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You are here: Home / News / The Barty Lab Volunteers at the 23rd Annual Jet Propulsion Laboratory Invention Challenge

The Barty Lab Volunteers at the 23rd Annual Jet Propulsion Laboratory Invention Challenge

December 14, 2022 by mseggebr

Barty Lab graduate students, Leslie Heid and Michael Seggebruch, were volunteers at the 23rd annual Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Invention Challenge! This year, the challenge was to make the fastest device to direct five balls through variously placed wickets. Middleschool through JPL scientist teams built incredible machines that aimed, whacked, dropped, and launched balls using lasers, roombas, triggered hammers, rotary motors, solenoids, and pneumatic devices. Leslie and Michael spent the day right in the middle of the action (Inside the competition ring!) chasing balls. It was a great day that ended with a neat tour of the JPL museum. Next year, Barty Lab plans to enter the contest with their own machine. Stay tuned!

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