Division B/C Clarifications

Section 5.a.: Each team will have 8 minutes to set up, adjust and calibrate their device, and launch a max of 2 shots at each target. Measurement time required by the supervisor is not included in the allotted time. Devices that do not meet the construction specs will not be allowed to launch until brought into spec. See rule 7.h. for the scoring of devices that launch with a construction violation.

Section 4.e.: Event Supervisors will not set Design Log submission deadlines in advance of VASO tournaments. Design Logs should be submitted during impound according to rule 2.b.

Section 3.h.: The launch device must be designed and operated in such a way to not damage or alter the floor. The falling mass must be prevented from contacting, marking, or damaging the venue floor. Teams that do not adequately protect the venue floor from damage will not be allowed to compete and will receive participation points.

Section 3.d.vi.: State & Nationals: equilibrium partial pressure questions and knowledge/application of equilibrium to separate chemicals may be included.

Section 3.d.v.: Use a calorimeter colorimeter to predict a curve.

VASO considers writing code to be an integral part of building a device, so the Construction Policy applies to the code as well as the physical device. To ensure this policy is followed, teams will be required to transfer a copy of their source code file (after they modify it during the setup period) onto a USB flash drive provided by the Event Supervisor. The team is responsible for ensuring they will have a way to connect the provided USB flash drive to their laptop or calculator.

Section 4.e.: All logs will be returned to teams after inspection. Teams are encouraged to have a duplicate of their Design Log, as the submitted copy may not be returned.

Section 2.a.: Each team may bring one participant-constructed, ORP or Redox probe with a laptop or a stand-alone calculator for programming/display, two stand-alone calculators of any type, and ...

This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.

The Calculator Matrix at the end of the Rulebook has an error. It should indicate that only Class I and Class II calculators are allowed in this event. Class III calculators are not allowed.

This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.

Section 3.a.: Aircraft may be constructed from published plans, commercial kits, competitor’s designs, and/or other sources of design. Kits, if used, must not contain any pre-glued joints or pre-covered surfaces. The requirement found in VASO’s Construction Policy for kits to be substantially modified is not applied in this event.

Amendment to Clarification FLT1: Flight will NOT be held at any Virginia regional tournament. It will only be held at the  State tournament.

Section 6.b.: Flight Score for each official flight = Flight Time x Bonus (5.c. 6.c.)

This event will be held at some VASO regionals depending on facility access.  For the regionals where it will be held, the score in the event will not contribute to the overall team score determining which schools will be invited to the state tournament. However, competitors in the event must be members of the 15-person competition team (not alternates). Further information will be coming about which regionals will hold the event.

Fossil List:

Genus Otodus
Genus Carcharocles (formerly Carcharodon)
     Species C. O. megalodon (formerly Carcharocles and Carcharodon)

This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.

Section 3.a.ix.(3): Fungi: Candida aureus auris, Alternaria solani

This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.

Section 5.d.i.: The accuracy is the horizontal distance from the Target Point to the center of where the laser strikes a wall. If the laser beam is split and the Event Supervisor determines one beam is brighter, the measurement will be made from the brighter beam. If both are equal, the beam closer to the target will be used for the measurement…

Section 6.c.ii.: Teams must only modify the impounded program file during the competition. If the program itself writes additional files like logs, then those files are also considered part of the program, so teams may view and modify them as well.

VASO considers writing code to be an integral part of building a device, so the Construction Policy applies to the code as well as the physical device. If concerns arise about a team’s compliance with this policy, they will be asked to return their code storage device to impound so tournament officials can review it.

Section 3.h.: All parts of the Robot must move as a whole; no tethers, motors with a function other than propelling the whole Robot, or other separate pieces are allowed. No parts of the Robot may change their relative positions during a run other than the wheels/treads. The only parts allowed to contact the floor during the run are parts already in contact with the floor in the ready-to-run configuration. Pieces falling off during the run constitutes a construction violation.

Section 6.m.: A Gate Zone Bonus is awarded for each Gate Zone entered in any order. The entire robot does not need to be inside the Gate Zone to receive the bonus, only the entire dowel rod. The front side of the Robot with the dowel rod must be the first side of the robot to travel into the Gate Zone. Traveling backwards or sideways will not count as entering the Gate Zone.

Section 6.c.iii.: Opening other files or referencing the Internet will result in their Final Score receiving the Not Impounded penalty disqualification.

Section 2.a.i.: …The USB drive, or similar storage device, must contain only one robot program, which can be one or more source code files, that is the starting program for the Robot. Code libraries do not need to be impounded.

Section 6.c.i.: Participants must open the single program file from the impounded USB drive in front of the Event Supervisor.

It is strongly recommended that teams using a kit impound a description of the substantial modification required by the Construction Policy to help the Event Supervisor verify they have met this requirement.

Section 6.d.: In the ready-to-run configuration, the pointed tip of the egg must be placed directly above the Start Point. No part of the energy propulsion device may cross the 0.50 m Timing Line in the ready-to-run configuration or at any point during a run. The Scrambler must remain in the ready-to-run configuration without being touched until triggered by the #2 pencil.

It is strongly recommended that teams using a kit impound a description of the substantial modification required by the Construction Policy to help the Event Supervisor verify they have met this requirement.

Section 3.g.: Event Supervisors at VASO tournaments will not allow the egg to be placed inside a bag.

Section 3.f.: For timing, an approximately ¼” to ⅜” wooden dowel must be attached vertically and directly to the top of the rigid backstop. The dowel must extend at least 20.0 cm above the Track’s surface. A paper flag for the timing system must be attached to the trailing side of the dowel with the paper’s center height at 17.0cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper size must be 5.0 cm by 5.0 cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper may be any color and decorated. A paper flag may be attached to the trailing side of the dowel, but this is not required for VASO’s timing system and will not be judged at VASO tournaments. One or more violations of this paragraph counts as a single Construction Violation.

Section 3.c.: …The falling mass must not directly be prevented from contacting, marking, or damaging the venue floor by using a pad or similar protective cushion. The pad must not be attached to the falling mass; it must cover the floor. Teams that do not adequately protect the venue floor will not be allowed to compete and will receive participation points…

Section 2.b.: Teams may share energy propulsion system between teams from the same school. Teams, even if they are from the same school, may NOT share an energy propulsion system at VASO tournaments.

(Division C) Design Log Template “Sketch of design”: A photograph will not be accepted in place of the hand or CAD drawing.

Section 7.g.: Example score calculations (for Division B the Log Multiplier is always 1.0):

Section 4.b: Division C - Teams may submit a Deisgn  Design Log of structures tested prior ti to competition and may earn a Log Book Multiplier if the log is complete.

Section 7.g.iii.: Structure 3: mass = 10.12 g, Load Supported = 12,134 15,000 g + 5000 g Load Scored Bonus, Log Compliant Score (1.25x) = 2,116 2,470

It is strongly recommended that teams using a kit impound a description of the substantial modification required by the Construction Policy to help the Event Supervisor verify they have met this requirement.

Section 3.e.iii.: A paper flag for the timing system must be attached to the trailing side of the dowel with the paper’s center height at 17.0cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper size must be 5.0 cm by 5.0 cm ± 1.0 cm. The paper may be any color and decorated. A paper flag may be attached to the trailing side of the dowel, but this is not required for VASO’s timing system and will not be judged at VASO tournaments.

Section 2.a.: Each team must bring and impound one Vehicle, alignment devices (if used), a Practice and Design Log (if prepared for a bonus), and additional/spare parts. The Vehicle must be impounded in its lowest potential energy state.

The Calculator Matrix at the end of the Rulebook has an error. It should indicate that Class I, Class II, and Class III calculators are allowed in this event.

Section 3.e.: The blade assembly must be made of only nonmetallic, nonmagnetic substance(s). Only the wind from the fan may power the blade assembly.