Click HERE to get data and scores from Round 1

Looking at the round 1 PI values, there was one team that got a rather good cluster (all 10 hits within a 20 cm radius), but most other teams were well below in PI value (the next closest PI value was more than twice as large!).

Looking at the round 2 PI values, I see that 4 teams made improvements and 4 teams did worse. Taking the average PI value then there was no significant improvement compared to round 1, at least overall.  Obviously that is a big disappointment for me since I was expecting you to improve the operation by going through this twice.

• A method to keep the catapult from hopping during launch.
• Significant amounts of team practice with catapult as preparation.
• Variations in the rubber bands with temperature, repetition, age, etc.
• Having some distance slack to be able to adjust closer if needed (at least one team needed this sorely, but was already at the trip line).
• A consistent method for launching/releasing.
• The way the rubber band rolls down and around the top nail may keep it from stretching the same each time. I'm very surprised that no team figured out a different way to connect the rubber band that would be more reproducible.

Here are the photos that I took of the projects during Round 1 competition. I think I have them indexed right, but it is possible that I've slipped a bit at the end. Please use them all for ideas and brainstorming purposes.

Team 1
Getting the dental floss out to triangulate target
Close up of catapult configuration
The target area with carbon paper
Keeping it steady during firing

Team 2
Not quite Ready to Fire - note setback from 4 meter tape line.
Now it's Ready

Team 3
Stabilizers Ready

Team 4
Setting up close to the line

Team 5
Getting Ready
Measuring the Distance

Team 6
Getting Ready - Note rifle scope!!

Team 7
Getting ready

Team 8
Laying out the stabilizer
Measuring the distance
This is how it works
 
 

(c) 2001, by Dunbar P. Birnie, III