Objective
One of the key objectives of AMM is to promote innovation among the students.
Towards this end, a mechanism design contest has been made an integral part of NaCoMM since 2009.
The purpose of the competition is to encourage the students to apply their theoretical knowledge in the
domain of mechanisms and machines to solve problems relevant to the society.
Who can
participate Participation is restricted to individuals/groups of students (up to three members), who should be registered as full-time students/research scholars/project
staff in recognised institutes.
How to
participate Participants are invited to submit proposals
for design, construction and operation of mechanisms which are innovative and capable of solving a challenging design problem.
a. Tree climbing
mechanism
Procedure and deadlines 1. Participants must submit a 2-page proposal by
September 15, 2011, outlining the design challenge and novelty/innovation
of the proposed design. Submissions should be done through emails, to the
following address:
with the following subject line: Proposal for the
Students' Mechanism Design Contest.
2. Decision on the proposals will be sent out by
September 30, 2011, and participants with promising proposals would be asked to
proceed towards developing a working prototype.
1. The design problem may be chosen from a wide range of application domains
- from agricultural and rural technology to automobile and aerospace engineering. A few typical examples are given below:
b. Walking mechanism (with two or more legs)
c. Mars-rover type of small vehicle which can climb over
significant obstacles
d. Staircase climbing mechanism
e. Foldable mechanisms, which can be deployed as useful structures, e.g., space-efficient beds, tables and other furniture,
etc.
f. An ergonomic device to help crush manually, for
making road "aggregate" in rural application
g. An
economical cable way system to transport materials (level
and sloping grounds)
h. Assistive devices for carrying
heavy loads up staircases manually, e.g., LPG cylinders,
water cans, etc.
i. Ergonomic design for rod-bending
machine to be used at construction sites
j. Assistive
devices for easier vertical transport of materials at
construction sites
k. A foot-operated substitute of the
hand-pump
It may be noted that the above listing is only representative. The participants can choose one of the above ideas, or come up with their own along the lines of the above.
2. The mechanism could be manually powered or operated
by a small motor or engine.
3. Operational safety of the mechanism/machine and the
power source is of utmost importance. Unsafe machines will
not be allowed in the demonstration.
4. It is suggested that the mechanism be light and
compact, and easy to transport, assemble and operate at the
venue. Significant modifications/repairs cannot be done at
the venue.
5. Machines using significant artificial intelligence
(robots) are not allowed. However, some sort of remote
control from an operator is allowed.
6. The prototype machine must be operated satisfactorily
in front of the judges, and each machine will be given 3
chances at the most.
3. Participants have to submit details of the prototype by
October 30, 2011, including photographs or video clips.
Please mail all the materials as a .zip file attached to an
email to
nacomm2011@iitm.ac.in
with the subject line "Update on SMDC entry".
4. Reviews of the prototypes will be sent out by
November 10, 2011, and successful participants would be asked to come for the final round,
i.e., demonstration of the working prototypes during NaCoMM 2011 at IIT Madras.
5. Finished prototypes are to be demonstrated during NaCoMM 2011 (November
30 - December 02, 2011) before a panel of judges.
The winners will be awarded cash prizes and certificates. All participants would receive certificates of participation from the Association of Machines and Mechanisms(AMM), the parent body hosting NaCoMM 2011.
6. The winner would be decided based on the extent of innovation, difficulty of the design challenge, effectiveness of the proposed solution towards solving the actual problem, etc.
7. In any matter related to the contest, the decisions of the judges and/or the organisers would be final and binding.