Trebuchet Contest

OVERVIEW:

The ISD Renaissance Festival is seeking entrants for the Queen’s Engineering Troupe for its Trebuchet Demonstration and Competition.  The competition will be an event that ventures to recreate the use of Trebuchets those medieval artillery war engines used to hurl stones that conquered and overtook armies and castles.  As members of the Queen’s troupe entrants in the Trebuchet competition will build a machine that was known to launch farther than any other siege engine known throughout England causing all enemies to surrender upon view of this massive battle apparatus.

As we plan for this year’s demonstration and competition, we are hoping you will join us.  Our purpose is to promote a challenging and exciting way for students to appreciate and use basic physics and engineering principals to create a machine that was used to accomplish an early period task. The trebuchet demonstration and competition will no doubt receive praise from an academic standpoint but additionally will give students a way to showcase principles they’ve learned in a creative and entertaining way while taking part in a community event.

The Trebuchet Competition will declare a team winner by design and construction of a trebuchet that’s challenged to fling 40 to 100 feet and consistently hit a given target.  They will be judged on accuracy, distance and creativity. The object is to build or modify a design of a trebuchet that can accurately throw water balloons.  Students are encouraged to determine the amount of energy needed for their projectiles to fly that distance from the launcher to a target remembering that safety is of the utmost concern.

For further information or inquiries please contact Chris Harris Committee Chairman at isdrf@isdrenaissance.com

We anticipate an experience not to be forgotten with all day events and activities focused around a story of Renaissance history and welcome your participation in the Trebuchet Competition.

Want to build one??
Go to www.trebuchet.com for plan and kits
 RULES OF COMPETITION:
Click here for printable version
  1.  The contest is open to all who register. 
  2. No catapults or catapult/trebuchet hybrids are allowed.  No energy stored in deformation of components. That means no flexible arms, springs or pulleys can be used.
  3. Framework must not be higher than 5’6” excluding the projectile arm and wheels if added for mobility.  Safety is of utmost concern.  Trebuchets will be inspected for safety and any loose parts must be tightened or trebuchet is deemed unfit and disqualified. No parts other than the projectile arm are allowed to become disconnected from the trebuchet and must be securely attached prior to participating in the competition.
  4. Counterweights must not come free during competition.  If a counterweight falls off the trebuchet during competition the operator may continue with the remaining counterweights.  If however the trebuchet becomes inoperable or unsafe, it must be removed immediately from the playing field.  Repairs to broken trebuchets are allowed and when repaired the team may continue with their scoring series after all other teams compete.  Repair action should not delay access to the launch site for other teams who are ready to go. Additionally, following any repair practice shots will not be permitted.
  5. The object is to build or modify a design employing stored mechanical energy to accurately throw a water balloon between 40 to 100 feet.  Each team must provide their own projectiles (water balloons). The competition will declare a team winner through distance and accuracy via a point system. 
  6. A line will be designated as a launch position. Targets will be placed at between 40, 60 and 100 feet.  The target numbers will also represent the points awarded for each target hit.  Targets must be hit to obtain points. Teams will have 10 minutes to fire 10 projectiles at targets to accumulate points.  The team with the most points will be declared the champions of that round. If targets can not be hit by any team at the designated lengths they will be moved forward or back as determined by judges.
  7. In the event of a tie, there will be a sudden death match, where each team is given 1 ballon and required to aim for the 100 foot target. The team that is ruled closest is winner.
  8. Everyone must be out of the launch field before a launch.  If any team launches prior to the area being cleared that team is automatically disqualified.  It is the responsibility of the team to take great care that no person or property should come to harm due to any action by their trebuchet or negligence.
  9. The Trebuchet Competition will have a panel of judges who can not be challenged; they will accept no questions and no negotiations! As the competition is being held outdoors, factor such as rain or wind may affect outcomes and we can not be held responsible for such occurrences.  The judges will also be awarding a winner for the most creative and authentic trebuchet.
  10. Your challenge is to construct a smaller-scaled replica of a trebuchet that can fling anywhere between 40 and 100 feet and consistently hit a given target.
  11. As this is our third year, please check this page for any rule changes. Any changes will be displayed and dated below these rules. Theses rules are in effect as of April 20, 2006.
  12. 4/30/05 - Eligibility has been changed. Open to all ages, each team must have one member who is 16 years old or older.
AWARDS & PRIZES:
  • 1st Place: TBA
  • 2nd Place: TBA
  • Best Design: TBA
  • Most Historically Correct: TBA