The 2008 Rube Goldberg Machine Contest was held today at Purdue University. Teams had to assemble a burger consisting of a precooked meat patty, two condiments and two vegetables, all placed between two bun halves. They had to do so using as many steps and as much complexity as possible, in the true tradition of Rube Goldberg machines.
The Purdue University team won with a design incorporating 156 separate steps. Second place was claimed by Texas A&M, with the University at Buffalo in New York coming in third.
Take a look at the preparations.
Somehow I don’t think McDonalds or Burger King will be beating a path to these engineers’ doors!
Peter
That really is cool! And it emphasizes the type of thinking I’m sure those engineers will need in their careers.
As a UB engineering Alum, I just have to say that I’m proud of my alma-mater doing so well in a field filled with much better known colleges.