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Arkansas Technology Student Association
Animatronics
High School
Type:
Time Slot
Team Members:
2-3
Time:
Afternoon
Teams per Chapter:
2
Preparation Level:
High
Teams Advancing to Semifinals:
All
Pre-Conference Submission(s):
None
Design Problem: Create an animatronic figure or scene from a key moment in American history. The character should "come to life" to explain their world to a young audience. Designed for a children's museum or educational tour.
What
To address the annual design challenge, participants exhibit and demonstrate their knowledge of mechanical and control systems by creating an animatronic device with a specific purpose (i.e., communicate an idea, entertain, demonstrate a concept, etc.) that includes sound, lights, and an appropriate surrounding environment (a display).
Pre-Conference Preliminary Round | On-Site Semifinal Round |
N/A |
|
This event will use the official TSA rubric, which can be found in the “TSA High School Competitive Events Guide for the 2025 and 2026 National TSA Conferences” as linked in the Student Member Site and in the “Total TSA” tab of the Advisor’s Affiliation Portal.
On-Site Competition
MUSTS
The exterior shell or skin is required. It must be removable in order to show the judges the internal components of the project.
The animatronic device must have at least three (3) separate movements that must include:
Fluid power to aid in the movement of the animatronics device. If no fluid power is used, a ten (10)-point deduction will be incurred.
Sound, lights, and sensors in the project model.
Gearing systems, linkages, and/or cabling systems, etc., to aid in the movement of the device.
Control technology must be used during the performance.
The animatronics device may use AC power, but the team will only have access to an AC outlet during the demonstration/presentation.
CANNOTS
The starting position (resting) dimensions of the entry may not exceed 15" deep x 3' wide x 4' high. The device may extend beyond the dimensions of the display during the demonstration.
A wet cell battery may not be used in the animatronics device.
Should the device suggest anything that is inappropriate by language, sound, or movement, immediate disqualification will result.
A team that fails to appear for its demonstration forfeits evaluation.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Up to 10 minutes total for setup, presentation, and questions:
Up to five (5) minutes to set up.
Up to five (5) minutes for the presentation.
The presentation time begins when students present background information about the project and must conclude on or before the five (5)-minute time limit.
Timekeeper will stop the presentation at five (5) minutes.
Up to two (2) minutes to respond to questions from the judges.
How
Pre-Conference
Participants review the TSA Honor Statement for Competitive Events. Participants review the design problem on the National TSA website under Themes & Problems.
Participants concentrate their efforts on designing an animatronics device that uses control technology.
On-Site
No more than two (2) team members report to the event area at the time and place stated in the conference program to submit the model entry.
Models are evaluated by judges. Neither students nor advisors are present at this time.
The team reports at the assigned time and place to participate in the presentation/Q&A.
No more than two (2) team members pick up the team’s entry from the display area at the time and place stated in the conference program.