The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

So, my friends and I had a long discussion on the fastest way to eat mashed potatoes. We had come up with a few mechanisms that would complete such a task. The one we found that would be most efficient was called the "pinwheel method" in which you would have a pinwheel of forks connected to a motor geared down to a low speed that would pick up the mashed potatoes and put them into your mouth.

Do you have any other ideas?

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Straw, 'nuff said ;-)

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

wouldn't the mashed potatoes get clogged in the straw?

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Think injection molding, then replace the mold with your mouth, although a direct tube to your stomach would be even better. The screw seems ideal for moving a material like mashed potatoes, but I DO NOT recommend implementation, it is DANGEROUS. If you wanted a system that is safe for use, then a conveyor belt or pastry bag is your best bet.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

depends on how many Newtons you can apply to that small area ;-)

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Depends on the size of the straw:D

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

I would just shove the whole thing in my mouth.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

What whole thing, and how exactly?

My method: Mashed Potato Cannon.
Best part? You just cook whole potatoes and load them in. The firing process mashes them.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

I'd be interested to see how quickly one could dilute the mashed potatoes into a pourable liquid for drinking.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

The parameters of this contest are clearly ill-defined. What is the official Q&A for the the MPGDC (mashed potato game design committee)? I'd ask here on Chief Delphi, but I don't think EricH's signature would approve.

My questions for the MPGDC:
What is the total volume of MP to be delivered?
Are we scored on steady state rate? Total volume?
Do we have to account for cooking time in our score?

Are there any potential penalties?

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

soak em with water, shovel em in, and slide em down.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

11" x 16" x 22" metal box of mashed potatoes that will be held to ground by metal weights.
Mashed Potatoes will be filled to the top.
2 min max length match, however, goal is to eat mashed potatoes in fastest time possible.
All mashed potatoes are pre-cooked.
Person must not come within 3 feet of the box of mashed potatoes, however, apparatus may move freely between mashed potatoes and person.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

I see much fun to be had with that last rule. I imagine scenes that would make my 6 month old look spotless after eating dinner in comparison!

might i suggest protective eye wear and a large supply of plastic sheeting be given to every team in the KOP?

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

I think that a 4 or 5 foot long screw would be the best device for this. The safety issues could be easily avoided by adding the output tube perpendicular to the screw, and putting a momentary switch onto the screw's drive motor. There would be little to no potato loss with this, as there is only one opening. One safety issue with that would be the cleanliness of the parts that contact food, though.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Slingshot.

Or sledgehammer - eat 'em Gallagher style.

Re: The fastest way to eat mashed potatoes - Engineering Perspective
 

Maybe robotic eating devices should be used to level the playing field to ensure the potato conveying apparatus (PCA) is what acctually determines the winner and not the person eating the mashed potatoes. (Remember the episode of mythbusters with the poprocks and cola)