Design Challenge

This year, the Elsa High School section Design Challenge put students in a simulated lunar environment. Themed 'Battle Blocks' students in groups were tasked with designing, building, coding, and branding their own Battle Block bots. Their Lego Technic based vehicles were then stress tested in different scenarios to see who would be crowned champion.

Student Reflections 

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST REACTIONS TO THE DESIGN CHALLENGE BRIEF? 

Ahree Grade 6 I initially thought the Design Challenge was going to be very difficult, especially because the task was to build a “battle bot” in 2-3 days. However, once I explored the task more deeply, I could understand that it wouldn’t be too hard, as long as our team worked together.  We first decided to research more to further understand our task, so we could complete it while knowing what we were doing. We then decided to find out which of the roles each of us was best at, so we could all work hard while working well at the same time.

Emily Grade 8 I enjoyed the Design Challenge idea where we made robotic rovers to mine for Helium-3; it was an interesting blend of planetary science and technology. The different activities were also quite exciting, such as the Alliance Quest and the Duel Done, where the robotic rovers competed against each other in 'timed battles'.

Our team devised a strategy for the challenge, going over all of the possibilities for different things, such as what we would need to do if the other team’s robot were larger. What would happen if we added so and so, etc? For our roles, we went through all of our experiences in the past and made a decision that matched our skill sets.

HOW DID YOUR TEAM GO ABOUT STARTING THE INITIAL PROCESS? HOW DID YOU DIVIDE YOUR TEAM’S ROLES?

Ahree Grade 6 We first decided to research more to further understand our task so we could complete it while knowing what we were doing. We then decided to find out which of the roles each of us were best at, so we could all work hard while working well at the same time.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOUR TEAM FACED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK? HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES? 

Ahree Grade 6 The biggest challenge we faced at the start of the week, and my team will agree, was communication. On the first day, we all yelled over each other and argued, but by the end of the week, we were left with a 'Super Trooper' robot that was fully functional! Although we struggled to share our ideas and to compromise, we managed to consider all of each other's suggestions and fulfil them to the best of our abilities.

Emily Grade 8 One of the challenges we experienced was when our robot didn't function. In spite of that, we overcame the issue by asking an expert for help, changing our motors and putting less weight on our rover. Another challenge was when a few Lego pieces broke, but we managed to save up enough to get replacement pieces.

Shahar Grade 10 At first, our team found the Design Challenge difficult because none of us had experience designing a functioning robot. However, we quickly realized that each person brought different strengths to the group—some specialized in media, others in building or coding—so we decided to divide our roles based on individual skills. This approach helped us stay organized and confident as we began turning our ideas into action.

One of the biggest challenges we faced early on was placing the motor in an unusual position. Initially, we thought this mistake would cost us the project, but through testing and trial, we discovered that the motor’s placement actually improved our robot’s performance. It created a spinning gadget that could clear spaces effectively, which ended up being one of our robot’s standout features. This experience taught us the value of problem-solving and keeping an open mind when things don’t go as planned.

The highlight of the week was when our team, AkivaX (Akiva 5), won first place out of 23 teams with a total of 174 points. We were thrilled that our creativity, teamwork, and perseverance paid off. Looking back, the Design Challenge not only improved our technical and design skills but also strengthened our collaboration and communication as a team.

Felix Grade 9 When we first heard of the Design Challenge brief, it was really exciting because it was unlike anything we had ever done before. This year, we looked to Outer Space and robots to inspire our designs. It was a unique opportunity to explore our creativity while tackling real-world engineering problems. Many of us were eager to step into leadership roles and collaborate with classmates we hadn’t previously worked with, which added an extra layer of enthusiasm. 

We began the initial process with an open brainstorming session in which everyone shared their thoughts and ideas. This approach encouraged participation from all members and helped us to build a sense of ownership in the project. A challenge that my group faced was that none of us knew how to code on Scratch programming, so it was particularly difficult to move forward from that. Despite this, a group member was determined to figure it out, and in the end, we placed second overall! 

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK?
Ahree Grade 6 The highlight of the week was definitely the mini challenges, where we could earn points and purchase items at the upgrade store to improve our rovers. At the end of this challenge, I had learned not only about the moon but also how crucial it is to communicate with the people around you.

Yeda Grade 9 The design challenge brief was very unexpected. Along with many others, my first guess was that the challenge would be related to rockets, spaceships, or satellites, and I definitely did not expect the battlebots element. I think this design challenge had the most unique and interesting theme out of all of the past ones I have participated in. Once our team had understood the assignment, we divided ourselves into our best-fitting roles, such as engineer, programmer, designer, strategist, and project manager. One of our biggest challenges was that our team did not have a member who was well-versed in designing and engineering a robot to function well. We overcame this challenge by learning from many different teams and taking an idea from each of them. My highlight of the week was on Thursday when each team presented their robots and used the product of three day’s work to compete against each other. In short, I think that this year’s design challenge was one of the most successful out of the four I have participated in.

Emily Grade 8 Our best highlight was definitely seeing the robot come together and our code working the first time — even with all the challenges. Seeing it all come together the first time is very rewarding.

Design Challenge Overall Winners:

• Top Investment Pitch: MOON CLASH
• Excellence in Design: ASTRAGUARD 
• Design Challenge Winner: AKIVA X
   

Elsa High Section’s annual Design Challenge took place in February, hand-in-hand with the Elementary and Preschool STEAM activities. Elsa students were tasked with designing, making, and pitching an airboat capable of navigating terrain to simulate delivery of rescue supplies. Unique to this year's challenge was access to First-Person-View (FPV) wireless cameras and head-worn displays, as well as the specification that their designs must use upcycled packaging materials as hull components. This technologically forward and eco-friendly approach encouraged innovative engineering and promoted sustainability.

Pre-K to Grade 5 participated in a challenge centered around disaster relief operations, in line with their High School peers. This engaging activity empowered students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills. 

Situation
Step into the shoes of real-life heroes in this Design Challenge centered around disaster relief operations! A devastating flood has left an entire community stranded, with no means of transportation. Your task is to design and construct an airboat capable of navigating through floodwaters, debris-filled streets, and reaching isolated areas to provide essential supplies and rescue stranded individuals. Are you ready to make a difference and be part of a life- saving mission?

Challenge
Get ready to engineer innovative airboats that will restore hope and save lives in times of disaster! In this challenge, you will create a First Person View (FPV) remote control airboat using only reused packaging materials as the building material. This eco-friendly approach not only demonstrates your engineering skills but also promotes sustainability by repurposing materials.

Your airboat will be capable of navigating a treacherous obstacle course, made up of land and water! It will also be instrumental in delivering aid packages, rescuing stranded individuals, and ensuring their safe passage to security. Let your creativity and resourcefulness shine as you embark on this mission of compassion and environmental responsibility!

Student Reflections:

Peter, Grade 9: Coming into this year's Design Challenge, I did not know what to expect. When it was revealed that we were meant to build an Airboat, I was surprised. I expected it to be difficult: how were we going to be able to build a vehicle that goes both on water and on land and can transition between them? Thankfully, we were provided with a starting kit, which we could then build upon. 

My Team and I divided into two initial roles, one group working on the Product Pitch and one team working on the Airboat. At the start, when we just had to build the kit, we split off into teams. However on the second day we all worked on building the airboat and contributing all of our ideas to create the team's Airboat. Some challenges with my team specifically was the weight of the Airboat. Our Airboat has an elongated front and pontoons on the side, like a catamaran. However, due to the use of lots of material, our Airboat was significantly heavier than other team's airboats. We changed and modified our airboat to have a slicker bottom and removed unnecessary weight from the front of the boat to counteract this conundrum. 

My Highlight of the week so far has been seeing our work culminate into a final product. Seeing our airboat being able to slip and slide on the track and float on water has been amazing. With all projects, seeing your vision finally come to life is an amazing feeling.

Lili, Grade 10: An atmosphere of immense excitement and anticipation led up to the Design Challenge, and it only continued throughout the whole experience! My initial reaction to the Design Challenge brief was nervousness but excitement as I’d never heard of what we were making or its incredible purposes. The challenge was to create an airboat that could skim above the water and pass through debris and other obstacles. We were given a starter kit that gave us a base for our design, but the details and design were entirely designed by the students. 

We faced several challenges throughout the creation process, including our boat's design being too heavy or our presentation and pitch not being detailed enough. Our group took time to communicate and adequately assign roles to solve all of our problems, which helped us create a boat that we were proud of and brought us all closer together as a team. My personal highlight of the week was the first test of our boat, as the suspense and slight worry only made the boat's success in being able to move all the more exciting.

Trisha, Grade 9: This is the first time I’ve ever taken part in a Design Challenge. I was quite excited to collaborate with students across grades to learn about each other's strengths and interests. I think I was anticipating the end of the challenge, just to see how well we could do in the challenge. Through discussing we figured out everyone’s strengths. I researched about the boat, and made a couple of sketches with my teammate, and we gave them to the others to build. Overall, we had a great balance between the building, researching and presenting part of the project. When the final Airboat was brought inside the auditorium, freshly coated in spray paint, I felt nothing but pride. My team had really pulled it off! 

Cedric, Grade 9: I was really excited and eager to participate in the challenge and push myself and think outside of the box. The challenges we faced in the beginning was how we should make our airboat since everyone had their unique ideas and we were contemplating about which would be the best for us with the limited resources and time we have. The highlight of the week for me was the second day of our build and testing day. I was really excited and nervous about testing our airboat for the first time but it turned out way better than we expected and even others! We were the fastest on track and the only one that managed to get over the pond.