29th Warman Design & Build Competition 2016
Project “RAVINE” Restore Access Via Independently Navigated Equipment
Context
The inhabitants of Gondwana, a small planet on the outer fringes of our Galaxy, have recently experienced a number of significant quakes. These seismic events have resulted in significant damage to essential infrastructure, including roads and bridges, leaving many of the Gondwanan people isolated and cut-off from food and general supplies.
Dilemma
A huge Gondwana quake has destroyed a bridge that originally crossed a narrow deep ravine. The bridge was used to transport food and general supplies to a crucial community. Fortunately, supplies are pre-packaged in robust spherical containers. Strong and gusty winds through the ravine means transport by aircraft is not suitable. Additionally, there is also a danger the banks on each side might suddenly disintegrate, so replacing the bridge in the short-term is not possible.
Challenge
There is an existing pipe which has been used to provide clean water to the isolated community. Note that this pipe slopes upwards in the direction the supplies need to be moved. The challenge is to use this pipe to assist supplies to the crucial community to be maintained – in other words, design, build and test a prototype to Restore Access Via Independently Navigated Equipment.
Objective
The objective is to design, build and prove a prototype ravine crossing system in a laboratory environment that simulates conditions on the Gondwana site.
V161202.05