2011 CANADIAN FLUID POWER CHALLENGE INTRODUCES NEW TASK

Toronto, ON – The 2011 Canadian Fluid Power Challenge organizers were a little concerned that a new problem scenario they devised for this year’s competition, held May 12, 2011, in Toronto, might be too difficult for the students. It turns out they needn’t have worried, as more teams succeeded in completing at least one cycle than in any of the previous 10 challenges.
Students from 18 west Toronto middle schools were asked to design and build fluid power devices to pick up a wooden block and place it on one of two shelves — in effect, a simulation of a warehouse material handling problem. They were evaluated on a set of criteria, including the number of cycles completed and the quality of their design portfolios. Leading the parade of successful schools this year was first-place winner, Islington Junior Middle School.

This year’s teacher tour, which took place while the students were building their machines, visited the Bombardier Aerospace plant in Downsview, ON. The teachers saw the final assembly lines for Q400 regional airliners and Global Express corporate jets. They also saw fluid power in action in the testing and R&D centre.

The Challenge, which is a partnership of the Canadian Fluid Power Association (CFPA) and the Toronto District School Board, is intended to provide Grade 8 students with hands-on experience building a mechanism with real-world applicability and to open their eyes and those of their teachers to the world of technology careers.

This was the eleventh year for the Canadian Fluid Power Challenge (previously known as the Hilltop Tech Skills Challenge).  The CFPA’s Western Chapter also holds a Challenge in Edmonton that involves both high school and middle school students.

For more information, contact John Bachmann, CFPA education co-chair, at bachmann.johnh@rogers.com or at 905-607-9852.