners
1st Place - University of WA
2nd Place - University of Auckland
3rd Place - University of Canterbury
Results of the 2002 Warman Competition:
| Institution | Score for the 1st run | Score for the 2nd run | Total Score | Overall Ranking |
| University of WA | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1 |
| University of Auckland | 2.3 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 2 |
| University of Canterbury | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 3 |
| University of Southern Qld | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 3 |
| Central Qld University | 3.4 | 3.6 | 7 | 5 |
| RMIT | 4.2 | 4.2 | 8.4 | 6 |
| University of Newcastle | 5.3 | 5.2 | 10.5 | 7 |
| Qld University of Technology | 2.3 | 120.0 | 122.3 | 8 |
| University of Qld | 120.0 | 2.6 | 122.6 | 9 |
| ADFA | 3.0 | 120.0 | 123.0 | 10 |
| Swinburne | 120.0 | 3.0 | 123.0 | 10 |
| University of Adelaide | 120.0 | 120.0 | 240.0 | 12 |
| Monash University - Caulfield | 120.0 | 120.0 | 240.0 | 12 |
| Monash University - Clayton | 120.0 | 120.0 | 240.0 | 12 |
| University of NSW | 120.0 | 120.0 | 240.0 | 12 |
| University of Tasmania | 120.0 | 120.0 | 240.0 | 12 |
Photos from the 2002 Competition
University of Canterbury. Trolley with scissor lift which slam dunked the ball as it passed. This happened so quickly, no one knew where the ball had gone.
University of Queensland. Trolley with scissor lift platform.
Queensland University of Technology - Featured a two section folding arm, powered by gas struts.
Queensland University of Technology - Nice detailing!
University of WA - Device in action, watched by the judges.
University of WA - the winner. Pneumatically powered telescoping arm was fast, accurate and reliable. The standard of execution was the best ever seen in this competition.
University of Adelaide - scissor arm, fast but a few reliability issues held it back.