2010 Invention Challenge Official Results

MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE 818-354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov

2010 Invention Challenge Official Results

To all school teams and JPL Invention Challenge fans-

Under beautiful blue skies and a light wind, the JPL Invention Challenge was held on December 10th, 2010 at JPL with more than 300 spectators and participants. This year's contest objective was to build a device that could transport a ping pong ball from near the ground upwards towards a ceiling located 2 meters above the ground and have the ball remain in contact with the ceiling for at least 5 seconds. Times were stopped after first contact of the ball and the ceiling. The device performing this task in the fastest time was declared the winner.

A total of 19 school teams and 12 JPL teams came up with different ways to accomplish this task. The high speed entries used a "bow-and-arrow" method with either suction cups or magnets utilized to hold the ball to the ceiling. Others used sticks that rotated up to the ceiling, or scissor jacks that grew in height. Some entries utilized helium balloons or compressed air to propel the ball upwards. Many of the entries failed to perform the task. The times are shown below for each of the entries and a more complete list can be found on the JPL website located at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/inventionchallenge/2010/results.cfm This year, the overall fastest time was posted by a team from Magnolia Science Academy Middle School with a blistering time of 0.20 seconds!

In January, a series of photographs will be posted on the site, and a few DVD copies of the replay video will be made available.

Entry School or JPL Lead Name Entry Title Time Award
1 South Pasadena HS None Given DQ
5 Magnolia Science Academy - 3 CATAPULT 0.20 1st - school
8 Pacific Technology School Levitator 5000 DQ
14 Monroe Magnet MS Blast Off 1 DQ
15 Monroe Magnet MS Gravity Fighter DQ
16 Temple City HS Mochi DQ
19 Morningside HS Zoom Machine 0.30 2nd - school
20 Morningside HS The Turbo 0.37
23 Savanna HS None Listed DQ
28 Mayfield Senior School None Listed 1.37 Most Artistic
32 Crescenta Valley HS The Bungi Dart 0.33 3rd - school and Most Unusual
36 Monrovia HS B 0.70
40 Alexander Hamilton HS None Given 0.56
42 Los Angeles HS None Given DQ
43 Los Angeles HS None Given DQ
47 Alhambra HS Alhambra Moors 12 3.30
50 Saddleback HS The Glenninator 6.40 Most Creative
55 Culver City HS None Given DQ
58 South East HS The Tornado 0.66

101 Richard Goldstein Jumping-Jack 0.30 3rd - JPL
104 Kristan Ellis Mag Scissor Lift DQ Heaviest
105 Kristan Ellis King Pong DQ
106 David Van Buren Rocket Ball 0.23 1st - JPL
107 Bob Krylo Bob's Quick Flip 0.33 Largest
108 Ricky Ma Balloon Time Fun DQ Lightest and Smallest
109 Hannah Goldberg Goldberg's Groupies DQ
110 Hannah Goldberg Black's Bunch DQ
111 PC Chen Rockette 0.23 1st - JPL
112 Paul MacNeal UP DQ
113 Dr. Louis Giersch Balls of Fury DQ
114 Alan DeVault Zip Zartz DQ
NA Richard Fretz 0.47

We wish to thank all of the volunteers (listed below) that put on the show. Without their help, the event would not be possible. A special thanks goes out to Kim Lievense and her Public Services team, headed by Maggie Porter, for collecting the entry forms and video release forms and 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 master of ceremonies during the 90 minute contest.

Name Position
Paul MacNeal Organizer
Guillermo Blando General Helper
Monica King Assistant to organizer
Tony Ruiz Assistant to organizer
Mariyetta Madatyan Recording Secretary
Dan Klein Recording Secretary
Chris Landry Referee
Robert Denise Announcer
Steven Wissler Check-in
Anna Stern Check-in
Vanessa Flesuras Check-in
Robert Irwin Timer
Mircea Badescu Timer
Melissa Vick Timer
Victor Mejia Video Replay Operator
Fabien Nicaise Booth Review Helper
Mohammad Ahmad Area Patroller
Joseph Joe Set-up helper
Chris Ballard Set-up helper
Chris Ballard Clean-up helper
Fannie Chen Clean-up helper
Burt Zhang Photographer
Amiee Quon Photographer
Bryan Johnson Photographer
Steve Nelson Videographer
Kent Frewing Judge
Brad Smith Judge
Paul Bailey Judge

We look forward to next year's contest.
For more information, please visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/team-competitions.cfm

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