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 task for the 2012 Theta Tau Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is:
Inflate a balloon and pop it.
The contest developed over many years, and gets more intense and better every year.
Check out the history page for more.