Goodyear’s STEM Career Day: Rube Goldberg Challenge® / 2018 /

High School Grant Competition

Official Rules

Goodyear challenges you and your classmates to design a clever Rube Goldberg Machine™, utilizing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) principles, to Move a Load of Tires with a Blimp*!

Students may participate as part of a SchoolGroup for a chance to showcase creativity and STEM skills to win great prizes, including significant grant money for your school.

Participants apply by creating a machine according to the Challenge below, and sending an application essay and video of your machinein action to Goodyear by January 31, 2018. A panel of scientists and engineers will select the winners according to scoring criteria.

Winners will be announced at Goodyear’s STEM Career Day on February 17, 2018and must be present to claim their prize. All teamswill be required to showcase their Rube Goldberg Machine™ at the Goodyear STEM Career Day event.

*Inflatable blimp (33”) and model tires (1” diameter) will be provided.

Who Can Participate and What’s in it for YOU and YOUR SCHOOL!

Any interested group(s) of students in grades nine through twelve who plans to attend Goodyear’s STEM Career Day on February 17, 2018may participate in the Rube Goldberg Challenge ®. Please note that winners will not be notified before the event and must be present at the event to claim their prize.

First, determine your school's level of participation given the following rules:

Team Guidelines
  • High School Bracket: Students in grades 9-12

  • Teams must be 4-12 students.

  • Schools can enter multiple teams.
  • Only ONE TEAMfrom each school may win grant allocations.

  • Previous winners are eligible to win grants and honorable mention prizes.ǂ

ǂSubject to change for 2019 Goodyear STEM Career Day.

Second, get excited about the prizes!

1st Place / -$2500 school grant
-Visit Goodyear Headquarters & Innovation Center
-Honorable mention prizes
2nd Place / -$2000 school grant
-Honorable mention prizes
3rd Place / -$1000 school grant
-Honorable mention prizes
Honorable Mentions
(4th - 6th Place) / Accumulated optional machine task points (up to 750 prize points) can be spent on prizes as individuals or as a group for your school

Prize List for Winners

The top 6highschool group teams will have the opportunity to spend the points collected by your Rube Goldberg Machine™ completing a selection of optional tasks (described in The Challenge below). Each team has the potential to spend a maximum of 750 task points. The number of task points becomes the number of prize points available for your group. All points earned will count towards your final score, but a maximum of 750 may be spent on prizes if you are in the top 6 schools. You can decide to pool your prize points and get a big prize for your class or school, or you can split them up between each team member for individual prizes.

Prize / Description / Point Value
Lego Mind-storm EV3 / An introduction to robots and robotic logic for your classroom or Robotic leagues / 650
Chromebook/Netbook / Standard Chromebook/Netbook for your classroom / 500

Aven 26700-209 Mighty Scope Digital Handheld Microscope, 10x-200x Magnification, Upper White-LED Illumination, With Stand, Includes 5MP Camera

/ High powered mobile microscope with ability to take pictures / 400
Electronic Balance / Scientific electronic balance, 500 g capacity, 0.1 g readability / 400
Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer & Paper / Prints directly from your mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth / 250
TI-84 Calculator / Common usage in AP Calculus AB, also used throughout college / 200
Circuit Scribe Ultimate Kit / Everything you need to create dynamic and fun paper circuits / 200
Stirling Engine Display / A Stirling engine is a heat engine that operates by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas at different temperatures, such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. Neat gadget for class demonstrations or for your desk. / 125
TwinStar 60 mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope / 15x and 50x magnifications with included 6 mm and 20 mm eyepieces, full-size tripod included / 125
Raspberry Pi / The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card sizedcomputer that plugs into your TV and akeyboard,which can be used in electronics projects,and for many of the things that your desktopPC does, like spreadsheets, word-processingand games. It also plays high-definitionvideo. Useful tool for learning basic computer science. / 125
Amazon Fire Tablet / 7” Display, 8 GB / 100
Makey Makey Board / Trick your computer into thinking that anything is a keyboard! Play the piano with bananas! / 100
4” Levitating Desktop Globe / Magnets are awesome. Four inch rotating anti-gravity levitating world globe with 8 LED lights. / 90
Electricity and Magnetism Kit / Again, magnets are awesome. Kit to conduct experiments with circuits and magnets to understand the relationship between electricity and magnetism. / 90
Binary Clock / Modern design digital clock; uses binary code to tell time / 60
AERIUS: New World’s Smallest Quadcopter / Measuring 3cm by 3cm by 2cm, it is about the size of your fingertip, and with its tiny propellers it can manage 5-7 minutes of flight time per 15 minutes of charging. / 50
Math themed clock / Equations instead of numbers / 30
Annual subscription to Discover Magazine / Can select multi-year subscription / 40 per year
Annual subscription to Popular Science Magazine / Can select multi-year subscription / 25 per year
Pocket Microscope / Analog microscope you can take anywhere / 20
Chemistry Model Kit / Molecular model kit for general and organic chemistry / 20
400 mL Beaker mug / Be the coolest student in the cafeteria! / 20

We hope you agree that these incentives are awesome. Now that we have you hooked, let’s get to The Challenge!

The Challenge:

Rube Goldberg was an engineer by training who was known for his cartoons depicting outrageous engineering efforts to complete a simple task. We want you to be zany and outrageouswhile applying STEM principles to create your own themed Rube Goldberg Machine™.

The following criteria are Requirements for entry.

The Final Task of your Rube Goldberg Machine™ is to move a load of tires with a blimp! The blimp and model tires to be used in your Rube Goldberg Machine™ will be provided.

This is meant to be fun and educational, not dangerous and hazardous. Participants are expected to be safe and exercise common sense. If in doubt, consult your teacher or leave it out.

Criteria / School Group Req’t / Description
Completed Application Entry Form / (Attachment 1) / Machine Name & Description, Team Introduction, Safety Pledge, Application Questions & Essay, Task Sequence List, Self-Scoring. Incomplete entry forms will be disqualified.
Video Submission of Machine in Operation / Must be continuous filming, showing the full operation of the machine. See “Additional Rules” section below for more information.
Machine Dimensions / 10’ x 10’ x 8 ‘ / Must also be able to fit through a standard entry way – modular design is encouraged.
Repeatability / Yes / Must be repeatable
Number of Intermediate steps prior to Final Task / Min12 / See Points & Penalties section below for more details
Machine Run-Time Duration / Min 30 seconds before initiation of final task;
Max 300 seconds before initiation of final task / See Points & Penalties section below for more details

Scoring -Points & Penalties:

Points are accumulated or deducted based on achieving the items and tasks below. You do NOT need to complete each item or task: winners are selected by totaling all below item/task-related points, creativity points, and application essays. There are a total of 1,800 possible points not including the optional task points. The top6 high school groupteams selected will become eligible to spend their Optional Task Points they collected on group or individual prizes (a maximum of 750 points may be spent on prizes, however as many optional points as earned will be included in scoring).

Scoring Criteria: Required Elements & Optional Tasks

Task / Description / Points / Penalty
Submission Date / Projects are due January 31, 2018. Late penalty will apply for any projects submitted after January 31, 2018and before February 3, 2018. Projects will not be accepted after 12:01AM, February 3, 2018. / No additional points / -250 points from project total (does not affect optional point total)
Cohesive theme / A consistent theme for your machine / 100 / Zero points for not having a cohesive theme
Continuous hands-off operation / Once the machine starts, no touching or outside influence if it stalls / 100 / 0 points for one touch, -20 per additional occurrence
Optional Task Completion / See table below; Any combination of any number of optional tasks can be completed (all optional tasks completed must be claimed in the application) / Unlimited
(Only 750 may be used for prizes) / None
Final task completion / Deliver a load of tires with a blimp / 300 / Zero points for not completing the final task
Design / Panel Judging at STEM Career Day / Up to 500
Cinematography / Panel judging / Up to 100
Application & Essay / Panel judging / Up to 350
Attendance at Goodyear STEM Career Day on February 17, 2018 / Participating school groups will be awarded points according to the percentage resulting from number of students in the Rube Goldberg team who registered vs. number who attend the event. (i.e. 10 students registered, 5 attend, team gets 125 points) / Up to 250
Mobile / Your machine fits into a 10’x10’x8’ entryway; send in a dimensioned drawing to prove your claim / 100 / Claimed, but not accurate: -100

Subjective Grading Rubric:

DESIGN (Panel judging at STEM Career Day) / 500 Points
Technical Rigor / 35%
Entertainment / 25%
Complexity / 20%
Explanation of machine / 10%
WOW Factor / 10%
CINEMATOGRAPHY / 100 Points
Explanation of machine / 20%
Clarity of machine elements (all steps are visible & trackable) / 30%
Video Quality (steady and focused) / 50%
APPLICATION / 350 Points
Financial Plan / 40%
Essay / 35%
Clarity of optional point claims / 15%
Machine Diagram / 10%

Optional Tasks:

Within your application, your team should “claim” all optional tasks you think you have earned. Include where in your video the graders can find the occurrence and how the step/event/item achieves the desired goal. While you will only be able to spend a maximum of 750 points if you are in the top 6 schools, all your optional points earned will count towards your final score! Any optional tasks not claimed by the group will not be considered for grading.

Item/Task / Description / Points / Penalty
Use a spring / +30
Use a magnet / +30
Use gravity / +30
Pour a liquid / +30 / -10 if not contained (spills)
Incorporate your school mascot / +50
Use a basketball in your machine / +50
Fly the blimp more than 2 feet as a single step in your machine / +50
Move all ten tires / Use the blimp to move all ten provided tires / +50
Phase change / e.g. melt wax / +50
Conveyor belt / +50
Your machine uses no standard form of electricity / (off the shelf batteries, capacitors, grid power/wall plugs) / +50
Use of simple machines / Wikipedia / +20 each; max 80 points
Use a projectile / Create an equation for a projectile and demonstrate it within your machine / +30 for projectile
+70 additional if you include an accurate trajectory equation
Use materials that are used in tires / Part of your optional task description should say where in the tire the material is used and for what purpose / +30 each unique occurrence; max 90 points
Include some programming or robotics / Include your programming; mind-storm blocks and “off the shelf” programming chunks do not count / +50 for robotics
+100 for including team-generated code
Remote start of your machine / e.g. text message, phone call, timer / +100
Use a single component in at least two unique steps / Component must be used in a unique action in each step / +100
Include additional Goodyear branding / +50 points per unique occurrence, (max 200 points)
Use some alternate source of electricity that you generate inside your machine / (potential energy > electrical energy, chemical energy > electrical energy; NO GASOLINE) / +150 per unique occurrence (max 300 points)
Transport the blimp through an opening / Transport the blimp through an opening no more than 24” in diameter as a step in your machine / +250
Pick up the tires prior to transporting them / Pick up the tires as a step in the machine / +250
Release the tires from the blimp in an oriented manner / Release the tires from the blimp so the tires land on their tread / +300

Actions/Components not allowed under any circumstances:

  • Fire
  • Combustion
  • Oxidation
  • Hazardous materials
  • Radioactive materials
  • Anything over 25V (AC), 60V (DC); appliances using standard, unmodified plugs are allowed
  • Lead objects including lead acid batteries
  • Uncontrolled projectiles
  • Live animals

How to Apply:

Once you/your team has designed, tested and built your Rube Goldberg Machine™, document your design and machine steps/tasks in your application form and video tape your machine in operation. Video submissions and application forms are due January 31, 2018at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Electronic Submissions (Strongly Preferred):

  • Application form must be saved as word documents (.doc or .docx) or .pdf files and submitted via email to with “Rube Goldberg Competition Entry” as the subject of the email.
  • Video submissions are preferred to be submitted using an unlisted YouTube video. Note the URL and include it in the application form.

Hard Copy Submissions (only if absolutely necessary please):

  • Hard copy application forms and DVD/CD entries can also be submitted by mail. The deadline is January 31, 2018at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Entries postmarked after this time will not be eligible for this contest. It is recommended that entries are submitted 1-2 weeks prior to the submission deadline to allow participants to correct any issues with file formats, faulty media, or shipping damage. DVD/CD submissions become the property of Goodyear and cannot be returned.

Mail to:

Goodyear STEM Career Day Rube Goldberg Challenge®

Attn:John Bucey

200 Innovation Way

Akron OH, 44316

Additional Rules

  • Entries will be judged by a panel of representatives from Goodyear, and winners selectedbased on details in the Scoring Criteria section above.Final judging will occur at STEM Career Day. Goodyear judges will assign all point values for each category of machine required & optional task points, creativity, application & essay, and attendance.
  • Winners will be announced during the closing ceremony at Goodyear STEM Career Day on February 17, 2018. Winners must be present at the event to win. A Goodyear representative will contact each winner following the event for more instructions to claim prizes.
  • In the event of a tie, the longest machine run duration will be used as a tie breaker.
  • The video and application form gives you / your team an opportunity to showcase how you arrived at your final design. The video can include discussions, demonstrations, competing theories, even prototypes and/or sketches that were initially considered before the final design selection.
  • The video or application form should show how different team members contributed to your project.All team members must play some role in the creation of the Rube Goldberg Machine™, but not all members must appear on the video. Video credits must list team member roles, such as writing, editing, camera, audio, performance, music, etc.
  • For school group entrants, it is recommended that a minimum of 50% of team members be female if competing school is co-educational (i.e., enrolls male and female students).
  • The videos must not exceed 10 minutes in length. Videos on DVD/CD must be in a format that can be played on Windows Media Player or QuickTime (.wmv, .avi, .mov, or .mpg file formats). Video must not exceed 2 GB in size. Any video that does not meet these requirements will be disqualified from this contest.
  • Ensure that you provide the unique video title and valid video YouTube URL, if applicable. Email submissions to must also include:
  • Team contact name and email address (must be for someone older than 13) in case any issues/questions arise.
  • List of team members involved in creating the Rube Goldberg Machine™ and video.
  • Please include this printed wording in the submission:
  • “The team acknowledges that submitting the application form and video means that we consent to the Goodyear STEM Career Day rules."
  • Your Rube Goldberg Machine™ and video must not infringe on any third party rights or contain any names, logos, or seals of any government agency, company, or organization other than Goodyear and Rube Goldberg, Inc.
  • Rube Goldberg machines or videos previously produced for compensation and/or copyrighted materials are not eligible and will be disqualified from this contest.
  • In order to be awarded the grant monies and/or prizes, the winning contestants must provide the required consent and release forms to Goodyear at the event on February 17, 2018 for all on-screen team members available via the Goodyear STEM Career Day website.
  • Winners can expect to be notified at the STEM Career day event on February 17, 2018.
  • By submitting a video to this contest, you grant to Goodyear an irrevocable, royalty-free license to copy, distribute, modify, display and perform publicly, and otherwise use, as well as authorize others to use, your video for any educational or promotional purpose and in any media format.
  • Goodyear is the sponsor of this contest. Goodyear reserves the right to make your video available to the general public from their Web sites and to distribute it to any other organizations interested in showing it for any educational purposes, including, but not limited to, on Internet sites, at conferences and events, on television, and other media outlets.
  • The depiction of violence, profanity, or sex, or the inclusion of attacks on individuals or organizations, otherwise offensive material, or any other violation of the contest rules will result in disqualification from this contest.
  • Submission videos that contain dangerous stunts or reckless tire/vehicle operation will not be eligible for grant or prize consideration.
  • The contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. No purchase or payment of money is necessary to enter or win.
  • Entrants must agree to the above terms and conditions.

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