Olathe Northwest Team "Claims the Terrain" at High School Design Competition


 

It's an event that puts participants through the gamut of the engineering experiences.  Quick adjustments.  Rapid problem solving.  Exhilarating success, and on occasion, disappointing failure.  It's quite the engineering lesson for the teams gathered at Eaton Hall on the University of Kansas campus for the High School Design Competition, sponsored by the KU School of Engineering. This year's theme was "Claim the Terrain." 

Sand track

Here's a look at the final results.

Overall:

First place:  Made in China, Built in America, Olathe Northwest

 

Second Place:  Viking 2, Seaman High School

 

Third Place:  Lions 2, Lawrence High School

Final Run at the High School Design competition 2010

Terrain:

Mount Oread (Concrete Course) First Place:  Viking 2, Seaman High School

Memorial Stadium (Turf Course) First Place: Made in China, Built in America, Olathe Northwest

Wescoe Beach (Sand Course) First Place: Made in China, Built in America, Olathe Northwest

Presentation:

 

First Place: Team Volcano, Lawrence Free State High School

Second Place: That Other Team, DeSoto High School

Third Place:  Lions 2, Lawrence High School

High School Design Competitions Winners with Baby Jay

Teams were challenged to design a multi-terrain vehicle that could successfully traverse three courses -- one made of concrete, one of turf, and one of sand. The vehicles were timed and the distance charted.  Student teams were also required to give a presentation on their design to a panel of judges.  The top ten finishers in the preliminary competition advanced to the finals, and had to compete on a new course that included wood and gravel in addition to the materials from the earlier round.

Check out the Claim The Terrain photo gallery on the School of Engineering Facebook page.