Sunday, October 29, 2023
Mardi Gras Float Guidelines
Theme: School Spirit and Mechanical Engineering
For ASME IMECE 2023 in New Orleans (Oct. 29 through Nov. 3), on Sunday, Oct. 29th starting at 10:00 am CST students can showcase a Mardi Gras-like float to demonstrate their school spirit along with how it relates to Mechanical Engineering. A competition as to the best design along with the ability to throw a provided stress ball exactly 20 feet will occur. This will be a team competition requiring at least 4 students and a maximum of 10 students per float.
Deadlines:
- Registration for float design: Sept. 29, 2023
- Finished float picture upload to Discord site: Oct. 15, 2023
Contest Timing:
- Unloading: 8am CST to 9am CST
- Setup: 9am to 12pm CST
- Contest: 1pm CST to 3pm CST
- Judging Discussion: 3pm to 4pm CST
- Awards and Tear Down: 4pm CST
Contest:
- $200 for each school entry; $50 additional for each student more than a team of 4.
- Multiple entries per school are allowed
- Upon registration, the school logo will be displayed on the IMECE 2023 webpage under a specific heading
- A mechanical device must be incorporated to throw a stress ball exactly 20 feet measured from the front of the float; the stress ball will be provided by ASME staff
- 1st place receives $1000, 2nd place receives $500, and 3rd place receives $250
- The top 3 floats will be left at IMECE for showcasing in the Exhibit Hall during the conference until Wednesday, November 1st
Rules:
- All floats must be decorated to comply with the official parade theme
- The winning floats must have multiple dimensions with unique decorations
- Safety is paramount; safety glasses are required when the mechanical device is in operation, or the float is under construction
- The mechanical device must operate without power; e.g., use of a spring or catapult would be acceptable
- Contestants will get three tries for the stress ball to travel 20 feet (air + ground distance)
- Business names and advertisements are not allowed; obviously, school/university names are allowed
- The maximum height can be no more than 4 feet tall
- The maximum width and length are 4 feet by 6 feet
- The float should be able to be rolled or carried into place and it must be locked and secure when people are standing on it
- All standing areas must have secure solid walls or railings
- Only LED/LCD lighting is allowed; static props are also allowed
- No open flames are allowed as part of the design
- Transportation of the floats to and from the venue are the responsibility of the contestants
- Teams must assemble and disassemble the floats on site without help from ASME staff
- A judging rubric will be developed and uploaded to the ASME IMECE website
Questions:
- A Discord channel has been set up to handle questions related to this contest.
To Participate: