Senior Solar Sprint

Written By Ricardo Ibarra

Description

The Senior Solar Sprint (SSS) competition is funded by the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) and managed by TSA. Students apply scientific understanding, creativity, experimentation, and teamwork to design, build, and race a model solar vehicle that carries a payload; documentation of the process is required. Students must register on Cvent to participate and begin the SSS journey.

2024-25 Payload

2 ping pong balls

Sunnyside HS, 2024 1st Place

 

Event Deadlines

 

January 23, 2025 - updated 10/28/24

Upload URL and pdf file

Students will need their Participant ID number, and password, from their advisor. Only the team captain will be able to upload the file.

Students submit a video of a working solar sprint car traveling the full 20 meters. Members also submit the Project Log (pdf) from their portfolio.

April 2025

Students will submit portfolio, sign up for a time trial slot, and set up display and car for judging.

TIME TRIALS

  • All cars MUST be able to connect to the guide wire without disconnecting the wire! Otherwise they do not run!

  • All cars MUST have handmade connection devices.

  • All cars MUST be able to carry payload.

All cars will run twice for time, as long as they can connect to the wire correctly. Both times will be recorded.

  • Students must come to the start line when their team is called. If they do not, they will be disqualified.

  • Teams may have one 5 minute "repair time" if necessary between runs.

All cars who have a verified time will move to the semifinal round immediately following prelims

SEMIFINAL ROUND

Semifinal teams will race in a single elimination bracket. All times will be recorded

Fastest time will be used for judging

Teams will be interviewed after elimination

 

Washington TSA Rules

To compete, students must:

  • Belong to a currently affiliated TSA chapter

  • Be registered (by their TSA advisor) for competition by December 20, 2024 ($30)

  • Compete in the January 23, 2025 virtual competition (see individual event pages for details)

  • Be selected as a top competitor in their event(s) and invited to participate at State

    • Number of competitors is dependent on specific event

    • Qualifying competitor lists will be published by February 10, 2025

    • State Conference registration week February 24-28, 2025 (see state conference page for details)

At the state level, 3 teams per chapter may compete.

Additional Information

Event Coordinator: Kristen Schlegel, Kristen.Schlegel@bellinghamschools.org

Event Manager: Kari Potter, kpotter@washingtontsa.org

Ricardo Ibarra
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