Erie High School Ranks Third in NASA’s 31st Human Exploration Rover Challenge, Wins Most Improved Award
Erie High School earned national recognition at NASA’s 31st Human Exploration Rover Challenge, held April 10-12 in the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The team of seniors placed third overall in the high school division of the Remote Control Rover category, a new addition to the competition this year. Erie High School was also awarded first place in the Most Improved category, after boosting their overall score by 16 points from Day 1 to Day 2 of the competition.
The students, currently enrolled in Erie High School’s senior capstone design course, have been working on their rover projects since October, after self-selecting their project tracks in August earlier this year. Their preparation included classes in computer-aided design (CAD), mechanical engineering, and structural design, making the competition a true culmination of their high school engineering education. These advanced courses are a part of Erie High School’s Academy of Engineering and Aerospace, a four year engineering pathway that prepares students to compete in their post-secondary engineering pursuits.
The capstone class structure mirrors that of a professional engineering team, utilizing scrum boards, project reports, and collaborative workflows. Over the past several months, students have submitted design documentation and progress updates to NASA engineers for review and feedback, a key part of the selection process that earned them one of only 75 spots in the international competition. Additionally, Erie High School was one of only two Colorado high schools invited to compete.
Competing in both the Human-Powered and Remote Control Rover categories, students were challenged to design and fabricate nearly all components of their rovers, including wheels, chassis, and control systems. In addition, they built a functional spectrometer and a distance sensor to determine whether a liquid was water, and to measure proximity to objects within the course. The half-mile course was designed to simulate terrain found on the moon or Mars, including 10 different obstacles.
Beyond the accolades, the experience offered students invaluable professional exposure. Many made meaningful connections with NASA engineers and industry professionals. With a second competition under their belts, Erie High School’s team has proven their technical abilities and cemented their place among the top young engineering minds in the world.