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Challenge 4 - Forklift challenge "Let's play with forklifts." Rules The initial build regulations would be thus:
The three challenges: This challenge will take place in three stages:
The lifting palette will be loaded with one of more large-size lego wheels. Whichever vehicle can lift the most wheels wins this stage of the challenge. Four palettes will be placed in the centre of the room. Three palettes will be loaded with two wheels each. The fourth palette will be loaded with blocks on a smooth surface (such that they can fall off if jostled). Four raised platforms will be placed around the room, and the objective is to load a palette onto each platform in the fastest time possible. Each object dropped from a palette will add 10 seconds to the total time (the palette full of blocks potentially carries a 90-second penalty).
Red Team's Design Our lifting mechanism is rack and pinion, specifically a tall toothed rack at the front of the vehicle. The lifter section has two Medium motors. The drive mechanism is a simple skid-steer system, with an XL size motor driving a wheel on each side. Two free-wheeling rear wheels have no tyres, and can slid around when the vehicle turns.
The Event! After a lengthy delay, Blue Team announced they were ready to compete. While waiting, Red Team's lifter mechanism had been extended by another 16 units, and was now able to lift objects a good 18 inches. Heavily laden, however, the vehicle would tip onto its front. With some amusement we discovered it could pick itself up by driving forward while lowering the forks. This party trick would do us no favours during the challenge, however! We were sure we had the first challenge in the bag, and told Blue Team as much. Therefore we were surprised when they revealed their lifter design - a bale lifter. Part one - lifting height We loaded both machines with a pallet and two large wheels. Red team's vertical lift was easily the tallest. Part two - lifting weight Despite having a strong mechanism, Blue Team's lifter overbalanced when lifting more than a few tyres. Red team's lifter was able to lift more, eventually tipping over while trying to lift eight. Part three - agility test Red Team went first. Maneuverability was good, offering enough fine control to get the forks under the pallets and take them to the raised platfors. The forks, however, moved far too fast, and it proved difficult to deposit the pallets above ground level. The forks would first travel too low and lift the drive wheels from the ground. Then they would travel too high, and catch on the pallet as the truck withdrew. Two of the three wheel-bearing pallets were dropped this way. While attempting to load the pallet laden with boxes, a minor collision with the platform dropped one of the boxes.
Time taken: 2:01 Blue team's attempt went much more smoothly, with no problems and no time penalties. However, on this occasion slow and steady did not win the race.
Time taken: 2:48
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