CTS30205 Assignment Brief 01

Assignment 01 “Command and Conquer!” Topic explored: ASK Introduction & brief Yes! Just like the title of a hit PC game, but it isn’t. What you will be commanding is a machine and what you will conquer is the challenge! For this assignment, you will be designing a catapult. What is it? Quick history (extracted from: http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/InventionsC.htm The catapult (also called the ballista) was a major weapon of warfare for well over a thousand years. Catapults could throw stones weighing as much as 350 pounds for distances greater than 300 feet.”

a roman catapult

What makes this device interesting is that it was largely based on a problem!

 

In medieval times, this device was the answer to the problem of taking over a castle and the need to bombard an area from a large distance. This required large siege weapons consisting of huge catapults hurling huge rocks and boulders to demolish the enemy defenses. As an answer to the problem, much creative thoughts was put into the science and design of the device to ensure accuracy and distance as well as function. The designers got creative due to the need, which generated a number of questions based on the need to achieve the objectives. Questions like: How far? How big? How wide? How fast? How strong? How accurate? And the question could expand further increase the chances of a more accurate solution. CTS assignment 01 task: You are to design and construct a roman catapult or ‘trebuchet’ to propel a tennis ball to bring down a ‘wall’. The wall will consist of cardboard boxes. Distance from catapult to the wall would be 10 metres. The catapult must only be constructed with found materials You must not purchase any material. No specific design schematic will be given for this. Work in teams of 4 for this assignment. You will be competing with each other! Criteria: to be briefed by your lecturers Deadline: 24th August Competition venue: Taylor’s Uni sports centre

a trebuchet