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Re: School Rules 2002:- Rat race
Sounds like a good idea to me. I would think that the 7.2m x 0.4m option
is closest to the spitit of the original idea.
The 2001 track has a finishing area 1.6m in length. This would leave a
running length of 5.24m, as opposed to 7.3m for the 2001 track, not too
drastic a reduction and woth it for the ease of constructing a test
track.
The layout at the start should allow for an uninterrupted track centre
line, as opposed to the 2001 track which had an uninterrupted start
line. This meant that mice had to start with their sensors 'over' the
start line to make sure they picked up the track centre line.
Jerry
Jerry Niman Tel +44 (0)161-247
1474
Head of Information Systems Email
J.Niman@mmu.ac.uk
the Manchester Metropolitan University Mobile +44 (0)7770
638104
>>> Duncan Louttit <duncan@swallow.co.uk> 08/30/01 07:31pm >>>
Hi Everyone,
I have been giving some thought to the Rat race course. At the
moment it
is very difficult to make a course for testing purposes. When Creag
and
Steve made I.T. we ended up with lots of bits of hardboard hinged
together. The only place we could lay it out was from the hall across
two
rooms!
It would appear to make sense to have a course that could be
made from
just one standard sheet of 2.4 metres by 1.2 metres material. If the
total
length including staging and braking areas is 7.2 metres or less and
the
width of one lane is 40 centimetres, a test track can be made from a
single
sheet cut into 3. The three pieces can be hinged together for storage.
Alternatively, the track could be 4.8 metres long and 60 centimetres
wide.
The reduction in length would also make it easier to find space
to lay out
the course.
A narrower track would encourage smaller mice and closer line
tracking.
The staging area needs only to be 36 centimetres long to allow
for the
longest mouse allowed under the rules.
What proportion of the remaining length is for track and what is
for
braking would need to be determined.
Commenst please.
Regards,
Duncan