Design Challenges by Engineering Area | Translating Engineering Research K-8

Aeronautical

Title	Description	Year
ABCs of Airplanes	Modify a plane to carry a weight across the runway without losing it during landing.	2021
Aerodynamics	Reduce the drag on a cargo container by modifying its shape and design your modifications in order to produce lift.	2014
Airfoil Analysis	Reinforce an airfoil so it sustains less damage than the original design.	2021
Drone Building	Build a balanced drone frame.	2020
Flight Testing Balsa Wood Drones	Design a Balsa Wood plane that is able to fly prescribed distance and land without breaking.	2022

Biomedical

Title		Description	Year
A Sleeve to Track Movement	Design a sleeve device that can be used to measure the angle of their arm.			2021
Atomic Microscope	Design a probe to scan the surface of sample.			2017
Bone Fracture Fixation	Build a device that can hold a featured bone in place with supporting weight.			2015
Building DNA Filters	Create a filter to allow DNA marbles to pass through by catch all other contaminant.			2017
Cancer Drug Challenge		Improve the uptake of the cancer drug treatment into the cancer cell by modifying the cell opening.		2013
Calibrating DNA Devices		Design as set of overhangs strong enough to hold the device closed when 3 weights are added and open when 5 weights are added.		2021
Cell Clusters	Make a cell cluster that can be transported without breaking.			2015
Cell Communication Challenge		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.		2013
Constructing Collagen		Creating an extracellular matrix to house healthy collagen and how unhealthy collagen affects cells.		2017
Creating a Working Tissue Scaffold		Create a tissue scaffold with 10 living cells inside so it can withstand the applied weight and protect the cells.		2021
DNA Drug Vehicles		Design a model DNA origami transport of a drug molecule.		2018
DNA Detector		Separate out target DNA.		2021
DNA NanoDyn Force Sensor		Design a NanoDyn force sensor with household supplies.		2020
DNA Origami		Create a structure that is strong enough to hold a molecule that will attach to another molecule.		2014
DNA Origami	Build a structure that can attach itself to one cell.			2015
DNA Origami Carrying Chemotherapy	Using DNA to wrap around a particle			2016
DNA Origami Polymerization	Create polymerizing strands using the materials provided to connect two ‘DNA” hinges together.			2019
Double Stranded DNA	Build a strand of base pairs (magnets) that will match up with an existing strand.			2014
Encapsulation Separation Challenge	Make a device that can separate microencapsulations (represented by marbles) from oil (represented by water) using the provided material.			2013
Engineering Biomaterials	Create a biomaterial that meets the given criteria.			2018
Engineering Micelles	Using a paper cup in the design, engineer a micelle that holds as many marbles as possible with the materials provided.			2014
Extracelluar Matrix	Design a structure that is strong enough to provide shape and support to the body tissue, in this case approximately 5 pounds.			2014
Finding Iron	Search for iron clusters to identify and treat diseases more effectively.			2017
Fixing What?	Develop a fixative model to protect the provided tissue.			2018
Football Knee Braces	Design a knee brace that allows full range of motion front-to-back and prevents leg bones moving side-to-side separately.			2014
Gotta Embed ‘Em All	Embed “tissue” to preserve it against the elements and be able to successfully preserve it.			2021
Intrusion Madness	Design the smallest cut possible for a surgeon to complete an organ transplant through.			2020
Iron and Ferritin	Collect iron particles (marbles) from one end of the blood stream to the other. Do not collect/knock out any other particles (marbles).			2015
Kidney Repair	Starting with a broken kidney component (nephron), repair it so it can filter and clean “blood”.			2022
Laser Measuring Device	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.			2013
Last Object Standing	Create a code to properly sort objects until there is one item left standing at the end.			2020
Magnetic Force Microscopes	Sensing magnetic materials			2016
Magnetic White Blood Cell		Mimic antibodies that make the white blood cells magnetic. Create a way to attach the magnets to the Styrofoam ball. Collect magnets from ice cube trays	2014
Make-a-Disc!		Design intervertebral discs to meet design criteria.	2021
Membrane Madness	Build a pericellular matrix (PCM) around your cell to stop water from leaking out when a force is applied.			2020
Micelles	Build a new micelle only using 5 materials to connect the 5 whiffle balls and it must maintain its cohesive structure when dropped from 3 feet.			2015
Micelles Cancer Fighting	Keeping medicine away from water			2016
Moving Cells		Build a device that uses a magnet to move a cell through all three levels of a maze and to the two targets in the back.	2014
Nano Delivery		Design effective structures to deliver the DNA to the cancer cells. Students must fold a structure using the provided materials that can hold the cancer drugs and attach to the cancer cells.	2022
Operation Origami	Design a structure out of a loop of ribbon in order to transport the simulated drug.			2014
Protecting Dentin	Design and construct using the least amount of materials to protect the crayons from melting when in the heated chamber.			2013
Protection from Rejection	Design a structure around a small object that protects the object when in the human body.			2020
Purifying DNA Origami	Separating DNA strands by size			2016
Sliding Cells	Design a device to mix flows of red and blue water together to create purple water.			2015
What’s in the Air?	Design a device to detect the presence of dangerous particles in the air and sound the alarm.			2018

Chemical

Title	Description	Year
Bulletproof Vests	Combining materials to resist penetration	2016
Candy Catching Enzymes	Design a two-pocket enzyme that can fit in the cell and catch both of the substrates (M&Ms and caramels).	2014
Chemical Looping	Extracting oxygen from the air efficiently	2016
Chemical Reaction Engineering	Slow reaction times by controlling the components of the reaction.	2017
Designing a Zeolite	Design a “zeolite” that is able to capture the most molecules possible.	2022
Hydraulic Fracturing (“Fracking”) $Photo of fracking test apparatus.$	Get the fracking fluid (pellets) to the end of the fracking well. From increasing heights.	2015
Oxidation Cycle	Design a particle that can travel through the “reactor”.	2017
Pollution Extraction Project	Develop a tool that will successfully extract all of the “nano-silver” particles in waste material.	2013
Polymer Structures	Build a structure to hold the nanoparticle when dropped above structure. The nanoparticle must not drop through structure or bounce off.	2015
Reaction Pathway	Develop a catalyst to convert excess harmful carbon dioxide into a cleaner energy source.	2018
Spray in Your Car	Create your own spray design to improve engine efficiency.	2018

Civil

Title	Description	Year
Blown Away	Build a tower that can withstand rotating fan without being blown over.	2017
Corroding Bridge	Create a corrosion resistant bridge that is stronger than one that has not been treated.	2017
Inverted Tower	Construct a tower using bottles, cardboard, magnets, etc. so that it can withstand its own weight,	2017
Strong House	Design homes that are both strong and flexible so that they can withstand storms.	2017
DNA Drug Vehicles	Design a model DNA origami transport of a drug molecule.	2018

Computer Science

Title	Description	Year
Can Computers Learn?	Determine the right combination of weights and bias for a neural network to predict the weather.	2019
Computer Comprehension	Create a Neural Networks that can identify many objects.	2021
Neural Network Sorting	Build a model of a neural network to sort data.	2019
Rollercoaster Computer Science	Incorporating the 5 concepts of a program.	2018
The Student Computer	Build a sorter so that the computer can tell the difference between 2 different types of data.	2020
Wireless Fidelity	Create a new WIFI password encoder to securely send a message to our facilitator.	2019

Electrical

Title	Description	Year
Balloon Batteries	Developing a battery casing that can withstand deformation from internal pressure.	2016
Battery Binder	Design a binder to hold battery plates together.	2018
Boat/Power System Challenge	Build a boat is a power system and make it as robust as possible to survive the storm with no problem!	2015
Chilly Batteries	Design a flow pattern to allow the cells in a battery to be cooled equally. .	2019
Current Bridge	Build a bridge in order to allow marbles (current) to flow and close the circuit of a flood sensor to alert people that flooding could soon happen	Electrical Engineering
Distributed Generation	Design an electrical distribution system and determine where the homes and Distributive Generation sites will go.	2015
DIY Door Sensor	Design a sensor that can alert someone that a door has been opened.	2020
Electric Semi-Trucks	Construct a truck that moves as much weight as possible as far as possible.	2017
Electromagnet Robot Retrieval Device	Design a structure that can successfully navigate the cave and retrieve the robot (paperclip) using your electromagnet.	2013
Floatation Station	Design a buoy to hold a generator that uses the motion of waves.	2020
Graphene	Get just the top sticky note from the whole stack without any body part crossing the boundary.	2014
Graphene Alarm	Build your own buzzing alarm around a structure with the battery far away from the buzzer.	2013
How Does a Battery Work?	Transporting electrons to a higher energy level	2016
Human Body Communications	Create a “human body communications” circuit to close when touching.	2021
Microgrids and the Power Grid	Improving the power grid	2016
Powerplant Protectors	Build a power plant structure around the generator that can take on weather elements of rain, hail and wind.	2020
Save Your Tomato Cans	Be a system operator role and design means to protect a model power grid with protective barriers.	2018
Stealth Plane	Make a fighter jet invisible to enemy radar by designing a way to reduce its’ radar cross section.	2013
That’s Shocking	Develop a method to transfer water from one location to another without spilling during the process.	2017
Tower Optimization	Design a transmission tower that can resist high winds.	2018
Zap-Line	Compare two ways of fast charging electric cars, one directly from the grid, and one that has a battery between the grid and car.	2018

Electrical and Computer

Title	Description	Year
Classification Algorithms	Design an algorithm that that can sort images into predetermined groups.	2022
Image Recognition	Design a Neural Network that can recognize different images that are fed into it.	2021
Sorting Ship Signals	Create a system that can sort the different ship signals (marbles) regardless of the order or quantity that they are received.	2021
Teaching a Computer	Create a neural network that can determine what animal is in a picture.	2020

Environmental

Title	Description	Year
Anemometer Design	Design an anemometer that can measure wind speed and direction.	2022
Building a Filter	Filtering out various size contaminants	2016
Build a Flux Tower	Design a flux tower that is able to survive environmental conditions.	2022
Climate Change Flood Barriers	Design a flood barrier to protect a home from rising water levels.	2022
Clumping Nanoparticles	Getting nanoparticles to stick together	2016
Contaminated Groundwater Filtration	Design a series of filters to catch different size particles at different levels.	2014
Filtering Dirty Water	Filtering out various size and type contaminants	2016
Ozone Pump Against Algae	Design a device that can guide air from an air mattress pump to move green pom-poms in an assortment of colorful pom-poms.	2022
Rainfall Simulator	Build a hands-free device to transport the rainfall evenly to the different plant locations.	2013
Soil Permeability	Create a soil sample with very low permeability.	2021
Water in Wetlands	Build a filter that can both clean the water effectively and be built quickly.	2020
Wetlands and Water	Students will design a wetland that is able to protect a building from flood conditions.	2022

Engineering Physics

Title	Description	Year
Velocity Detector	Design a detector that directs low-speed incoming particles to a certain cup and high-speed incoming particles to a different cup.	2014

Human Factors

Title	Description	Year
Design or Treat	Design an app interface that allows trick-or-treaters and parents to navigate the neighborhood easily.	2019
Instructagrams	Creating instructions to communicate how to solve various puzzles.	2018

Materials Science

Title	Description	Year
Calorimeter Craziness	Maintain or improve temperature change with an efficient calorimeter design.	2017
Creepy Candy	Design a mechanism to test the permanent deformation from constant stress.	2017
Critical Crayons – Recycling	Develop new processes to recycle “critical crayons” and other components of a mixture of waste.	2014
Diaper Polymer	Materials used to make diapers absorbent	2016
Dislocation Motion	Guide the movement of a dislocation (crack) through a material.	2015
Intelligent Light Barrier	Design light barrier that can change states allowing varying amounts of light to pass.	2020
Ooey Gooey Phases	Control the failure of the Create a tempering process to temper chocolate.	2018
Paper Failure	Control the failure of the paper material and support the minimum weight without breaking.	2015
Plastics, Polymers & People	Combining materials in different ways to make different products	2016
Plutonium Purification	Design an apparatus that will separate the plutonium from the other elements to produce a pure power source.	2017
Polymer Parachute	From a variety of materials, make an effective design that is strong, light, and aerodynamic, so that Mr. Lego Man will land to safety.	2013
Pop Drop	Design an improvised Brinell test device.	2018
Producing Polymers	Create a strong, flexible “polymer composite” by combining multiple materials	2019
Printing Tissue Scaffolds	Create your own biomaterial fluid that resembles the ideal characteristics of a non-Newtonian fluid so that you can “print” your own lattice structures.	2021
Processing Power	Build a processing technique to help you emulsify two given liquids.	2021
Protecting Antibodies	Create a design/ morphology that will protect an antibody (marshmallow) during the testing process.	2021
Semiconductor Defects	Keeping electrons from becoming trapped.	2016
Titanium Microstructure	Balancing titanium phases to optimize the microstructure.	2016
World Wide Polymers	Create a buoy by combining two different materials in order to come up with the properties that a buoy possesses.	2019

Mechanical

Title	Description	Year
Action Actuators	Build actuators to pick up objects that are stuck in mazes.	2019
Airborne Collision Repair	Repair damage to an airplane after a UAV collision.	2020
Aluminum Foil Racers	Design and build the fastest Aluminum Foil Racer powered by a DC motor.	2013
Camera Systems	Design a camera system that can withstand vibrations in the system.	2022
Deployable Design	Design a deployable structure with the largest possible difference between its stowed and deployed states capable of being transported safely to its final home where it can be fully expanded.	2019
Drone Collision Repair	Redesign a nose cone of an aircraft to better withstand collisions with drones.	2022
Friction Stir Welding	Repair a leaking container with a limited amount of time and materials to hold all the “nuclear waste” in.	2019
Heat Shield	Create a thin but rigid wall, aka the heat shield, to block heat from passing through.	2019
Gravity Car	Design and build a gravity car that when rolled down a ramp, will travel the farthest without hitting the fan that is opposing it.	2013
Marble Car Roller Coaster	Simulate a drive cycle test where the speed of the car must match the pattern using a marble and track.	2015
Origami Acoustics	Create a structure that can dampen sound and fit in an envelope when folded.	2018
Pit Repair	Design a process for repairing pits caused by corrosion.	2019
Proper Stopper	Design and model a mostly hollow cube shaped piece that needs to be strong and be able to withstand forces from two directions.	2018
Turbine Design	Design a “gas turbine” that is able to spin a sufficient speed without rubbing the casing.	2022
Vibration Sensors	Design a sensor or device that can indicate when vibration is present.	2022