SMEELEC Competition

SMEELEC is an acronym for ‘Society of Model and Experimental Engineers Low Energy Challenge’, although it can be argued that “Limited Energy Challenge” is perhaps a more accurate description. It is designed to appeal to those who like to experiment, or, for a change, would like to do something for which there are no drawings.

SM&EE intends to stage this event at the next Model Engineer Exhibition, scheduled to take place at Ascot race course on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September.

The basic premise is simple. Design a device that will lift a weight vertically over a given distance in the shortest possible time. Easy, except that the energy release rate from the permitted sources is too low to lift the weight above a crawl, so your challenge is to think of a way of efficiently storing the available energy over a period of time and then to release it “explosively” to lift the weight. The shortest lift time wins the competition.

The overriding principle on which the rules are based is that the sole source of power to lift the weight is extracted from a cell or nightlight provided by the organisers on the day. No other energy may be stored within the device and then added to the output, nor may any other energy source be coupled into the system at any point.

Details of the permitted energy sources, weights and dimensions are given in the SMEELEC RULES document which can be downloaded as a PDF file.

The entry form can be downloaded as a PDF file.

If you have any questions please mail the SMEELEC team.