Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

Engineering Fun and Function at JPL Invention Challenge

By Jet Propulsion Lab and California Institute of Technology | December 19, 2018

Share

Whether via bungee cord, half-inch chain, servo motors, torsion springs, electronics or just plain gravity, 20 middle- and high-school student teams used a range of equipment to compete in this year’s JPL Invention Challenge at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The teams – mainly from Southern California but including ones from as far away as Ethiopia and Guam – took part in the “Upright Pipe Contest” on Friday, Dec. 14. The objective was to get a 24-inch length of two-inch PVC pipe from a horizontal position to an upright position on a platform using whatever device they could come up with, instructions not included.

“I give them nothing,” said Paul MacNeal, a JPL mechanical systems engineer and the contest’s organizer. “I give them a blank piece of paper. The entry fee is $0, and the typical devices we see here cost between $25 to $100. The idea is to not be a financial burden to any school. This has a low entry fee, and it still encourages the creative juices to get going.”

While the rules required contestants to get the pipe upright in under 60 seconds, the top three teams didn’t even need two.

The winning student team, from Oakwood High School in North Hollywood, got the pipe upright and steady on the platform in just 1.37 seconds. The speedy time brought oohs and aahs from the crowd, and even surprised the Oakwood team members, who had been tinkering with their device just minutes before taking the stage.

“We decided to use a drill as the motor to pull,” said junior Seth Kleinberg. “It came from a device we built a couple of years ago (for a previous Invention Challenge).” Oakwood’s time in the November regional competition clocked in at 11 seconds, but after seeing some of the times of the competing schools, the team regrouped, upped the drill speed and added components to the device – including a ketchup packet.

“Today we went through at least five or six different iterations,” said junior Tyler Brown, but after seeing one of the first teams get near two seconds, they knew what they had to do. “We were like, okay we gotta go fast,” said freshman Maggie Brown.

Second place went to Hamilton High School’s team named We Made It, whose time of 1.59 seconds was a marked improvement over the groups’ showing in last year’s challenge.

“Last year, we were all excited to compete and had our machine tested the morning of and ready to go,” said senior Ethan Layne. “We put it on the trailer to go to JPL, and we thought we had it strapped down, but apparently not secure enough, and it blew off the trailer on the freeway.”

The team went back to look for it but found no sign of the lost machine. So this year, they were just glad to have “made it.”

“It’s definitely nice, after working so hard last year and having it basically just disappear, coming back this year and do as well as we did,” Layne said.

In third place, Los Angeles High School’s Wildcats team fused function with art, constructing a device that utilized torsion springs and surgical tubing to erect the pipe in 1.67 seconds, and they decorated it with a cat, flower and a giant butterfly.

“Most of our team are ninth-graders, and seven out of nine team members are girls,” Dante Madali, a math and computer science teacher. “I always encourage them to be artistic and creative. To apply the creativity. Of course, the challenge is the first priority. But if they still have time, then I encourage them to be creative about their work.”

What makes the Invention Challenge unique is the involvement of JPLers, who compete alongside the students but in a separate division. MacNeal sees that as invaluable in changing the perspective of engineering as a profession.

“The students get to see professional engineers competing and having fun at the same time. The basic overall theme here is engineering is fun, and we’re trying to bring some levity into all of the schoolwork these guys have. This is something that’s hands-on. It’s an experience, not a grade.”

This year, the top JPLers were Alan Devault, with a time of 2.38 seconds, Ria Dawar at 4 seconds, and Richard Goldstein at 4.65 seconds.

Students from the Los Angeles High School’s Wild Cats team compete with the invention they built for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Annual Invention Challenge. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech


Filed Under: Rapid prototyping

 

Related Articles Read More >

PCB mills
Basics of printed circuit board milling machines
Rapid Product Solutions, Inc. enhances its rapid prototyping and production services
Protolabs Launches Production Capabilities for Metal 3D Printing
3D Printer Makes Peacekeeping Missions Cheaper and Repair of Defense Systems Faster

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Global supply needs drive increased manufacturing footprint development
  • How to Increase Rotational Capacity for a Retaining Ring
  • Cordis high resolution electronic proportional pressure controls
  • WAGO’s custom designed interface wiring system making industrial applications easier
  • 10 Reasons to Specify Valve Manifolds
  • Case study: How a 3D-printed tool saved thousands of hours and dollars

Design World Podcasts

May 17, 2022
Another view on additive and the aerospace industry
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings