2013 Design Challenges

A document containing a brief description of the TEK8 program and the instructor guides and the student guides for all of the 2013 design challenges is available here.

2013 Design Challenges Available

Title Description Engineering area
Aluminum Foil Racers Aluminum foil racer parts

Design and build the fastest Aluminum Foil Racer powered by a DC motor.

 Mechanical Engineering
Cancer Drug Challenge

A red cup held over a white grate with green rod-like clumps over it

Improve the uptake of the cancer drug treatment into the cancer cell by modifying the cell opening.

 Biomedical Engineering
Cell Communication Challenge

Orange paper wrapped around string or rubber bands with a key on the side

This design challenge includes designing a platform or stage to hold a key such that the key can be used WITHOUT touching/holding the key.

 Biomedical Engineering
Electromagnet Robot Retrieval DeviceBattery attached to a red wire and black wire which loop to a coiled nail

Design a structure that can successfully navigate the cave and retrieve the robot (paperclip) using your electromagnet.

 Electrical Engineering
Encapsulation Separation Challenge

A microscopic view of microencapsulatons; three circular blobs
Make a device that can separate microencapsulations (represented by marbles) from oil (represented by water) using the provided material. 
 Biomedical Engineering
Graphene AlarmA box set next to the edge of a table with two strips hanging from it and a purple object attached to the strips

Build your own buzzing alarm around a structure with the battery far away from the buzzer.

 Electrical Engineering
Gravity CarStudent-made car made with small black wheels and what looks like spools and a popsicle stick Design and build a gravity car that when rolled down a ramp, will travel the farthest without hitting the fan that is opposing it. Mechanical Engineering
Laser Measuring Device

A testing setup diagram showing the path of a laser light hitting a DNA origami structure between two mirrors at 45 degrees and then a circular catching device below the second mirror

Properly arrange mirrors at the ends of a DNA Origami Structure, and create a laser launch and catching device to measure the length of the structure from across the room.

 Biomedical Engineering
Pollution Extraction Project

A box of different colored balls

 Develop a tool that will successfully extract all of the “nano-silver” particles in waste material. Chemical Engineering
Polymer Parachute

Black and gold parachute in the sky

From a variety of materials, make an effective design that is strong, light, and aerodynamic, so that Mr. Lego Man will land to safety.

 Materials Science and Engineering
Protecting Dentin

Inside view of a tooth

Design and construct using the least amount of materials to protect the crayons from melting when in the heated chamber.

 Biomedical Engineering
Rainfall SimulatorA wooden platform with a blue funnel in the middle and two containers below

Build a hands-free device to transport the rainfall evenly to the different plant locations.

 Environmental Engineering
Stealth PlaneCardboard box with a yellow arrow pointing to a model plane

Make a fighter jet invisible to enemy radar by designing a way to reduce its’ radar cross section.

 Electrical Engineering