Tips for Novice Teams
Starting in the Engineering Machine Design Contest can be exciting and challenging. The contest website offers many resources for both novice and experienced coaches. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Thoroughly Read the Handbook: Familiarize yourself with the score sheets, machine specifications, and penalties.
- Seek Inspiration: The contest website has examples of machines from previous years to give you ideas.
- Clear Communication: Ensure that your Team Journal and Team Presentation are clear and easy to understand. Judges should not have to interpret unclear details.
- Embrace Creativity: Incorporate the theme into your machine creatively. Enjoy the process and teamwork.
- Design Visibility: Avoid hiding machine actions behind other parts. Ensure all actions are visible for judges to evaluate.
- Simplify Steps: Simple steps are usually more reliable and less likely to malfunction during the competition.
These tips are designed to help novice teams navigate the contest effectively and enjoy the process of creating and presenting their machines.