THEMES AND PROBLEMS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
When a decision is made by a member to compete in an event, it is imperative that the member thoroughly read and understand the rules, regulations, procedures, and evaluation criteria for the chosen event(s). National TSA is responsible for addressing mistakes or discrepancies in the competitive event guides and accomplishes this through competition updates on the TSA website. National TSA is not responsible for interpreting, advising, or suggesting ways that a member might develop a viable response or solution to a competitive event challenge.
- Microcontroller Design
- Off the Grid
- Prepared Speech
- Promotional Marketing
- Robotics
- Solar Racer
- STEM Animation
- Structural Engineering
Microcontroller Design
Theme: Wearable Technology
Off the Grid
Design Brief: Resilient Housing Unit in Cabo San Lucas
Overview:
A family of six lives in an informal settlement, or colonia, on the outskirts of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The family consists of two parents, one grandparent and three children.
Their current home is self-built using salvaged materials such as scrap wood, corrugated metal, pallets, and tarps. The home is single-level and crowded, with limited privacy between generations. The family does not have reliable access to running water, sewage, electricity, drainage, or waste collection. Water is delivered by truck and stored in a small cistern, while electricity and sanitation systems are often improvised.
The region’s arid desert climate creates year-round challenges, including extreme heat, strong seasonal winds, and persistent dust. In addition, many informal settlements are located near arroyos, flood zones, or unstable terrain, placing families at serious risk during hurricanes and flash floods.
Challenge:
The family needs a safe, affordable, and resilient single-level housing unit that can support multi-generational living in an informal settlement in Cabo San Lucas. Your task is to design a housing solution that improves comfort, safety, dignity, and long-term livability while responding to the region’s climate, limited infrastructure, and economic realities.
Requirements:
• The housing unit must be single-level and designed for a multi-generational family.
• The design should include passive cooling, natural ventilation, and strategies to reduce heat and dust inside the home.
• The structure must be more resilient to hurricanes, strong winds, flash flooding, and unstable ground conditions.
• The home should include solutions for water collection, water storage, and water conservation.
• The design must address sanitation, drainage, and waste management in areas without reliable public infrastructure.
• The proposal should use affordable, durable, and locally available materials when possible.
• The home should be simple to build, repair, and maintain using realistic construction methods.
• The design should allow for incremental or phased construction so the family can improve the home over time.
• The layout should include flexible spaces for privacy, family gathering, sleeping, cooking, and daily activities.
• The design should be scalable so it could potentially be adapted for other families in similar communities.
Budget:
Your team has a limited budget equivalent to the income of a working family in Cabo San Lucas. The design should prioritize affordability, durability, and realistic implementation. The budget must account for building materials, water storage, basic sanitation, ventilation, flood protection.
Prepared Speech
2027 National TSA Conference Theme: “Forward to Fifty”
Promotional Marketing
Theme: You have been asked to develop a promotional marketing campaign for Discover TSA: Open House & Recruitment Night. The purpose of the event is to introduce prospective members and their families to the opportunities available through the Technology Student Association. The event will feature student demonstrations, interactive STEM activities, competitive event displays, and opportunities to meet current TSA members.
Use the following information when creating your promotional materials:
Event Name: Discover TSA: Open House & Recruitment Night
School: Edison Middle School
School Mascot: Emus
School Colors: Green and White
Date: Friday, August 1, 2027
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Edison Middle School
Address: 1840 Innovation Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819
Printable Design
A promotional graphic suitable for both print and social media advertising that promotes the event.
Wearable Design
A collectible lapel pin for the Edison TSA chapter.
Digital Design
An auto-advancing digital welcome presentation highlighting event activities, chapter accomplishments, and opportunities available through TSA
Robotics
Solar Racer
A model solar track on top of carpet will be the floor surface at the 2027 National TSA Conference
STEM Animation
Theme: Think. Design. Create. An animation centered on the engineering design process.
Structural Engineering
HIGH SCHOOL
- Dragster
- Drone Challenge (UAV)
- Engineering Design
- Fashion Design and Technology
- Hybrid Racer XL
- Interior Design
- Manufacturing Prototype
- Music Production
Dragster
Theme: INSIDE / OUT
One axle (front or rear) must use internal wheels, while the opposite axle must use external wheels.
Internal: The wheels must be enclosed by the vehicle body on the top and both sides above the axle. The bottom of the wheel remains exposed.
External: The wheels must be completely outside the vehicle body. No portion of the body may cover any part of the wheel from the top or sides.
The front and rear axles must use opposite configurations (one internal, one external).
One set of wheels(front or rear) must be external (outside 35mm) and the other set of wheels must be internal(shell). Participant choice on either Front or Rear.
Drone Challenge (UAV)
Engineering Design
Theme: Engineering the Future of Energy: engineering solutions that improve the generation, storage, conservation, distribution, or use of energy.
Fashion Design and Technology
Hybrid Racer XL
Annual Design Requirement
Must hold or pull/drag one 5-ounce fishing weight, provided on-site. Design must include a hitch to attach weight at rear of car. Provided fishing weights: https://a.co/d/05yQLCZx
A model solar track on top of carpet will be the floor surface at the 2027 National TSA Conference.
Interior Design
Design Challenge: Tiny Living, Big Impact
A nonprofit organization is developing a Tiny Home Community for young adults transitioning into independent living.
Your firm has been selected to design the interior of one model home that maximizes comfort, storage, functionality, and affordability within a limited footprint.
The home should feel welcoming while demonstrating innovative space-saving solutions.
Required Spaces
Include:
- Living area
- Kitchenette
- Sleeping area
- Bathroom
- Workspace
- Storage
Design Considerations
Students should demonstrate:
- Multifunctional furniture
- Universal Design principles
- Sustainable materials
- Efficient circulation
- Creative storage solutions
- Residential lighting design
Budget
Material budget: $28,000
Manufacturing Prototype
Music Production
Theme: Compose an original, dynamic soundtrack for a climactic boss battle in a futuristic or fantasy video game. Your music should portray the intensity of the encounter through creative composition, sound design, and production techniques. The track should build escalating tension, feature dramatic contrasts and powerful climaxes, and be suitable for seamless looping during continuous gameplay.