Fluid Power Challenge – Post Event Wrap-Up
Deltrol Fluid Products and Triton College hosted 65 junior high school students in the latest NFPA Fluid Power Action Challenge.
For the challenge, the students teamed-up in groups of 3 or 4 and received a kit of components plus the rules for the contest.
The contest can be described simply enough, but requires each student team to work together while applying principals of construction, engineering and, of course, fluid power.
Each team receives a kit with mainly wooden parts supplemented with fluid power components consisting of syringes and tubing that generates the fluid power and creates the conveyance.
Teams take these components and build a machine powered exclusively by fluid power. The basic premise of the contest is to grab, lift and move an object, then place it at a desired location to earn points. Each team gets a couple of minutes to repeat this process and earn as many points as they can.
But the challenge goes beyond just scoring points. Teams are required to submit a project portfolio that documents the project from idea through prototype testing. Project portfolios are reviewed for details and completeness. Each team is also observed for their teamwork, safety, knowledge and understanding of fluid power.
Congratulations to all of the participating students!
