10 Mechanical Engineering Competitions for High School Students
At the heart of mechanical engineering lies the drive to innovate and solve problems, shaping what comes next. For aspiring mechanical engineers, engaging in mechanical engineering contests presents an opportunity to demonstrate your inventiveness and apply your abilities in a practical setting. These contests not only stretch your technical acumen but also encourage creativity, collaborative spirit, and a determination to devise solutions to tangible challenges.
In this piece, we explore 10 mechanical engineering contests, providing a glimpse into the range of competitions specifically designed for this discipline.
1. International Bridge Building Competition
The International Bridge Building Competition contest takes place in Chicago and welcomes high school students from various regions. To advance to the second, international phase, you'll need to pass through the regional competitions first. The task involves constructing a bridge that is not only strong and efficient but also as light as possible. Organized by the Illinois Institute of Technology, the competition consistently calls for highly creative solutions.
Engaging in the design and testing of model bridges not only enhances your understanding of physics principles but also sharpens your practical skills in bridge building. This challenge offers a glimpse into the life of an engineer, tasked with designing structures according to specific criteria and then witnessing their functionality. Furthermore, it provides you with a school-recognized, academically-focused extracurricular activity, enriching your educational journey with a hands-on engineering experience.
Cost: None
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
Registration Deadline: Varies from region to region, you can check out dates for your region here.
Competition Dates: Dates vary for regional rounds, the International round will be held on April 27, 2024.
Eligibility: All high school students from around the world can participate in teams of up to 4
Prizes: This information has not been made available yet
2. FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
The FIRST Robotics Competition offers a great blend of sportsmanship, science, and technology, presenting high school students and their mentors with an intensive introduction to robotics through the lens of a shared challenge. Each competition season features a series of regional events that participants must navigate successfully to progress to the international stage.
This competition is known for delivering an authentic engineering experience, pushing students to engage in fundraising, develop a team brand, sharpen their teamwork abilities, and construct and program large-scale robots. These robots are then put to the test in a complex game against equally ambitious teams, according to the competition's official website.
In terms of the competition's relevance to mechanical engineering, this discipline plays a crucial role in robotics. It is responsible for designing and engineering the moving parts of robots, allowing them to navigate, perceive, and interact within their surroundings effectively.
Here are 7 tips to win the FRC!
Cost: Varies from the type of event and round, you can check out complete cost information here.
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas for the final round.
Registration Deadline: Varies from round to round, check out more details here.
Competition Dates: The FRC takes place over several months, with the game being announced in January and regional and district competitions taking place from February to April. The top teams from these rounds advance to the FRC Championship, which happens in late April or early May. Keep an eye out on the website for official dates for each region/district.
Eligibility: High school students from all around the world can participate in their respective regional, local, and national rounds.
Prizes: Participants and winners of the competition have gone on to receive awards and recognition
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation annually presents the VEX Robotics Challenge, which cleverly incorporates gamification into engineering challenges. Participants are tasked with forming teams to outperform others in the annual competition.
This year's challenge involves the VEX Robotics Competition Spin Up, which takes place on a 12’x12’ square field, arranged as detailed in the provided link. Competing in this challenge are two alliances, one labeled “red” and the other “blue,” each made up of two teams. The competition unfolds with a fifteen-second Autonomous Period, followed by a one minute and forty-five second (1:45) Driver Controlled Period. Teams aim to outscore their opponents by scoring discs into goals, gaining control of rollers, and covering field tiles by the end of each match.
Attracting thousands of student participants annually, the competition boasts that over 95% of its participants report a heightened interest in STEM fields, with many pursuing STEM careers thereafter.
Here is how you can win the VEX Robotics Competition!
Cost: Team registration costs $100-$150 per year
Location: Dallas, Texas
Registration Deadline: Vary for each round, check the website for more details.
Competition Dates: TBA
Eligibility: High school students from all over the world can participate at local, regional, and national levels based on whether they qualify for each.
Prizes: Awards and cash prizes of about $2,500 are awarded to the winners.
4. The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is a celebration of innovation and creativity in the field of engineering. Inspired by Rube Goldberg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist famed for his intricate and humorous depictions of complex gadgets performing simple tasks, the competition invites students to devise and construct elaborate machines that execute straightforward tasks in the most roundabout ways possible. Utilizing items that would otherwise be considered waste, these Rube Goldberg Machines® epitomize recycling creativity, demonstrating that one person’s trash can indeed become another’s treasure, all at no cost to the builders.
High school and college students form teams to partake in this contest, either through live regional events or online platforms, crafting machines that weave together common items such as balls, ramps, pulleys, and dominoes to accomplish goals like extinguishing a light or applying toothpaste to a brush. Beyond fostering engineering and problem-solving skills, the competition is a testament to the power of teamwork, inventive thinking, and humor. It offers a chance for emerging mechanical engineers to display their inventive prowess and enjoy themselves immensely along the way.
Cost: None
Location: Purdue University, Indiana
Registration Deadline: Registrations close in January, check back for 2025 dates
Competition Dates: April 6, 2024 is the national contest
Eligibility: All students ages 8 to 18 can participate
Prizes: TBA
5. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)
Organized by the Society For Science, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is a premier global STEM competition for pre-college students, attracting thousands of participants annually. To secure a spot at Regeneron ISEF, entrants must initially compete at local or regional fairs, with only a select few, approximately 2-5%, making it to the hybrid-format ISEF program each year. Students are required to showcase projects that are original and have been developed within the past 12 months, prioritizing recent innovations.
In the realm of engineering, participants have the opportunity to present research in various subcategories, including but not limited to civil engineering, ground vehicle systems, industrial engineering-processing, and mechanical engineering. Earning a place to present your engineering project at ISEF is not only an honor but also an invaluable experience that offers the chance to network with peers who are equally passionate and driven.
Here is everything you need to know about ISEF!
Cost: $25 registration fee
Location: Los Angeles, California
Registration Deadline: Varies from state to state
Competition Dates: Local and regional events take place throughout the year but usually conclude by April. The ISEF Fair will take place from May 11 to 17, 2024.
Eligibility: All high-school students with a strong passion for research in science, math, and engineering are encouraged to apply.
Prizes: Special Awards such as tuition scholarships, summer internships, and scientific trips, as well as cash prizes of up to $75,000 are awarded to winners.
RoboRave, a global robotics competition, encourages the development of engineering and imaginative problem-solving through a series of robotic tasks. Contestants are tasked with designing, constructing, and programming robots capable of performing specific tasks, thereby honing vital technical abilities such as coding, circuitry, and mechanical design. Endorsed by notable sponsors like Intel, RoboRave enjoys a prestigious reputation, skillfully blending entertainment with challenging engineering problems.
RoboRave presents a variety of challenges, including tasks for line-following robots and self-operating aerial vehicles, with each participating country introducing its unique set of formats, rules, and challenges. Teams of 2 to 4 members with a coach are encouraged to be inventive with their use of materials and technology within specific size and weight limits. While fostering creativity, the competition restricts the use of software that might oversimplify the challenges presented.
Given the critical role of mechanical engineering in robotics, RoboRave presents a unique opportunity for budding mechanical engineers to immerse themselves in this field. If you're on the path to becoming a mechanical engineer, diving into this competition could be the perfect experience.
Here are 8 winning hacks you should know about RoboRAVE International!
Cost: None
Location: Held in various countries, check website for more information.
Registration Deadline: Varies from location to location
Competition Dates: Varies from location to location
Eligibility: Regardless of age, location, or nationality, anyone is eligible to participate, as long as there is an accessible RoboRave location nearby. Events can all be found here.
Prizes: National recognition and certificates
7. Technology Student Association (TSA) High School Competitions
The Technology Student Association (TSA) hosts 40 high school competitions across a wide range of disciplines. They are well-established and have a considerable national profile. They stand out for their ability to accommodate specialized and niche interests within STEM and certain non-STEM areas. Specifically, for those keen on delving into various aspects of mechanical engineering—ranging from designing physical structures and industrial products to engaging with gaming and manufacturing processes—TSA offers a variety of contests to participate in.
For students with a passion for mechanical engineering, here's a selection of TSA high school competitions to consider:
Architecture and Construction Technology: Architectural Design, Structural Design and Engineering
Manufacturing and Transportation Technology: Dragster Design, Drone Challenge, Flight Endurance, Manufacturing Prototype, and Transportation Modeling
STEM (General): Engineering Design
Technology and Research: System Control Technology
STEM and the Arts: Animatronics
In all these contests, the principles of mechanical engineering play a crucial role. Whether you're drafting a proposal, developing a model or prototype, or preparing your final presentation, the application of mechanical engineering concepts is indispensable.
Cost: $25 to $30 registration fee
Location: Varies from state to state
Registration Deadline: The dates vary from competition to competition, from state to state, as all competitions will have local rounds first.
Competition Dates: The dates vary from competition to competition, from state to state, as all competitions will have local rounds first.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12 can participate. Some states and certain competitions may have varying eligibility, please check your state’s TSA website for further details. This is an eligibility chart that provides further information on the TSA national conference.
Prizes: Winners receive trophies and cash prizes
8. Artemis II and You! Challenge
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a yearly worldwide hackathon event hosted by NASA, in partnership with various space agencies and organizations. It welcomes participants of diverse backgrounds, such as engineers, scientists, programmers, designers, and anyone fascinated by space and technology. This challenge invites you to tackle real-world issues on Earth and beyond, in a global collaborative environment that embraces diversity in age, expertise, and backgrounds, all sharing a common enthusiasm for exploring our world and the cosmos
With the upcoming Artemis II mission, aiming for groundbreaking achievements like sending the first woman, the first person of color, and the first Canadian to lunar space, you're tasked with producing a video under three minutes. This video should highlight the global impact of the Artemis II mission's advancements, focusing on delivering content that is factual, scientific, and educational while avoiding political commentary, and utilizing original or NASA-approved footage (Resources provided in the challenge details).
Cost: None
Location: Virtual
Registration Deadline: The deadline to submit your project is typically 5-7 days before the global challenge.
Competition Dates: The dates for 2024 have not been announced yet
Eligibility: This is a beginner-level challenge, so all students can apply.
Prizes: Winning teams are invited for a visit to a NASA Center, which could potentially include viewing a spacecraft launch at a NASA facility.
9. Altair Global Student Contest
The Altair Global Student Contest is a prestigious international event that calls upon engineering students from across the globe to showcase their innovative abilities and engineering prowess. This competition emphasizes the development of sustainable and lightweight design solutions, utilizing the advanced features of Altair Inspire technology.
Participants are tasked with submitting an Inspire model file that has been resolved, accompanied by a video that details their optimization journey and the principal insights gained. The video must cover crucial information such as the name of the student or team, their institution, how they utilized Altair's product, the optimization parameters involved, the extent of improvement realized, and the lessons learned. The video is to be concise, not exceeding 5 minutes, and should visually display the outcomes achieved.
The entries will be evaluated based on the clarity of the optimization strategies described, the effective application of Altair software, and the creativity exhibited in the video content. The aim of the contest is to promote the concept of lightweighting through topology optimization, encouraging students to enhance their engineering skills in a fun and engaging manner.
Cost: None
Location: Virtual
Registration Deadline: Varies for each monthly contest
Competition Dates: The contest year began on April 14, 2023, and ends on May 31, 2024. Students can submit (unique) entries for each monthly contest.
Eligibility: The contest is open to all students, regardless of their age or discipline.
Prizes: At the end of the contest year, all first-prize winners from the three regions (North and South American (AMER), Europe, the Middle East, and African (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions) will be automatically entered into the running for the global grand prize of $7,500. Additionally, there are 3 monthly prizes of $750 for exceptional entries, 1 monthly prize of $200 for a creative presentation video, and 1 monthly wildcard winner who receives $100 and is chosen at random.
This expansive competition, held yearly in conjunction with the National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) every June, attracts over 6,000 state champions from all over the nation. Participants compete in 115 different categories, covering a wide range of skills and leadership abilities. Among these 115 categories, a number are directly related to mechanical engineering or feature it as a key focus. Categories such as automated manufacturing technology, industrial and engineering technology, engineering technology – design, mechatronics, and robotics and automation technology stand out.
This event represents the final step of a comprehensive journey beginning at local SkillsUSA chapters and advancing through district and state competitions to reach the national level. Champions are awarded not just medals but also scholarships, professional equipment, and sometimes job placements, highlighting the critical role of skilled professions and the value of hands-on experience.
Cost: None
Location: Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia
Registration Deadline: June 6, 2024
Competition Dates: The SkillsUSA Championships are held from Tuesday to Thursday during the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC). The NLSC will be held in Atlanta till 2026 on these dates: June 24-28, 2024 | June 23-27, 2025 | June 22-26, 2026
Eligibility: All high school students can participate
Prizes: Along with gold, silver, and bronze medallions, participants may earn scholarships, tools of the trade, and even job offers right off the competition floor.
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Image Source - ISEF Logo