Odyssey of the Mind
™
2015-2016
Problem No. 1:
No-Cycle Recycle
NASA proudly sponsors this problem. NASA advances scientific knowledge about our planet
and universe. It freely shares this new knowledge with the public as well as new data and
images of Earth, the Sun, and the universe. As such, NASA helps fulfill a basic human need
to understand where we came from and where we are going. This curiosity coupled with the
creative way in which NASA advances technology provides us with a better understanding of
the world. For more information, please go to http://science.nasa.gov.
www.odysseyofthemind.com
© Copyright 2015, Creative Competitions, Inc.
No-Cycle Recycle
Problem No. 1: Divisions I, II & III
Introduction
Many societies around the world are devoting increased resources to recycling. We know that recycling helps preserve our
environment. However, our planet is filled with diverse ecosystems with different needs, inhabitants, natural surroundings —
even weather. Some are using these differences as an advantage by creating a demand for discarded items and repurposing
them instead! By adapting their purpose, people are not only creating treasure from trash, but helping to keep the many
different ecosystems of our planet clean and sustainable. Who better to take on this challenge than Odyssey of the Mind
teams?
A.The Problem
The problem is to design, build, and drive a vehicle that will travel between two team-created ecosystems to process
items. The vehicle must travel without pedaling for propulsion. During the performance, the vehicle will make stops to
pick up discarded items from one ecosystem then adapt and deliver them to the other ecosystem where they will be
repurposed. As part of the route, the vehicle will pass through a Recycling Center between trips. An assistant worker will
also travel on the vehicle and will help process the discarded items. There will be an unplanned stop where the riders
will perform a random act of kindness.
The creative emphases of the problem are the how the vehicle picks up the items, how the items are adapted, the
two ecosystems and the random act of kindness.
The Spirit of the Problem is for the team to design, build, and drive a vehicle that travels and makes stops between
two ecosystems where it will gather discarded items, adapt them in some way, and deliver them to be repurposed. The
vehicle is not allowed to be propelled by pedaling and must pass through a Recycling Center between trips. A driver and
an assistant will ride on the vehicle and make an unplanned stop to perform a random act of kindness.
B.Limitations (Italicized words/terms are defined in the 2015-2016 Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide.)
1. General Rules: Read the 2015-2016 Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide. This manual is updated each year and
includes basic limitations for solving Odyssey of the Mind problems and the forms required for competition. This
problem cannot be solved without referring to the Program Rules section of the guide.
2. Problem Clarifications: The Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide explains the types of questions about the rules
that will be clarified and the ways to submit those questions. General problem clarifications can be accessed at
www.odysseyofthemind.com/clarifications/. Problem clarifications submitted after February 15, 2016, will not be
answered. CCI may find it necessary to issue clarifications after that date, so continue to check for them after
February 15 and before each competition.
3. The time limit for this problem is 8 minutes. This starts when the Timekeeper says, “Team begin,” and includes
setup, Style, and the presentation of the problem solution.
4. The cost limit for this problem is $145 (U.S.). The combined value of the materials used during the demonstration of
the team’s solution, including Style, cannot exceed this amount. The Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide explains
the cost limit and lists items that are exempt from cost.
5. The team will create an original performance that includes:
a. a ride-on vehicle.
b. two different ecosystems.
c. three required discarded items that the vehicle picks up, adapts, and drops off to be repurposed.
d. a driver and assistant that ride on the vehicle and help adapt the required items.
e. an unplanned stop where a random act of kindness is performed.
f.
a theme for the performance.
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6. The vehicle:
a. must be an original creation of the team; however, it may include commercially produced parts.
b. must fit entirely within a 5’ x 5’ Start Area oriented as it will be while traveling the course when time begins.
c. is not allowed to use alternating current.
d. is not allowed to be propelled by human-powered pedaling in any way. Disallowed human-powered pedaling
would provide direct power for propulsion. However, movements that are performed and completed while the
vehicle is not traveling are allowed.
e. must be self-contained and operated by one or more team members riding on it. Team members can get on and
off the vehicle at any time that it is not traveling, but are only allowed to assist in steering or propulsion while
riding on the vehicle.
f.
the vehicle may have attachments and partner devices that are used by riders or drivers to help propel the
vehicle and solve the problem. If used, these are considered part of the vehicle and must meet the limitations,
including traveling with the vehicle and fitting in the Start Area when time begins.
g. must be safe and not cause harm or damage to the competition site, the judges, the team, or anyone in the
audience.
h. must be designed to pick up, adapt (or help adapt), and drop off the required discarded items at the two
ecosystems. It will also travel through a Recycling Center between trips. Team members may not directly pick
up or drop off required items at the two ecosystems.
I.
will make an unplanned stop where the driver and assistant perform a random act of kindness. This may occur
any time during the performance.
7. The two ecosystems:
a. may be portrayed as anything the team wishes. There may be more than two ecosystems but only two are
eligible for score in D7.
b. must be portrayed as two different ecosystems.
c. will each include one or more characters in the performance.
d. must be completely separate from each other on the competition site with the Recycling Center separating
them. The vehicle must travel between the two ecosystems to pick up, adapt, and then drop off required
discarded items.
8. The three required discarded items:
a. are allowed to be whatever the team wishes, but must be different from each other.
b. do not have to function during the performance, but must be explained by one or more characters. The original
and repurposed uses may be whatever the team wishes and do not need to be the same after being adapted/
repurposed.
c. will be picked-up by the vehicle or partner device on different trips. Team members on the vehicle may help
manipulate it to assist in picking up the items.
d. must be supported only by the vehicle to be considered “picked up” and only by the vehicle or team members
riding on the vehicle when they are transported. Incidental contact with the floor is allowed.
9. Processing the three required discarded items:
a. each required item must be presented as being discarded in one of the two required ecosystems. All items do
not have to be discarded/picked up in the same ecosystem.
b. the vehicle must be driven from the Start Area to an ecosystem where it will pick up a required discarded item.
It may pick up other items on the same trip, but they will not count as being required items.
c. the vehicle must be driven out of that ecosystem while carrying the item before the item is adapted by the
vehicle — with or without assistance from team members riding on it.
d. the item must be adapted before the vehicle reaches the other ecosystem where it will deliver the item to be
repurposed.
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e. after delivering each repurposed item, the team will drive the vehicle so some part of it passes through the
Recycling Center prior to picking up the next required discarded item (See Figure A: Site Setup). The required
discarded items may be picked up from either ecosystem (B7).
10. The driver and the assistant:
a. may be portrayed as anything the team wishes.
b. must be portrayed by one or more team members. The driver and assistant characters may change, be replaced,
etc. as the team wishes.
c. are the only characters who may assist in adapting the three required items.
d. will be part of the random act of kindness.
11. The team should present the Staging Area Judge with four copies of the Team’s Required List Form found in the
forms section of the Members Area at www.odysseyofthemind.com/members/ or four copies of a list on one side of
one or two sheets of 8½” x 11” or A4 paper. This list must be hand-printed, typed, or computer generated. It is for
reference only. The list must include:
a. the team’s membership name and number, the problem and division.
b. a brief description of the propulsion system.
c. a brief description of the three required discarded items and how they will be adapted to be repurposed.
d. the order of the three pick-ups.
e. a brief description of the ecosystems and how they differ.
f. the signal the team will use to indicate it has finished presenting its solution.
C.Site, Setup and Competition
1. The competition area will be a minimum of 24’ x 20’ (7.3m x 6.1m) with a taped 5’ x 5’ Start Area. The judge will
direct the team to place its vehicle into the Start Area. It must fit entirely within the 5’ x 5’ taped area. If it does not,
the judge will give the team an opportunity to bring it to specification, but only if time allows. The ecosystems are not
taped and are not allowed to extend into the Recycling Center or Start Area. The team may place other items in the
Recycling Center.
2. The vehicle will leave the Start Area, travel to an ecosystem to pick up an item, adapt it, and drop it off in the other
ecosystem. After an item is dropped off, some part of
Figure A: Site Setup
the vehicle must travel through the Recycling Center. It
can then travel to an ecosystem to pick up, adapt, and
Start Area
20’
drop off the next item. It will do this for all items.
5’ x 5’
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
3. A three-prong electrical outlet will be available. Teams
Area
Area
should bring their own extension cords and adapters, if
Recycling
needed.
Center
(not taped)
4. Team members must report to the competition site with
all of their props at least 15 minutes before they are
scheduled to compete.
5. At the end of the 8-minute competition period, the
Timekeeper will call time and all activity must stop. The
team may end before the 8 minutes but it must signal
the judges when it is finished.
7’
24’
6’
7’
Preferred Audience Seating
6. Teams should bring cleaning utensils to clean up any
mess. Should a team take an unreasonable amount of time to clean the site, or leave a mess, the judges will assess
an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. Others not on the team’s roster can help the team clear the site and remove
the team’s props. The competition area must be left undamaged, and clean and dry for the next team.
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D.Scoring
1. Overall creativity of the theme of the performance................................................................................. 1 to 20 points
2. Overall quality of the presentation.......................................................................................................... 1 to 15 points
3. The vehicle............................................................................................................................................. 2 to 35 points
a. Travels so it completely leaves the Start Area............................................................. 0 or 5 points
b. Functional engineering of how it is powered and steered..........................................1 to 15 points
c. Creativity of how it picks up the required items..........................................................1 to 10 points
d. Some part is driven back through the Recycling Center after delivering each
required item (including the 3rd item).......................................................................... 0 or 5 points
4. First Required Item................................................................................................................................. 2 to 25 points
a. Is picked up then dropped off in a different ecosystem............................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Creativity of being adapted (role of the vehicle, uniqueness
of how it’s changed and its physical change).............................................................1 to 10 points
c. Effectiveness in the performance...............................................................................1 to 10 points
5. Second Required Item............................................................................................................................ 2 to 25 points
a. Is picked up then dropped off in a different ecosystem............................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Creativity of being adapted (role of the vehicle, uniqueness
of how it’s changed and its physical change).............................................................1 to 10 points
c. Effectiveness in the performance...............................................................................1 to 10 points
6. Third Required Item................................................................................................................................ 2 to 25 points
a. Is picked up then dropped off in a different ecosystem............................................... 0 or 5 points
b. Creativity of being adapted (role of the vehicle, uniqueness
of how it’s changed and its physical change).............................................................1 to 10 points
c. Effectiveness in the performance...............................................................................1 to 10 points
7. Two ecosystems..................................................................................................................................... 2 to 30 points
a. Degree of difference between the two ecosystems
(characteristics, inhabitants).......................................................................................1 to 10 points
b. Creativity of the ecosystems.......................................................................................1 to 15 points
c. Each ecosystem is represented by one or more
characters in the performance..................................................................................... 0 or 5 points
8. Effectiveness of the role of the driver and assistant............................................................................... 1 to 10 points
9. Unplanned stop...................................................................................................................................... 1 to 15 points
a. Creativity of the random act of kindness....................................................................1 to 10 points
b. Shown as unplanned in the performance................................................................... 0 or 5 points
Maximum possible: 200 points
E.Penalties (Deducted from percentaged scores.)
1. “Spirit of the Problem” violation (each offense)..................................................................................-1 to -100 points
2. Unsportsmanlike conduct (each offense)...........................................................................................-1 to -100 points
3. Incorrect or missing membership sign................................................................................................-1 to -15 points
4. Outside assistance (each offense).....................................................................................................-1 to -100 points
5. Over cost limit.....................................................................................................................................-1 to -100 points
6. Vehicle does not fit within the 5’ x 5’ taped Start Area..........................................................................-1 to -50 points
Omission of scored problem requirements carries no penalty except loss of score.
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F. Style (Elaboration of the problem solution; use four copies of the Style Form from the Odyssey of the Mind Program
Guide.)
1. Creativity of repurposing one or more trash items in a costume............................................................ 1 to 10 points
2. Artistic quality of one of the required repurposed items......................................................................... 1 to 10 points
3. (Free choice of team)............................................................................................................................. 1 to 10 points
4. (Free choice of team)............................................................................................................................. 1 to 10 points
5. Overall effect of the four Style elements in the performance.................................................................. 1 to 10 points
Maximum possible: 50 points
G.Tournament Director Will Provide
1. A 24’ x 20’ (7.3m x 6.1m) course (larger, if possible) with a taped 5’ x 5’ Start Area.
2. A three-prong electrical outlet.
3. A judging team and materials necessary to judge this problem.
NOTE: Contact your Tournament Director for site specifications, such as actual dimensions, floor surface, etc. Do not
submit a clarification request for this information.
H.The Team Must Provide
1. Four copies of its Style Form, one Cost Form, one Outside Assistance Form, and all team-specific clarifications.
2. Four copies of the list described in B11. This list is to assist the judges. If the team fails to provide the list, there will
be no penalty; however, it benefits the team to have the lists because without them the judges might miss a scored
aspect of the performance.
3. Any necessary extension cords or outlet adapters.
4. Cleanup materials as needed.
I. Problem Glossary
(Italicized terms that are not in this Glossary can be found in the 2015-2016 Odyssey of the
Mind Program Guide.)
Adapt – any physical change.
Ecosystem – a community of living organisms combined with its surroundings, this can be anything as portrayed in the
performance.
Partner devices – for this problem, a partner device is an item that works in conjunction with the vehicle. Like a canoe
and paddle, the vehicle (canoe) and the device (paddle) may be able to be used separately but they are designed to
work together.
Picked-up – does not have to be loaded or resting on the vehicle, but must be supported by the vehicle or a team
member riding on the vehicle in some way.
Pedaling – a lever or control mechanism that is rotated by human power to provide propulsion. It need not be circular to
be prohibited. The Spirit of the Problem is to not use pedaling in any form. Also, any circular rotation by the hands or feet
on any plane is considered pedaling. This movement cannot provide power or help propel the vehicle while it is moving.
Process the items – aiding in some way to pick-up, adapt, or drop-off the items.
Random act of kindness – An action that helps or cheers up an individual person or group of people you don’t know
without benefit to you.
Problem by Dr. C. Samuel Micklus and Samuel W. Micklus
© Copyright 2015 — Creative Competitions, Inc.
Creative Competitions, Inc., its licensees, and the problem authors assume no responsibility for damage or
injury incurred as a result of attempting to solve this problem.
® Odyssey of the Mind, OotM, and the Odyssey of the Mind logo are federally registered trademarks of Creative
Competitions, Inc.
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