The PhyzAI Super Lift Challenge has been developed by curriculum designers, with the intention of providing a low cost, engaging, program for upper primary and middle school students and teachers.  The goal of the PhyzAI Super Lift Challenge is to teach and reinforce the fundamental mechanical principles of the Six Simple Machines of Engineering. 

At PhyzAI we believe in starting with the most basic building blocks to deliver education that will lead to job skills and future career opportunities. Our captivating lessons teach students the fundamentals of planning, design, and programming along multi-media avenues.

This system is designed to allow you, the local teacher/administrator, to source, build, and equip the full kits and then, armed with the curriculum and some fun, added by PhyzAI, host a local event for your school or social group.  

The PhyzAI Super Lift Challenge was designed to engender these values and bring our educational tools and curriculum into the classroom very low cost, whether as an in class experience or part of a school’s extracurricular enrichment programs. The kit and curriculum students use for this challenge will lead them through the science of simple machines and give students the chance to work as a team to build the strongest machine. The PhyzAI Hydro Lift provides the opportunity for endless experimentation as students test different designs and gain hands-on knowledge and experience in physics and mechanics.

PhyzAI team holds firmly to the idea that, when it comes to science and discovery, success is not a solitary pursuit. The PhyzAI Super Lift can only work in the hands of a team– students sharing ideas and coming to new conclusions and exploring new possibilities together.

Our learning tools, built from wood and common hardware components, introduce students to mechanics, physics, electronics, and programming in an interactive, hands-on fashion. With classes and projects that give students the opportunity to dream, design, and build, We believe that learning (and retention of knowledge) is best achieved through creation and that art is just as important to the equation as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

While kits are often available directly from PhzAI.com for qualified schools and social groups.  All of the components necessary for the Super Lift kits can be sourced from any big chain hardware store or online. Main body components are made from off-the-shelf plywood and can be cut with a laser engraver/cutter that are available in most schools and maker shops. A complete listing of components and cutting plans is contained in this manual

All materials in this program are provided free for your educational use but are fully copyrighted to PhyzAI.com and no commercial use, preproduction, or sale is authorized or allowed. You further agree that any fees charged for participation or supplying of parts to participants will not exceed a reasonable cost of recovery of operational expenses. PhyzAI, its images, and documentation are the sole property of PhyzAI and may not be used in marketing without the express consent of PhyzAI.com  

The Challenge

In the PhyzAI Super Lift Challenge, students learn about the practical applications of 6 simple machines and the concepts of work, force and energy and team competition. 

Using only the supplies in their kit, each team of four students will design and construct a device built to lift a designated weight as high as possible, within a defined area, and hold that weight for 15 seconds. The team that can lift, and hold, the weight the highest wins. 

Included in the kit is a 20’’x20’’ wooden base with three per-determined connection points from which the PhyzAI Super Lift must be built. A series of wooden arms, screws, nuts, pulleys, and strings from which they can recreate any of the six simple machines. Three sets of syringes and connecting hoses are also included to be used as hydraulic actuators. 

The students are given one month, prior to the event, to experiment with their kit and work out the best way to lift their weight. On the day of the competition, teams bring their kit UNASSEMBLED to the challenge. On site, the competition’s “wild card” will be announced. This will include a random addition or removal of key structural elements; perhaps a few more, or less, of the critical long construction arms.

A team of judges is selected from the local engineering community. Team order are randomly chosen and judge teams move from table to table witnessing a team’s lift attempt. Each team is given three lift attempts during the competition period. The highest qualifying lift achieved during the three attempts is that team’s score. 

The team with the highest score wins the event. 

The PhyzAI Super Lift Kit

The key to success with the Super Lift is the components and how they work with each other.  It is imperative that every team receive exactly the same components and that those components perform as desired. Some components are designed to break if to much pressure is applied these is not a mistake but areal world engineering consideration. Stronger is not always better.  

A detailed kit component and construction guide is available on the PhyzAI.com website. 

1 – 20×20 Challenge Base with area markings and 3 construction anchor points. 
1 – One Pound metal weight / Canon Ballet Weight type  
3 – Sets of two water filled 12ml Syringes,  with 18 inch of  1/4inch tube, and wooden screw points. 
1 – Set of Structure Arms including four each 16, 10, 7.5, 5.25, and 4 inch Arms (0.2 inch plywood)
1 – Piece of nylon utility string no longer then 50 feet. 
4 – Metal Sewing Machine Bobbins
12 – 2.5 in #8 inch screws, each with 2 metal washers and one standard nut
18 – 1  in in #8 inch screws, each with 2 metal washers and one standard nut

Team composition 
Teams in the competition Teams are comprised off four students in the within one school year of each other. For classification a team is placed in the class appropriate for the team’s oldest student. 

Teams always consist of four students. If necessary, teams may function with one more or one fewer students. 

Teams may come from a school, organization, or be a neighborhood “backyard team”  

Pre Event 
Prior to the event (30 days recommended) teams should be granted access to the challenge kit and should be lead through the curriculum on the PhyzAI.com website. While 30 days is recommended it is more important that prep time is equal for all teams in the event.   

It is highly recommended that each training session begins with a complete dismantling of the current design to ensure all members know how to quickly, and effectively, assemble the design on game day.

Length and frequency of training is up to the team coach and facilitator however, first access to the kit and materials must be greater than 7 days before the event.

Event Management 
The PhyzAI Super Lift Challenge competition is a relatively simple event to organize and host. Judging is as easy as clicking a stopwatch, and using calipers, ruler, tape measure, or yardstick to record the teams lift data. 

Each team should arrive with its practice kit completely disassembled.  The team is given a table or worksurface to build on.  No coaches or adults, other than judges, are allowed into the build area.  No coaches or adults, other than judges, are allow to converse with the students while they are in the build area. Students are free to come and go from the table and break as they require. 

At event kick-off the lead judge or administrator will roll a six-sided die and determine the randomization of parts for the current event. 
1. No change to equipment  
2. Add   4- 2.25 inch screws, 4 Nuts, 2- 16 inch arms 
3. Add   8- 2.25 inch screws, 8 Nuts, 6- 4 inch arms 
4. Remove all 6 inch arms / Add  4 – 4 inch arms.    
5. Remove all 4 inch arms / Add 2 – 6 inch arms 
6. Remove 2 Syringes (one set) 

Once the modification has been determined and the teams are set the three hour clock is started. 

Judging 
At the end of three hours all teams must stop any construction or modification. Teams will form around the judge (or judge teams depending on the size of the event) and follow with them from table to table. Watching all teams compete. 

When the judge approaches the table the team captain will explain the device and the machines used in the creation of their device. The judge will then be free to ask the team fundamental questions about the build and their choices. 

Judge will then give the team and opportunity to show their device with three attempt lifts. For each lift the weight must start at rest, in the center of the circles and never pass outside the outer circle. Once lifted, the weight cannot touch the base or any part of the machine. The weight must lift off the base within 5 seconds of the judge’s signal to  ‘GO’. The stopwatch will be triggered at the moment the weight lifts off the base.  

Each lift will last thirty seconds, at the end of which a measurement is taken between the bottom of the weight and the surface of the PhyzAI Super Lift platform. The highest of these three measurements will be recorded as the team’s overall score. The highest single score within the division is awarded first prize.   

No more than 120 seconds may elapse between attempts. If more than 120 seconds have elapsed, and the device is not ready for the next lift, that lift is forfeit and the 120 second clock resets for the next lift. Only minor repairs may be made and must be made within the time limit. The senior judge has, in their sole discretion, the ability to judge any device as too damaged to continue. 

Once all teams have had an opportunity to compete, the judges will compare scores and awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place will be awarded.