Eighteen teams from 17 schools participated in the fourth annual Innovation Challenge held at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) hosted the fourth annual High School Innovation Challenge @ Dahlgren (ICAD), bringing together approximately 120 students from 12 Virginia school districts for an engaging STEM competition held at the University of Mary Washington Dahlgren Campus from Feb. 28 to March 1.
The NIGHT mission – Navigate. Inspect. Gather. Haul. Triage. – challenged students to use Python coding to program pi-top [4] robots as they navigated a congested environment, inspected objects, gathered critical resources and created safe zones while triaging the mission area. Designed to provide an immersive and fun environment, the event showcased the importance of STEM education in solving real-world challenges.
NSWCDD subject matter experts played a pivotal role in the event’s success by designing the competition curriculum, mentoring educators and fostering hands-on learning opportunities. Their dedication ensures a strong foundation for the next generation of STEM professionals, equipping students with skills and experiences to thrive in technical fields.
The ICAD aligned with the efforts of the Potomac Tech Bridge, an outreach initiative led by NSWCDD, emphasizing community innovation and collaboration. The event was hosted in partnership with the University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg Regional Military Affairs Council and MITRE Corporation. Read more.