Apr 01, 2010 - Claremont, CA -

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 21, 2010, Harvey Mudd College students set out to make a Rube Goldberg machine that spanned the campus. With small budgets and endless innovation, the machine’s mechanisms, rockets, and flaming tires hit the mark to the delight of hundreds of onlookers from Mudd, other Claremont Colleges and the surrounding community.

Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist, engineer and inventor best known for his illustrations from the early 20th century that depicted complicated inventions built to accomplish simple tasks. Modern day engineers and tinkerers have taken Goldberg’s concept out of the cartoon and into the world of three-dimensional design, complete with form and function.

Michael Ho, Mudd student and main organizer of the event, discussed what inspired him to suggest this project to his peers.

Onlookers wait for the beginning of the big event.

"Last year, I watched this video. It's a Rube Goldberg machine constructed by employees of IDEO, a California design and innovation consulting firm. I had seen Rube Goldberg machine videos before, but I never thought about it at that scale. This was the inspiration behind a Rube Goldberg machine running across Harvey Mudd's campus, which is something I put together over the course of the year.

"The machine was built in sections by the eight dorms on campus and the sections linked together through inter-dorm collaboration. Every dorm had a budget to make their ideas come to life."

Ho felt the project was perfect for Mudd for a variety of reasons. "It's nerdy, but not too nerdy," he explained. "The appeal of Rube Goldberg machines is something that resonates with technical people. At the same time, it isn't technical to the point where only a small segment of HMC's diverse student population would want to work on it.

"Also it's creative. Constructing something like this requires ingenuity. Plus Mudders don't get to make stuff often enough. I think we hit the books a little too often and hands-on work is always fun."

What were the most amazing parts of the machine? Ho had some thoughts. "Every dorm was able to accomplish something exceptional. Linde was able to raise the "Hello, young Mudders" sign, Case implemented a baking soda-vinegar-like reaction, Sontag made a long ball bearing track, Atwood shot a rocket to East, East sent "Stumpy" flying across the courtyard, North implemented kegs into their section, and South sent a fuse to West that had a big, rolling, flaming tire."

The success of the effort was notable in itself, as Mudd students are traditionally busy with coursework and special projects. "By far the most amazing thing was that it actually happened," Ho explained. "Pretty much up until a few days before, I was preparing for the real possibility that the whole thing would flop."

But instead, in what seemed like an almost last minute surge of activity, the machine was activated in a unique, campus unifying effort. Ho observed, "There aren't many activities here that integrate different dorms, classes, and majors. I hoped this would bring the Mudd community closer."