2017 Fluid Power Action Challenge
The National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) recently held their 10th Annual Fluid Power Action Challenge at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Through the Fluid Power Challenge, NFPA and MSOE hope to encourage students to select more mathematics and science courses in their high school curricula and to keep their options open for technology-based post-secondary studies. The Fluid Power Challenge consists of a Workshop Day and a Challenge Day.
On Monday, November 13th, the teams came together again on Challenge Day. They used the same tools and an identical kit of supplies to recreate their unique mechanisms, which they used in the competition to pick up weighted objects and place them on a platform. The teams were graded in several areas, including total points, portfolio ideas, design, and teamwork.
Students competing in the Team Challenge competition.
China Instrument Parts is a proud sponsor of the Fluid Power Action Challenge. This event gets middle school students interested in Fluid Power Technology, and it’s a great way to get them thinking about the career path they’d like to take in just a few years. They are encouraged to think outside the box while learning valuable skills, and they have a great time doing it.
This year, 36 teams from seven schools competed in the event. The schools were: Elkhorn Area Middle School – Elkhorn, WI with four teams; Humboldt Park School – Milwaukee, WI with eight teams; Lake Country School – Hartland, WI with six teams; St. Joseph Catholic Academy – Milwaukee, WI with four teams; the Real School – Racine, WI with four teams; Trevor Wilmot School – Wilmot, WI with two teams; and Wheatland Center School with eight teams. 33 of the 36 teams successfully operated their device during the one minute team challenge, and 17 of the 33 teams scored points while operating their device.
The winners were:
Overall Champion Elkhorn Area Middle School Team A; Elkhorn WI
Portfolio Award Wheatland Center Team B; Wheatland, WI
Design Award Lake Country School Team B; Hartland, WI
Teamwork Award Elkhorn Area Middle School Team D, Elkhorn, WI
Team Challenge Lake Country School Team A; Hartland, WI
Tom Wanke, Director of the Fluid Power Industrial Consortium and Industry Relations at MSOE, said this year’s event was “the best ever!” We are already looking forward to next year’s Fluid Power Challenge to see what these future engineers come up with next!
Elkhorn Area Middle School Team A was the Overall Champion.
Elkhorn Area Middle School Team D won the Teamwork Award.
One of the teams hard at work building their device.
Students competing in the Team Challenge competition.
