The Design 2.007 contest is a two-night elimination tournament in which robots designed and built during the semester by students in course 2.007, Introduction to Design and Manufacturing , try to complete certain tasks and, once they score, to block other machines from scoring points. Historically, the Design 2.007 Contest has reflected prominent issues of the day. The robots have had to gather such things as plastic bottles, ping-pong balls and hockey pucks, move glass marbles, and play tug of war. Past winners recall vividly their experience of winning this event, and it should be quite a reunion.
Students first develop a concept by application of creativity and physics.
The students build their machines and compete as a celebration and verification of the design process. The kits distributed in the early years included such items as computer cards, Venetian blind slats, plastic spoons, tongue depressors, rubber bands, paper clips, 5x7 note cards, a pencil, and one pound of sand and were handed to each student in a paper bag. This year's kit contains mainly raw materials such as windshield wiper motors, gears, pneumatic pistons and lots of structural materials from which students design and fabricate complex robotic machines. Numerous other companies provide the widely diverse materials used in the kit. In 1990, the Design 2.007 contest went international.