Invention Challenge Brings Student Engineers to NASA JPL - NASA

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Hosts Annual Invention Challenge, Where Young Engineers Get Creative with Power Tools and Plywood.

The 26th edition of the Invention Challenge, a competition where teams of middle school and high school students compete to create innovative devices using everyday materials like power tools, plywood, and duct tape, recently took place at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. This event has been a staple for young engineers since its inception in 1998.

This year's challenge, dubbed the "Bucket Brigade Contest," required teams to design devices that can transport 2 gallons of water from a reservoir into a bucket over a distance of 16 feet in just 60 seconds while meeting a long list of rules. In total, 18 teams representing schools across Los Angeles and Orange counties participated, with Arcadia High School's Team Still Water taking the top spot after completing the task in an impressive 6.45 seconds.

But what about teams from outside the local area? Those who made the cut came from as far as Colorado and Massachusetts, showcasing the diverse talent among young engineers nationwide. Among them was a team led by retired NASA engineer Alan DeVault's "Trial and Error Engineering," which repeated its first-place finish from last year.

The Invention Challenge also recognized teams for their creativity, innovation, and artistic expression. Team Clankers from Mission Viejo High School were deemed the most artistic, while Team 6 from Pioneer Charter School of Science was named most unusual. Meanwhile, Team Winning Engineering Team (WET) from Temple City High School took home the award for most creative.

The event would not have been possible without the support of JPL staff volunteers, who included Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide as a guest judge with his knowledge of bucket brigades coming in handy.

For aspiring young engineers and inventors out there, this annual competition serves as an inspiring reminder that creativity and determination can take you far – even if it involves a lot of power tools and plywood.

I mean, 26 years and still going strong ! The fact that teams from all over the country are showing up to participate is pretty impressive. I love how they're pushing the boundaries with creative solutions and not just relying on brute force . And can we talk about Alan DeVault's team, Trial and Error Engineering? They must have done something right last year . It's great that NASA is supporting innovation like this – who knows what new tech will come out of it? Maybe one day they'll develop a system for water transportation on Mars !

omg u no how amazin it is 2 see so many young ppl gettin creative w/ everyday stuff they gotta use duct tape, power tools & plywood & make somethin that can tranport water in like 60 sec lol wat a brain-twister! anywaa, i thot its awesome 2 see ppl from diff states participatin too 1 team even came from massachusets small world right? and 1 thing thats really cool is how JPL staff volunteers got involved & helped make it happen its def an inspirin event 4 those who wanna be inventors & engineers

I'm so over how lame the whole Bucket Brigade Contest thing sounds... I mean, who comes up with this stuff? But hey, I guess it's kinda cool that some teams from outside Cali made it in, right? Like, if you're good at building stuff out of power tools and plywood, you should be able to do it no matter where you live. And I gotta give props to the judges for being so chill about it – I mean, a retired NASA engineer is just casually judging high schoolers' science fairs... what's next?

omg I cant believe teams from other states won like what was going through their minds when they heard the challenge was only 2 gallons of water lol 16 feet is nothing to haul that much H2O anyway, i loved the idea of artistic expression too, team clankers did an amazing job with those plywood creations it just goes to show you dont need fancy tools or super expensive materials to be creative and come up with something innovative

I gotta say, this Invention Challenge is straight fire! I mean, who wouldn't want to design a device that can fill a bucket with water in under 7 seconds? It's like something out of a sci-fi movie. And the fact that teams from all over California and even outside are participating shows that there's so much talent out there. I love how NASA is investing in young engineers and giving them a platform to showcase their creativity. It's awesome to see the diversity of teams, too - it just goes to show that innovation knows no borders. I'm curious to see what kind of crazy inventions they come up with next!

I'm just thinking... isn't it awesome that NASA is doing this kinda thing? It's like they're helping these young engineers develop their skills and get creative . I mean, who wouldn't want to make something that can move water from one place to another in under 7 seconds? It's amazing how much talent there is out there among kids and teens from all over the country... it's like they're showing the world what they can do! Plus, I love that they have awards for creativity and artistic expression - it's nice to see people being recognized for their unique ideas and designs. And kudos to the JPL staff volunteers who made this event happen!

Teams are geniuses! I mean, 2 gallons of water in 16 ft in 60 sec? That's crazy! And they use duct tape and plywood... like who needs fancy tech when you've got creativity & elbow grease?

omg , I'm loving the creativity these teens came up with! I mean, who wouldn't want to design a device that can transport water in under 7 seconds? the fact that they're using everyday materials like plywood and duct tape just goes to show that innovation is all around us. And it's awesome to see teams from outside LA and Orange counties making an impact - this challenge is definitely a great way to get young engineers thinking outside the box . I'm so down for more events like this, can't wait to see what they come up with next!

man I'm so stoked to see kids getting hands on with real-world problems and creating innovative solutions like what's not cool is the lack of diversity in the competition they only had teams from LA & OC counties? shouldn't it be open to anyone who wants to participate regardless of where they're from? also gotta give a shoutout to Alan DeVault's team Trial and Error Engineering for dominating this thing again - what's their secret sauce

I'm so tired of all these genius kid teams dominating the Invention Challenge every year . It's like, what about people who don't have access to fancy schools or resources? Can't they just get in on the action too? I mean, 18 teams from LA and Orange counties showing up is great, but what about those from other states? Are they even getting the same opportunities?

And another thing, what's with all this focus on speed and efficiency? What about creativity and thinking outside the box (or bucket, in this case)? I think it's awesome that Team Clankers was recognized for their artistic expression, but why can't we see more of those kinds of innovative approaches being celebrated?

I just don't feel like this event is doing enough to promote inclusivity and diversity among young engineers .

you know what's wild, i was watching this documentary on woodworking the other day and they were talking about how some of these old masters used to make these intricate carvings with just a hand saw and chisels... like, no power tools at all . and then you think about kids today competing in challenges like this, using power tools and plywood, it's like the whole world has changed so much . anyway, i'm kinda jealous that they have these events at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, i would've loved to see some of those challenges firsthand .

These kids are geniuses ! I mean, 6.45 seconds to move water from reservoir to bucket? That's like me building a car in my sleep . And the creativity? Mind-blowing . Who knew duct tape could be so cool?

omg i'm so down 4 teams like trial & error engineering & winning engineering team who r all about thinkin outside the box lol their projects are straight fire cant w8 2 c wat they come up wit next yr

man, i'm so over these kinda events they're all about the "oh look we made something with power tools and plywood" attitude... don't get me wrong, it's cool and all that but can't they just think outside the box for once? like, instead of a bucket brigade contest, what if they had to create something that actually helps the environment or solves a real-world problem

and omg, 60 seconds is like, no time at all... i mean i'm sure it's impressive for these kids but can't we push them a bit harder? or better yet, make it more accessible for teams from outside the local area? it feels like they're just cherry picking the best and ignoring everyone else

and btw, who names their team "Trial and Error Engineering"? sounds like something my grandma would name her bird

I think it's amazing how NASA is giving back to the community by hosting an event like this for young engineers. It's awesome to see kids from different parts of the country showing off their skills and creativity, using everyday materials in such innovative ways. The "Bucket Brigade Contest" idea might seem simple at first, but it requires a lot of problem-solving and thinking outside the box.

I love how teams from all over are participating, it's really great to see the talent pool expanding beyond just one region. And it's awesome that there are prizes for creativity, innovation, and artistic expression – it's not just about building something functional, but also about having fun and being creative with materials like plywood and duct tape.

The fact that retired NASA engineer Alan DeVault is still mentoring his team from last year shows that experience and knowledge can be really valuable in helping young engineers grow. And I think Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide's expertise as a guest judge added a nice touch to the event, who knew bucket brigades could come in handy?

I think its pretty cool how NASA is supporting the next gen of engineers with their Invention Challenge . I mean, who wouldn't want to use power tools and duct tape to create something new? It's awesome that teams from all over California, as well as other states like Colorado and Mass, were able to participate and show off their skills.

I love how the challenge has so many rules and requirements, it's not just about building something with materials they have lying around. It's actually a test of creativity and problem-solving under pressure . And can you imagine being part of a team that wins an award for most artistic or unusual? That would be amazing!

I'm also impressed by the JPL staff volunteers who helped make this event happen, especially Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide who brought his expertise in bucket brigades to the table . It just goes to show that you don't have to be a rocket scientist to contribute to the next generation of innovators .

All in all, I think this Invention Challenge is an awesome way to inspire young people to think outside the box and become the engineers and inventors of tomorrow .

OMG I mean, I'm glad to see kids getting excited about STEM and all that jazz, but come on, a bucket brigade contest? It's like they're trying to relive their grandma's 4th of July party . Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of encouraging creativity and innovation, but can't we do something more... cutting edge? Like, have them design drones or something . And what's with all the rules? Can't they just let the kids be creative for once? It's like they're trying to solve a puzzle blindfolded while being attacked by a swarm of bees . Maybe next year they can add some virtual reality components or something to make it more interesting .

I gotta say, I'm both stoked and skeptical about this whole thing . On one hand, it's awesome to see young engineers from all over the country coming together to show off their creativity and skills . The diversity in teams is a major plus – I mean, who wouldn't want to see talented kids from Colorado and Massachusetts going head-to-head against SoCal teams?

On the other hand, I'm a bit concerned about the emphasis on "everyday materials" . Don't get me wrong, it's great that they're encouraging innovation with limited resources, but what about the bigger picture? Are we setting these kids up for success or just preparing them to solve problems with duct tape and power tools alone?

Still, I gotta give props to JPL staff volunteers for stepping in to help make this event happen . And that Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide as a guest judge – who knew bucket brigades would be the key to winning the contest? All in all, it's a solid start, but let's see where these talented young engineers take us next !

I think its awesome how NASA is supporting the next gen of inventors , giving them the chance to get creative with materials like duct tape & plywood. The fact that teams from out of state participated too shows theres talent everywhere USA , and I love how they recognize creativity, innovation & artistic expression

The bucket brigade contest seems like a fun challenge , but I'm curious about the rules - are there any safety considerations or limitations that teams need to keep in mind? And wow, 6.45 seconds is crazy fast for transporting water

I also love how JPL staff volunteers came together to support the event , and Fire Chief Dave Dollarhide's expertise as a guest judge was super helpful . This Invention Challenge is like the ultimate creative outlet for young engineers & inventors