Design Squad
DESIGN SQUAD, a series aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, borrows from the reality competition format and intends to get its viewers excited about engineering. Two teams of high school students (ages 16-19) design, build and test whimsical machines and innovative products -- everything from a wireless light and dance show to an automatic pancake maker -- for real clients. Guided by two young engineer hosts, the teams are scored for their ability to think outside the box and meet (or surpass) the demands of the challenge at hand. In the final episode, the top two scorers battle for the grand prize: a $10,000 college scholarship.
Design Squad Previous Broadcasts
Band Cam (Episode #209)
KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 27, 2012 -- 4:00 PM
There's nothing like the World Music rhythms of Zili Misik to send the DESIGN SQUAD teams into an artistic groove. The eight-member all-female band challenges the teams to create remote-controlled aerial camera systems to cover their live performance. D-Squad Pro File: Mark Cayla, head engineer for Airship Management Services in North Carolina, maintains and operates some of the world's largest blimps for everyone from presidential candidates to the military.
Repeat Broadcasts:
- KQED Kids: Fri, Sep 28, 2012 -- 4:30 AM
- KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 27, 2012 -- 10:30 PM
Aquatic Robots (Episode #208)
KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 -- 4:00 PM
Super Duck Excursions, the Boston-based terra-amphibious touring company, challenges the teams to create underwater radio-controlled robots to spice up their narrated tours. D-Squad Pro File: Mikell Taylor, a systems engineer at Bluefin Robotics, not only builds Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for the U.S. Navy, but she's also taken the lead in creating a new consumer product: a personal training device for swimmers.
Repeat Broadcasts:
- KQED Kids: Fri, Sep 21, 2012 -- 4:30 AM
- KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 20, 2012 -- 10:30 PM
Big Bugs (Episode #207)
KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 13, 2012 -- 4:00 PM
DESIGN SQUAD gets back to nature as the teams sculpt large-scale insects from found forest materials. The winning arthropod will be on display at the New England Wild Flower Society's Big Bugs exhibit. D-Squad Pro File: Matt Sisul and William Cao are 20-something structural engineers who volunteer for Engineers Without Borders to promote urban development in Africa and South America.
Repeat Broadcasts:
- KQED Kids: Fri, Sep 14, 2012 -- 4:30 AM
- KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 13, 2012 -- 10:30 PM
Backyard Thrill Ride (Episode #206)
KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 6, 2012 -- 4:00 PM
The teams bring the adrenaline rush of an amusement park ride to the backyard of 13-year-old Andreas Hoffman. D-Squad Pro File: What is more fun then riding a roller coaster? Mechanical engineer Chris Gray would say building one! At Great Coasters International, Chris applies his creativity and engineering know-how to build exhilarating (and safe!) roller coasters.
Repeat Broadcasts:
- KQED Kids: Fri, Sep 7, 2012 -- 4:30 AM
- KQED Kids: Thu, Sep 6, 2012 -- 10:30 PM









