Rube Goldberg Competition

Rube Machine

A Rube Goldberg machine, device, or apparatus is a deliberately over-engineered or overdone machine that performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion, usually including a chain reaction. The expression is named after American cartoonist and inventor Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) The goal is to take a simple task and make it extraordinarily complicated.

The task is the challenge given to the contestants each year. It must be completed in accordance with the rules and in as creative a way as possible. The task is selected by the contest organizers each year based on its originality and complexity. World events occasionally affect the decision of the task.

The 2012 National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest Task: Inflate a Balloon and Pop It!

At the Toledo Chapter days leading up to Rube Goldberg Competition are notorious for late nights. No matter how early we start planning and building our contraption members find themselves putting in late hours tinkering away until the last minute. Caffeine is arguably the most useful tool found in our workshop. Rube machine builders always demonstrate real front line engineering skills, often coming up with a solution minutes before the competition.

At a time when the U.S. is looking to inspire young minds, Rube Goldberg’s legacy represents the best in American innovation, humor and unconventional thinking; an inspiring model for us all.