This page is for a previous Design Challenge (Class of 2026). Please visit this page to select a more recent version to find updated details.
Information about the First Year Engineering Design Challenge for the Class of 2026.
Date: Saturday, February 11th (Spring 2023)
Time: 1pm to 5pm
Location: Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) Atrium
Design Challenge for Spring 2023: “Chain Reaction”
“Chain Reaction” machines (sometimes known as Rube Goldberg machines) have been a classic example of demonstrating the transfer of energy, laws of motion, and several other practical applications of engineering while providing creators with a hands-on making experience. Several teams of first-year students will be responsible for a “section” of the overall machine, with a triggering of section-by-section and overall collaborative goal of a start-to-finish system.
The total time provided to all teams to finish their contraptions will be 4 hours (arrive at 1pm and finish by 5pm). No prior knowledge or work required!
See what the Class of 2025 created last time!
REGISTRATION:
First-Year Students (Class of 2026):
First-Year Students can register individually (and be added to a team during the event) or as a team (up to 5 members) at the following link:
First-Year Students Register Here!
Mentors:
Upper-class students (undergrads, graduate students) or staff can register to be mentors during the event, helping and guiding the first-year students to successful solutions. Please use the following link to register (confirmation and more information will be sent to those who sign up):
Mentors Register Here!
SCHEDULE:
Sat February 11th from 1pm to 5pm
| 1:00 pm – 1:15 pm | Welcome, Section/Area Assignments, Group Setup |
| 1:15 pm – 2:00 pm | Start Building (and First Check-In @ 1:50pm) |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Continue Work (and Second Check-In @ 2:50pm) |
| 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Continue Work (and Third Check-In/Trial @ 3:45pm) |
| 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Final Work Session (Final Tweaks) |
| 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm | Showcase! (2x Runs, with Reset) |
| 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm | Disassemble and Cleanup |
PREPARATION:
No preparation needed! We will supply all the the materials and mentors to help you succeed. Just come with your energy, ideas, and enthusiasm and willingness to creately collaborate to innovate a solution to the problem!
Questions? Need more information? Contact SoE First-Year Coordinator Ethan Danahy at ethan.danahy@tufts.edu.
ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT:
This Design Challenge event is organized by/with generous support from:
Tufts University School of Engineering
Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach
Return to the First Year Engineering Design Challenge overview page.