JPL Annual Invention Challenge - 2008
Aerial Car Race Contest
The day started out under the clouds with a bit of rain during the set-up time, but by 11:30 the sun was out and the weather was perfect. I was pleased to see the fantastic turnout for this exciting event. We had 24 student teams and 6 JPL teams show their answer to the set of rules (a hotlink here would be good) that were posted back in August. The variety of solutions proved to be most entertaining to the 300 or so onlookers at this year's JPL Invention Challenge. A list of results is shown below.
Entry No. | School Name/JPL Leader | City | Team Name | Distance Completed | Seconds | JPL Finals Award |
1 | Granite Hills High School | El Cajon | Aurum est Polestas | 5.65 | 4.28 | |
2 | Magnolia Science Academy | Reseda | Maerobile | 10 | 4.4 | |
3 | Monroe Magnet Middle School | Inglewood | The J.A.A.R.’s | 10 | 14 | |
4 | Arcadia High School | Arcadia | Elemental Knights | 10 | 3.94 | |
5 | Arcadia High School | Arcadia | More Thrust | 10 | 5.7 | |
7 | Monroe Magnet Middle School | Inglewood | The Jokers | 4.97 | 9.25 | |
8 | Monroe Magnet Middle School | Inglewood | The Mad Scientists | 10 | 2.36 | 2nd |
11 | Granite Hills High School | El Cajon | Reptar | 10 | 5.35 | |
12 | La Canada High School | La Canada | 10 | 0.91 | 1st | |
14 | Chaminade College Preparatory | West Hills | Chaminade Eagle Engineering | 10 | 2.62 | 3rd |
15 | Savanna High School | Anaheim | 0 | DQ | ||
16 | Savanna High School | Anaheim | 10 | 7.81 | ||
18 | Santa Ana High School | Santa Ana | Team #1 | -0.05 | 0.5 | |
21 | Glendora High School | Glendora | Glendora Physical Science Club | 10 | 2.75 | |
23 | Monrovia High School | Monrovia | 5.28 | 7.33 | ||
26 | Manual Arts High School | Los Angeles | Toiler 1 | 1.72 | 27.03 | |
29 | Crescenta Valley High School | La Crescenta | Falcons | 10 | 3.15 | |
30 | Crescenta Valley High School | La Crescenta | Falcons | 10 | 2.65 | 3rd |
32 | Alhambra High School | Alhambra | AHS Mesa | DNC | ||
34 | Los Angeles High School | Los Angeles | LAHS1 | 10 | DQ | |
35 | Los Angeles High School | Los Angeles | LAHS2 | 10 | 0.82 | |
40 | CAMS | Carson | Fornax | 10 | 18.3 | |
43 | Artesia High School | Lakewood | BJM | 0.24 | 6.25 | |
45 | Hamilton High School | Los Angeles | Hamilton | DNC | ||
47 | Elsinore Middle School | Lake Elsinore | EMS Tigers | 0 | 0.05 | |
49 | Magnolia Science Academy | Reseda | 0.01 | 4.9 | ||
101 | Dallas Smith | DNC | ||||
102 | Andrew Ging | DNC | ||||
103 | Dominick Miller | DNC | ||||
104 | Kristan Ellis | 10 | 3.28 | 1st - JPL | ||
105 | Martin Regehr | DNC | ||||
107 | J. Gary Troutman | DNC | ||||
108 | Richard Goldstein | 6.06 | 3.59 | |||
109 | Richard Fretz | 10 | 15.37 | 3rd - JPL and heaviest | ||
110 | Kristan Ellis | 0 | ||||
111 | Steve Guertin | 10 | 8.82 | 2nd - JPL and largest | ||
112 | Bruce Parham | 0 | 0.05 | smallest and lightest | ||
113 | David Van Buren | 6 | 3.9 |
*DNC = Did Not Compete (No Pictures)
*DQ = Disqualified
I wish to thank all of the volunteers that put on the show. Without their help, the event would not be possible. A special thanks goes out to Kim Lievense and her team, headed by Maggie Porter, for processing more than 200 student badges for all of the student teams. I also wish to acknowledge the talented work performed by Robert Denise for being the announcer and master of ceremonies during the contest.
Name: | Position: |
Paul MacNeal | Organizer |
Rich Alvidrez | General Helper |
David Breda | Assistant to organizer |
Nick Siegler | Crowd Control helper |
Fabien Nicaise | Crowd Control helper |
Lorena Ornelas | Crowd Control helper |
Chris Landry | Starter |
Robert Denise | Announcer |
Charlene Paloma | Check-in |
Khoa Le | Check-in |
Daryl Victor | Check-in |
Jean Cheng | Timer |
Melissa Vick | Timer |
Anthony Lopez | Timer |
Kymie Tan | Recording Secretary |
Sue Finley | Recording Secretary |
Dan Klein | Field Judge |
Charlie Fisher | Ask an Engineer |
Steven Wissler | Ask an Engineer |
Olivia Dawson | Set - up helper |
Joseph Joe | Set - up helper |
John Segui | Set - up helper |
Oscar Gutierrez | Set - up helper |
Amelia Quon | Photographer |
Blaise Kuo Tiong | Photographer |
David Tuman | Photographer |
Victor Luo | Videographer |
Steven Nelson | Videographer |
Dave Taylor | Judge |
Glenn Beardsley | Judge |
Fabien Nicaise | Safety Engineer |
At the end of the awards ceremony, Pamela Huntoon, Education Advisor for LA City Councilwoman Jan Perry, presented a Certificate of Recognition to JPL, represented by Deputy director Gene Tattini, for hosting the Invention Challenge.
Contact Information
Public Services Office
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mail Stop 126-347
Located in Building 126-336
Pasadena, CA 91109
Paul MacNeal
paul.d.macneal@jpl.nasa.gov
Phone: (818) 354-7824