Problem Statement

Construct a remote controlled boat powered only by an electric motor and complete 3 laps in least possible time.

A team may consist of maximum of three participants.

Track Specifications

1. The race track will be a track with left, right and U turns, S-shaped curves and hurdles.
2. Despite organizers efforts to keep the track quality intact, if the track shakes slightly because of the ripples, participants should be able to control their boat accordingly.
3. More details about the track will be provided to you soon. However the exact track will be revealed only on the day of the race.
4. A lap of the track is defined to be completed when the boat comes back to the start-finish line.
5. Elevated standing position for better control will be provided to the participants. which will improve the controlling by a participant team by improving the visibility of the whole track at a single sight. But there is no such restriction to control the boat by making use of the provided platform.

Machine specifications

Dimension and Fabrication

1. Maximum length of the boat: 20 inches.
2. Maximum width of the boat: 7 inches.
3. The boat has to be controlled by a wireless remote control mechanism throughout the competition.
4. The boat must not be made from Lego parts, or any ready-made assembly kits.
5. Remote control systems from toys might be used. Remote control systems available in the market may also be used.
6. Balsa wood or fibre glass or any other light in weight but strong material can be used for the construction.

Motor specifications

1. The boat must have an onboard power supply to provide power to any mechanism requiring electric power.
2. Only dc motor should be used for the power supply.
3. The maximum allowed speed of an electric motor is 7000 r.p.m.(i.e. Participants can also use dc motor of 5000 r.p.m or any other dc motor lower in speed than 7000 r.p.m).
4. The electric voltage provided to the motor should not be more than 7.2V.
5. Speed controller should be used so as to control the the speed of the dc motor.

A team may consist of maximum of three participants.

Qualifying Round

1. If any of the machines starts off before the whistle, the counter would be restarted and the machines will get a second chance. However, if any machine starts off before the whistle for a second time, it will be disqualified.
2. The participants must place their boats at the start/finish line before start of the race.
3. There will be a qualifying session in which each participant has to finish 3 laps in least possible time.
4. Each team will get 2 runs, and sufficient time will be provided between the two trials and best of two trials will be considered.
5. If there is a tie then the respective teams will be given 1 more run.
6. The track will have check points at regular intervals. If a boat tumbles, or halts, or goes off the arena at any point on the track, one of the organizers will lift it up and place it at the nearest checkpoint behind that point, and until then all the stop watches will be paused.
7. The top 8 teams with least time from the qualifying rounds will make it to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals

1. Each participant will have to complete two laps without break.
2. As there are 4 check points, time required to cross each check point is noted for each participant.
3. In the same way, the average time required to cross each check point is calculated in the following way:
   T_avg for N^th check-point = (sum of time elapsed between N^th check-point and (N-1)^th checkpoint by each participant) / no. of teams.
4. NOTE: The participant will be awarded points on the basis of the time taken by the boat to cover each checkpoint. The participant will be given points for each checkpoint P = (Tavg – t). For eg: taking Nth checkpoint, Pn = (Tavg – t) where t is the time taken by boat to go from (N-1)th checkpoint to Nth checkpoint, and Tavg – As defined above. If ‘t’ > Tavg then negative points will be awarded.
5. Finally for one participant, points for EACH checkpoint will be added and the total will be calculated. First four teams with maximum total points will make it to the finals.

Finals

Will be updated soon!

Team specification

1. A maximum of 3 members in each team.
2. The team need not consist of members from the same college.
3. There is no restriction on the number of teams from each college.

Eligibility

All students with a valid identity card of their respective educational institute are eligible to participate in NFS AQUA.

General Rules

• All participants are requested to send their construction plan to nfsaqua@pragyan.org.
• The boats are not allowed to leave any loose parts on any part of the arena. Any machine disintegrating during the race will be disqualified.
• The teams may obtain a time slot for practice before the game. Any requests for using the track at any other time will not be entertained.
• Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be eliminated from the competition automatically.
• There will also be an evaluation of the machines for other prizes such as most innovative design, best fabrication etc at a time and date specified in the schedule which will be put up at a later stage. Any team that does not turn up at the specified time will not be considered for these prizes.
• Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.
• The teams must adhere to the spirit of healthy competition. The teams must not damage the opponent's machine in any way. Judges reserve the right to disqualify any team indulged in mis-behaviour.
• The organizers reserve the rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any, will be highlighted on the website and notified to the registered participants.

Certificates

• Certificate of Excellence will be given to all the winners.
• Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams that will participate in the event, but not to the teams which get disqualified due to disobeying any of the competition rules.