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Cedar Creek students describe Octopi drone after winning state Real World Design Challenge
Summary
A Cedar Creek High School team told the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Board that their octocopter design, Octopi, carried the state championship and will advance to national and international rounds; the board also approved March 17 minutes by voice/roll call.
At a meeting of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Board of Education, Cedar Creek High School students presented their state‑winning Real World Design Challenge entry, an eight‑propeller unmanned aircraft they call “Octopi,” and described its capabilities and research background.
The four‑student team said Octopi is an octocopter designed to carry up to 30 kilograms (about 72 pounds), sustain about 90 minutes of flight time and operate across roughly 93 kilometers (about 60 miles). The students said the design measures about 3 meters by 3 meters from propeller tip to tip and was modeled in Fusion 360. Team members described using scholarly research, mentors (including people who work with the FAA) and an online research tool called Perplexity to gather and check technical sources.
The team introduced itself as Michelle Nguyen (engineering lead), Francesca Franzozi (project lead/manager), Ariel Neals (media lead and concept designer) and Arjun Sarkar (business lead). Their coach and advisor was Mrs. Martinelli; mentors included Jeannie Bridal and Matthew Mariani. The students reported they beat 15 New Jersey teams to win the state round and will participate in the national round in Washington, with the possibility of an international final if they advance.
Why it matters: the Real World Design Challenge tasks student teams with engineering responses to pressing issues; this year’s prompt centered on wildfire response and delivering critical supplies quickly to impacted areas. Board members praised the students’ presentation and public‑speaking effort.
Details from the presentation and question period: - Design and performance: The students described Octopi as an eight‑arm, eight‑motor design capable of the payload, endurance and range figures above. They said Arjun handled the physics calculations and that the team fact‑checked performance claims against academic theses and mentor guidance. - Tools and methods: The students said they used Fusion 360 for CAD modeling and a research assistant tool, Perplexity, to surface and verify sources during literature review. - Competition process: The state round relied on a written notebook and judging; the national round includes timed presentations with judges and a question period before finalists go to an international round.
Board action at the meeting was procedural: the board moved, seconded and approved the minutes from the March 17 meeting by roll call; no substantive board action related to the students’ presentation was taken. The board also recognized the students and encouraged continued participation in STEM activities.
Votes at a glance: - Motion: Approve minutes from March 17. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Roll call recorded affirmative responses for the motion from members listed in the transcript as Edmonds; Garrison; Gunther; Hartman; Curley; Sartorio; Wright; and Al. Outcome: approved.
The students will proceed to the national round in Washington; the presentation did not specify dates, travel plans or funding sources for the team’s participation.
