Students Reach for the Stars in NASA JPL Contest

Sweet Success at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory: Students Innovate at the 25th Invention Challenge

At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, an exciting annual event known as the Invention Challenge took center stage once again. This year marked the 25th instance of this remarkable competition, where creativity and engineering skills were put to the test in a truly unique way. Over 200 students gathered to showcase their homemade devices, and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation. The challenge itself was as sweet as it was technically demanding: participants were tasked with designing an automated machine capable of launching 50 chocolate-coated-peanut candies over a barrier and into a triangular Plexiglas container positioned 16 feet away, all within a one-minute timeframe.

The event, which took place on Friday, December 6, was a spectacle to behold. Teachers, parents, and JPL employees watched eagerly from the sidelines as students from 21 different teams representing middle and high schools in Los Angeles and Orange County showcased their innovative contraptions. The competition was affectionately dubbed the "Peanut Candy Toss Contest," and some spectators even indulged in the sweet treats that served as the competition’s ammunition.

The students’ ingenuity was on full display as they employed a variety of mechanisms to achieve their goal. Among the creative solutions were catapults, slingshots, flywheels, springs, and massive rubber bands. PVC piping was a common material, and one team constructed a giant device resembling a blue bunny, which launched candies from its nose using an air compressor. Other teams incorporated leaf blowers and vacuums into their designs.

While some machines performed better than others, it was an old-school approach that ultimately clinched first place. A team from Santa Monica High School emerged victorious with a modified crossbow design. Steele Winterer, a senior on the team, was the mastermind behind the initial concept. He explained that he wanted to create something that was "historically tried and true." Like his teammates, Steele is part of the school’s engineering program and contributed to building the device during class. The process, although described as "nerve-wracking," "messy," and "disorganized," saw each team member find their role as the design evolved.

The second and third place honors were awarded to teams from Oakwood School in North Hollywood. Both teams utilized a firing-line approach, constructing four parallel wooden devices that allowed each student to fire one after another in rapid succession.

Earlier in the competition season, regional Invention Challenges were held at Costa Mesa High School and Augustus Hawkins High School in South L.A. These events narrowed the field to the 21 teams invited to compete in the final showdown at JPL. Additionally, the finals featured a parallel competition involving three JPL-sponsored teams from out-of-state schools and two teams that included adult engineers. In this secondary competition, retired JPL engineer Alan DeVault secured first place, followed by Boston Charter School of Science in second, and Centaurus High School from Colorado in third.

The Invention Challenge has been a staple event since 1998, with a brief hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created by JPL mechanical engineer Paul MacNeal to inspire students to develop a passion for building and problem-solving. Each year, MacNeal devises a new challenge, prompting student teams to spend months designing, constructing, and testing their devices to claim victory.

"When student teams come to the finals, they are engaged just as engineers are engaged in the work we do here at JPL," MacNeal remarked. "It’s engineering for the joy of it. It’s problem-solving, but it’s also team building. And it’s unique because the rules change every year. The student teams get to see JPL engineering teams compete side by side. I started this contest to show students that engineering is fun!"

The success of the event is made possible by the dedication of numerous volunteers from JPL, which is managed by Caltech in Pasadena for NASA.

For those interested in learning more about the Invention Challenge and perhaps even considering participating in the future, it’s worth noting that the competition not only fosters technical skills but also encourages teamwork, creativity, and perseverance. Each team must work collaboratively to tackle the challenge, often requiring them to iterate on their designs and adapt to unforeseen obstacles. This mirrors the real-world engineering process, where problem-solving is often a team effort involving multiple perspectives and ideas.

Moreover, the Invention Challenge offers a valuable opportunity for students to engage with professionals in the field of engineering. The presence of JPL engineers and other experts at the event provides a unique chance for students to gain insights and receive feedback on their designs. This interaction can be incredibly inspiring for young engineers, potentially influencing their future educational and career paths.

In addition to the core competition, the event also serves as a platform for showcasing the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. By participating in such challenges, students can see the practical applications of the concepts they learn in the classroom. They gain a deeper understanding of how engineering principles can be applied to solve real-world problems, and they develop skills that are highly valuable in today’s technology-driven world.

For those who were unable to attend the event, the highlights and results can often be found on JPL’s official website or through various news outlets covering the competition. These resources provide a closer look at the innovative designs and the creativity of the students who took part in the challenge.

In conclusion, the 25th Invention Challenge at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory was a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of young engineers. It brought together students, educators, engineers, and enthusiasts in a celebration of creativity and problem-solving. As the event continues to evolve, it is sure to inspire future generations of engineers and innovators, reinforcing the message that engineering is not only important but also incredibly fun and rewarding.

For more Information, Refer to this article.