NATIONAL SOCIETY OF BLACK ENGINEERS
The Paper Project
A NSBE Region 1 Competition
Ashley N. Catan
11/11/2012
A Competition Guide
Page |1
INDEX
PAGE
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
2
PURPOSE
3
RULES
4
MATERIALS REQUEST SHEET
5
JUDGES SCORING SHEET
6
Page |2
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
The Paper Project is a new NSBE design competition where members can gain technical
exposure to Project Management, Design Engineering, Test Engineering as well as develop soft
skills such as problem solving, working in teams, time management and public speaking.
Changing the shape of a material can change the way it resists forces. Although a piece of paper
seems flexible and weak, it can be folded, rolled, twisted or otherwise altered to support quite a
bit of weight. Changing the shape of paper helps to resist stress and strain forces created by a
load on top of a structure. Groups of 2-6 collegiate members will assemble to build a
predetermined structure, with the main material being paper. The competition will be scored on
design, presentation and testing the structures. THERE WILL BE PRIZES!
At this year’s Fall Regional conference, groups will be asked to make a table. When
registering, groups should
1. Create a name to be recognized by while competing
2. Establish a Project Manager, to be the point of contact throughout the competition, and
request materials during the competition
3. Establish a Design Engineer to facilitate and research the best design for a paper bridge
4. Establish a Technical Support Representative to present the design to an audience, and
answer questions
5. Establish a Test Engineer to test the table during the final phases of the competition.
Page |3
PURPOSE
This competition is meant to complement the engineering curriculum and encourage participants
to use what they have learned in the classroom and apply it during the competition.
Participants will get the opportunity to exercise the technical skills gained within an engineering
curriculum in a setting they may encounter in an engineering career. Completion of The Paper
Project will also challenge members to exercise soft skills necessary for groups such as Project
Management, Design Engineering, Test Engineering etc. and to develop soft skills such as problem
solving, working in cross-disciplinary teams, time management and public speaking.
Page |4
RULES
Groups
1) Each group must have one Project Manager, one Design Engineer, one Technical support
Representative and one Test Engineer.
2) One person can have zero, one or two positions
3) Groups can have 2 to 6 people
4) Groups can use outside information to assist with the design
5) Presentations should not exceed 3 minutes per group
6) Testing should not exceed 3 minutes per group
Table Dimensions
1) Length
2) Width
3) Height
min-12inches
min -12inches
min -12inches
max-36inches
max -36inches
max -36inches
Judging
1) Groups will be scored from greatest to least. The group that performed the “best” in that
category, get the most amount of points. The group that performed the “worst” in that
category gets the least amount of points.
2) The allowable allotted points are 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. If there are only 3 groups, then
the first group will get 10 points, the second group will get 9 points and the third group will
get 8 points
Page |5
The Paper Project
Materials Request Sheet
Materials
Item Price Quantity Subtotal
Sheet of Paper
$20
Bottle of Glue
$40
Roll of tape
$40
Roll of Thread
$20
Paint Brush
$20
Scissors
$40
Pencils
$10
Grand Total
Actual Weight Held
Estimated Weight Held
% Error (actual - estimated)/actual
Total Build Time
Page |6
Judging Criteria
Lightweight
Design (Sheets
of paper used)
% Error
Estimated
Weight
Building Time
Budget
Final
Presentation
Total Points:
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Competition Group Points
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Group 7
Group 8