tech problem solving tsa

Title: 2023-2024 Technology Student Association (TSA) Basics

INTRODUCTION

This guide was developed for the educator interested in starting a TSA chapter, as well as the new TSA chapter advisor, and the veteran TSA chapter advisor who has served for multiple years.

The material covered presents both general and specific information about the organization –including details for starting a chapter and advisor resources that focus on TSA competitions, programs, and initiatives.

For questions about the guide, please contact National TSA at [email protected].

The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national non-profit career and technical student organization (CTSO) of middle and high school students engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). TSA was chartered in 1978, and since then over 5,000,000 students have participated in TSA’s competitions, intracurricular activities, leadership opportunities, community service, and more.

The Technology Student Association (TSA) enhances personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), whereby members apply and integrate these concepts through intracurricular activities, competitions, and related programs.

MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT MEMBERS

100% 75% 39% 2,300+ 3,500+

LIKELY TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE-BOUND

MINORITY REPRESENTATION

TEACHERS (CHAPTER ADVISORS)

SCHOOLS IN 48 STATES

STUDENT MEMBERS

Open to students enrolled in or who have completed technology and engineering courses in school, TSA includes more than 300,000 middle and high school student members across the United States. TSA is supported by educators, parents, and business leaders who believe in the need for a technologically literate society. Members apply and integrate STEM concepts through participation in competitive events, leadership endeavors, co-curricular activities, and related programs. A wide range of opportunities makes TSA a positive experience for every student.

AFFILIATED CHAPTERS

TSA chapters take the study of STEM beyond the classroom and give students the chance to pursue competitive challenges among friends with similar goals and interests. Together, TSA chapter members engage in competitions, learn and apply leadership skills, and have the opportunity to participate in conferences at the state, regional, and national levels. TSA chapters are committed to a national service project and are highly involved in their community. TSA members may become officers at the local and state level and then run for national TSA office.

To learn more about TSA, view the video below .

AFFILIATION AND MEMBERSHIP

Chapter members are part of both their state TSA delegation and national TSA.

STATE AND NATIONAL TSA

In addition to the opportunities and resources offered through national TSA, many state TSA organizations offer a leadership conference in the fall, a competition conference in the spring, and other activities during the year. Members are encouraged to attend and participate in the annual national TSA conference. Chapter advisors should be sure to check their state TSA website for information and contact their state advisor to learn how they can be involved.

CONNECTICUT

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

MASSACHUSETTS

MISSISSIPPI

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH DAKOTA

WEST VIRGINIA

AFFILIATION AND DUES

Tsa chapter affiliation.

TSA’s membership is comprised of middle and high school students engaged in STEM across the country. Members are part of an affiliated TSA chapter with an advisor – a teacher or other faculty member at a school.

TSA affiliation is paid for annually. Membership status begins when a chapter completes affiliation and ends at the conclusion of the national TSA conference. TSA offers three curriculum-integrated membership programs. Chapters should select the program that works best for them:

Red Chapter Affiliation Program

A chapter affiliates up to 10 members by paying a flat fee (members may be added during the year for an additional fee). The membership fee for Red CAP is $120 at the national level, plus state dues.

White Chapter Affiliation Program

A chapter affiliates 11 or more members by paying a per member fee for state and national dues. The membership fee for White CAP is $12 per member at the national level, plus state dues.

Blue Chapter Affiliation Program

A chapter affiliates an unlimited number of members in a school for a flat fee. This option is popular among chapters in which students rotate through a STEM class for a portion of the year because it enables all students to be members. The membership fee for Blue CAP is $400 at the national level, plus state dues.

A chapter’s affiliation selection must be the same at the state and national level. View the list of state dues

View additional important Membership Affiliation Policies

HOW TO AFFILIATE A CHAPTER

Returning TSA chapters: From the Join/Login tab on the TSA website, previous-year chapter advisors may log in to their chapter site in the TSA Membership System using their existing chapter ID/username and password – and then proceed to online affiliation.

New TSA chapters: From the Join/Login tab on the TSA website, there are two options for individuals who wish to affiliate a chapter with TSA: starting a new chapter, or re-affiliating a previous chapter under a new advisor. For either option, the steps to complete affiliation begin by clicking on the red Chapter Membership bar and following the onscreen instructions.

Payment: Chapter affiliation payment by credit card results in immediate activation of membership and access to TSA chapter resources. Payment by P.O. must be verified by TSA before membership in TSA is activated and resources become available.

Once membership is activated, returning and new chapter advisors have access to full TSA competitive event guidelines (for the middle school level or high school level, as appropriate), leadership materials, and chapter and career-oriented information and resources.

For questions or additional support, email [email protected]

TSA CHAMPION FUND

When payment for TSA membership poses a challenge, the Champion Fund may provide an opportunity to bring TSA to middle schools and high schools. Through the Champion Fund, Red CAP membership costs (up to 10 members and one advisor) for approved schools are covered for one school year. Newly affiliated chapters can discover all that TSA membership has to offer, including a wide range of challenging STEMrelated competitions, as well as education, leadership, and career resources.

A school may be eligible if the school:

1. has never had a TSA chapter and there is no school or community financial support available to pay membership costs

2. has not had a TSA chapter for at least three years and there is no school or community financial support available to pay membership costs

3. has had a TSA chapter within the last three years, but currently is experiencing economic hardship because of a disaster.

Submitted applications are reviewed by a committee to determine eligibility and are processed on a first-come, first-served basis depending upon available funding. All applications require a principal’s signature. Schools that receive financial support from the TSA Champion Fund are kept anonymous.

Download the TSA Champion Fund application.

The TSA Bylaws document provides information on such topics as the TSA name, purpose, membership in TSA, chapter voting, chapter meetings, and chapter officers and their duties. This document may be accessed in the password-protected TSA Membership System once affiliation is complete.

ARTICLE I. NAME

The official name of this organization shall be the Technology Student Association and may be referred to as “TSA.”

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES

The general purposes of this organization are to: assist state delegations in the growth and development of TSA. assist state delegations in the development and leadership in social, economic, educational and community activities. increase the knowledge and understanding of our technological world.

assist technology education students in the making of informed and meaningful career goals.

The specific purposes of this organization are to:

• develop, through individual and team work, the ability of members to plan, organize, and use a variety of resources to solve problems.

• explore technology and develop an understanding of technological literacy.

• promote high standards of learning through curricular resource activities.

• encourage students in expressing creativity.

• develop consumer awareness. provide career opportunity information pertaining to a broad range of occupations, including training requisites, working conditions, salaries or wages, and other relevant information.

provide exploratory experiences in classrooms and laboratories and develop partnerships in business or industry to acquaint students with career opportunities. assist in providing guidance and counseling for students enrolled in technology education programs in making informed and meaningful career choices.

• expose students to the responsibility of representing a large membership.

instill desirable work habits and attitudes toward the positive way of life in students and foster a deep respect for the dignity of work.

prepare individuals for enrollment in advanced or highly skilled vocational and technical education programs.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATION

The Technology Student Association is an organization of state delegations each operating in accordance with a charter granted by TSA, Inc.

Each chartered delegation of TSA, Inc., will be responsible for all operational activities within that state or geographic unit under the direction of the State Supervisor of Technology Education or an appointed representative.

Membership in TSA shall be through chartered state delegations. A delegation will consist of TSA chapters within a state, territory, or equivalent geographic unit. Each chapter will consist of individual members as described below:

• Active. Active members shall be students who are presently enrolled in or have been previously enrolled in technology education programs. An active member shall pay dues as established by the TSA, Inc., Board of Directors, and may be declared eligible to hold a national office, to participate in national competitive events or projects, to serve as a national voting delegate, or to otherwise represent their delegations in National TSA affairs as may be approved by their delegations.

Associate. Associate members shall be students who are enrolled in related fields of instruction with emphasis in technology education or who have been previously enrolled in technology education programs. An associate member shall pay dues as established by the TSA, Inc., Board of Directors. Associate members shall not vote or hold office.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO CHAPTER ADVISORS

Once affiliation is completed, chapter advisors have full access to TSA competitive event guidelines (for the middle school level or high school level, as appropriate) through the password-protected TSA Membership System. The following are examples of additional resources/informational items available with affiliation:

• 10 Ways to Fundraise

• Advisor Appreciation Week

• Chapter Meeting Agenda – Example

• Competition Tips

• Creating a Program of Work – Sample

• Creating a Program of Work – Template

• Discovering TSA Competitive Events Activity

• Dress Code

• Electing Chapter Officers

• Interview Tips

Membership Affiliation Policies

• National TSA Week

• Recruiting and Retaining Chapter Members

• Service Project – American Cancer Society

• TSA Chapter Bylaws Template

• TSA Fact Sheet

• TSA Social Media Best Practices

• TSA Bylaws

Competition Tips for Students

Best practices for social media.

IMPORTANT DATES

September 1

2023–2024 TSA Chapter Affiliation Opens

2024 TEAMS Registration Opens

September 14

National TSA’s 45th Anniversary

October 2 – 6

National TSA Week

National STEM Day

November 29 – December 23

ACTE’s Career Tech VISION

February 1 – March 1, 2024

State-level TEAMS Competition

February 1 – 28, 2024

Career and Technical Education Month

February 5 – 9, 2024

TSA Advisor Appreciation Week

March 6 – 9, 2024

2024 ITEEA Conference

April 24 – 30, 2024

National Student Leadership Week

June 26 – 30, 2024

2024 National TSA Conference

COMPETITIONS AND PROGRAMS

TSA’s competitive event guidelines apply to competition at the annual national TSA conference. In addition, they may be used for local, state, and regional TSA conferences.

HIGH SCHOOL TSA COMPETITIVE EVENTS

TSA high school competitive events fall into career categories; the number of competitions for each category is shown in parentheses.

• Architecture and Construction Technology (4)

• Communications Technology (5)

• Computer Science and Information Technology (6)

• Leadership (5)

• Manufacturing and Transportation Technology (7)

• STEM (General) (3)

• STEM and the Arts (7)

• Technology and Research (3)

View an overview of TSA high school competitions

MIDDLE SCHOOL TSA COMPETITIVE EVENTS

HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL

TSA middle school competitive events fall into career categories; the number of competitions for each category is shown in parentheses.

• Architecture and Construction Technology (3)

• Communications Technology (6)

• Manufacturing and Transportation Technology (6)

• STEM (General) (6)

• STEM and the Arts (2)

• Technology and Research (4)

View an overview of TSA middle school competitions

SAMPLE TSA COMPETITIONS

Access sample guidelines to two former, but typical, TSA competitive events below:

• High School 3D Animation

• Middle School Catapult Design

NATIONAL TSA CONFERENCE DRESS CODE

The TSA Dress Code notes attire requirements for national TSA conference competitors.

Competition Attire

Shirt: official royal blue TSA shirt

Pants, or at least knee-length Skirt: gray

• Unacceptable: jeans; jeggings; leggings; baggy pants; exterior pocket pants; shorts

Shoes: black dress shoes worn with black or dark blue socks, hosiery (optional):

• open-toed shoes or sandals are acceptable

• Unacceptable: athletic shoes; flip-flops; military boots; or work boots

Required additional attire for Middle and High School Chapter Team event

Blazer: navy blue with official TSA patch

Tie: official TSA tie (males)

• Females are not penalized for wearing the official TSA tie to Chapter Team or any other competitive event

Above attire may be worn for other competitions if preferred by event participants.

General Session Attire

Shirt: the official TSA shirt (royal blue) is preferred; button-down shirt or a polo/golf shirt

• Unacceptable: t-shirts; halter tops; tank tops

Pants, or at least knee-length Dress or Skirt

Optional Blazer: navy blue with official TSA patch

Optional Tie: official TSA tie

Shoes: dress shoes worn with dark socks, hosiery (optional):

Casual Attire

Appropriate t-shirts, shorts, or jeans.

Casual attire may not be worn at competitions or general sessions.

TESTS OF ENGINEERING APTITUDE, MATHEMATICS, AND SCIENCE (TEAMS)

TEAMS challenges middle school and high school students to collaboratively solve real-world engineering issues by applying their STEM knowledge in practical and creative ways. Original academic and innovative concepts are developed for the TEAMS competition based on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or other engineering challenges. Undertaking these challenges requires critical job-readiness skills such as collaboration, analytical thinking, and multi-dimensional problem solving.

Owned and administered by TSA, TEAMS is a separate program from TSA. Many TSA members compete in both the TSA and TEAMS competition programs, however membership in TSA is not required for TEAMS competition. A separate registration is needed for TEAMS, and schools with an active TSA chapter receive a 30% discount on the TEAMS registration fee of $150/team.

Competing in TEAMS

Teams of two to four students compete during the month of February in three TEAMS competition components:

• Design/Build – Teams design and build a solution to an engineering challenge.

• Multiple Choice – Teams use math and science skills to solve real-world engineering challenges.

• Essay – Teams research and write an in-depth essay that is submitted electronically prior to their competition day.

The national TEAMS competition takes place annually during the national TSA conference. The 2024 TEAMS competition theme is “Engineering Another World.”

TSA advisors may register for TEAMS while completing their TSA affiliation (the 30% discount is automatically applied) or by registering on the TEAMS website and using the code TSA2024 to receive the discount.

Questions? Visit the TEAMS website for more information or email Amber Williams.

TSA ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM, PATHWAYS TO EXCELLENCE

The TSA Achievement Program, Pathways to Excellence encourages TSA student members to engage in the areas/categories of service leadership, STEM immersion, and personal/professional development. Students participate in activities in these areas and have the opportunity to earn sequentially a bronze, silver, and gold award at the local, state, and national level, respectively.

Completion of one activity in each area/category – for a total of three completed activities per level – is required for bronze, silver, and gold award eligibility.

Members submit documentation of their activities for each level via the TSA Student Member Site.

Chapter advisors are responsible for verifying the successful completion of a member’s activities for each level.

Bronze awards are typically presented at the chapter or district level during special award assemblies, regional conferences, TSA banquets, etc. Recognition of silver award recipients is managed at the state level, usually at state conferences. Gold award recipients are recognized at the national TSA conference.

Affiliated TSA chapter advisors or student members who seek more detailed information about the TSA Achievement Program, Pathways to Excellence, may visit the TSA Chapter Advisor Site or the TSA Student Member Site in the TSA Membership System.

21st Century Skills for TSA is a leadership resource designed to help members develop the skills needed to thrive as an individual and leader. Once a chapter is affiliated, members will have access to leadership resources presented in the TSA Membership System.

TRAINING TOPICS

Communication

Collaboration/ Social Skills

Problem Solving/ Risk Taking

Critical Thinking

21st CENTURY SKILLS

Perseverance/ Grit

Relationship Building/ Teamwork

Dependability/ Integrity

Flexibility/ Adaptability

NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY (NTHS)

Since 1984, the National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) has been the honor society for Career and Technical Education (CTE), serving high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, and universities. Recognizing over 60,000 new members and awarding nearly $300,000 in scholarships annually, NTHS exists to advocate for and empower all students to pursue the technical and academic skills needed to build their careers and a skilled global workforce. NTHS achieves this through career development, leadership development, service, and recognition opportunities. The Technology Student Association (TSA) and NTHS have formed a partnership to provide these benefits to TSA members.

Learn more about the National Technical Honor Society at NTHS.org

NATIONAL TSA OFFICERS

2024 NATIONAL TSA CONFERENCE

Rosen Shingle Creek

Orlando, FL

Hotel reservations for the conference will open in January 2024. Conference registration will open in March 2024.

Conference Theme

“EVOLUTION OF EXCELLENCE”

Competitive Events

Technology problem solving hs, # description.

Participants use their skills in problem-solving to develop a finite solution to the stated problem provided on-site. Participants work as a team to provide the best solution, which is measured objectively.

# Careers Associated

Computer Software Engineer

Mathematician

Criminal Investigator

Air Traffic Controller

# Oklahoma Eligibility

Entries are limited to one (1) team of two (2) individuals per chapter.

# State Competition Information​

One hour is allowed for the design and construction of the solution.

Participants must provide their own toolbox

Toolbox must not exceed twenty (20) inch length x ten (10) inch width x ten (10) inch height sizing box.

# Coordinators

The individuals listed below is familiar with the event and available to give guidance. Please email them if you have questions regarding this event.

Emily Davis

[email protected]

Event Coordinator

[email protected]

Event Manager

• Practice Questions

The TEAMS competition consists of three components: Design/Build, Multiple Choice, and Essay. Examples of each high school (HS) and middle school (MS) components are given below. Additional practice examples can be found in your online coach account .

Design/Build | HS and MS

• Crane Design Challenge
• Amusement Park Ride Challenge

Multiple Choice | HS

• Urban Green Space scenario and questions
• Urban Green Space solutions
• Wind Power scenarios and questions
• Wind Power solutions
• Digital Relays for Electrical Grids scenarios and questions
• Digital Relays solution

Multiple Choice | MS

• Water & Sewer System scenario and questions
• Water & Sewer system solutions
• Electric Grid scenarios and questions
• Electric Grid solutions

Essay Challenge | HS and MS

• Essay Prompt HS and MS
• Sample answer (HS)
• Sample answer (MS)

Uncommon Leadership

The First Innovation Doctrine: Transforming Problem-Solving Within the TSA

When the tsa needed a way to accelerate problem-solving and transform the agency, they turned to bmnt for help. the result was the first-ever innovation doctrine in federal government.

Editor’s note: This year marks a decade of government innovation for BMNT. We are celebrating by telling the success stories of our clients and partners as they transform how their organizations solve hard problems at speed and at scale. Our story is their story. Below is the fifth in this series of articles. Read our other Customer Success stories here .

THE CHALLENGE

Created in the aftermath of 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a ubiquitous site in airports today. Its systems and procedures are designed to keep passengers safe in the nation’s airports and throughout major transportation systems. With constantly changing technology and threat levels, the TSA needs to be flexible and innovative.  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel, but it reinforced TSA’s need to innovate to maintain security. Solutions and adjustments needed to happen fast. Adherence to existing policies and procedures wasn’t going to get the job done.

The TSA wanted a new approach – something to accelerate problem-solving and transform the agency, giving personnel the freedom to suggest and test innovations that would improve efficiencies for frontline security officers, as well as improve the passenger experience. The effort needed to be guided by a common framework and language so the 60,000 employees spread throughout the TSA would understand how to innovate, not just restate what needed to be done.

THE RESOLUTION

TSA Administrator David Pekoske appointed Chief Innovation Officer, Dan McCoy, to lead the effort. McCoy then turned to BMNT. Together, we created the TSA Innovation Doctrine, the first of its kind in the federal government – a living document that guides the actions of TSA staff without dictating how those actions must be taken.

The Doctrine includes an enterprise-level system for innovation that is repeatable and scalable to solve problems throughout the agency. The Innovation Pipeline ® provides a systematic approach to generate a steady flow of actionable and mission-focused ideas for testing and implementation.

The Doctrine also commits principles like small bets – allowing staff to identify problems and test low-risk, scalable solutions to determine what works best. This leads to rapid implementation, allowing TSA to quickly scale viable ideas to address the constantly changing threat landscape.

Finally, TSA is growing ecosystems of interconnected networks including public and private industry and organizations to co-evolve capabilities around a shared set of technologies and principles. 

The Innovation Doctrine is not just a license to re-imagine and solve problems as they arise, it is a permission slip to fail fast, to move closer to genuine solutions.

THE IMPACT: MORE TRUST, RAPID PROBLEM-SOLVING, ENHANCED SECURITY

Real-world applications quickly materialized. In 2022, TSA staff discovered 6,542 firearms during routine screenings. Most of those firearms were loaded, creating a serious threat to TSA officers, airport workers and passengers. When a firearm is found, checkpoints must close, lines get longer, and passengers are delayed. In 2023, TSA’s new Launchpad team used BMNT’s sprint model to address the issue. 

The team pulled in industry and subject matter experts and within 90 days the team developed two minimum viable products (MVPs) and one prototype, which is now being tested at Dallas Fort Worth airport by the local LIFT Cell.

Other innovation efforts are also underway, thanks to the TSA Innovation Doctrine:

Over 325 employees, ranging from frontline security officers to TSA leaders, received personalized innovation training. This helps employees identify, scope, and solve TSA challenges regardless of where they exist in the organization. Solutions are being developed locally at airports, like breakaway barriers for K-9 screening and Advanced Image Technology (ATI) officer interface improvements, and TSA leadership has the visibility they need to make accurate budget requests and invest those funds wisely. 

Over 60 LIFT Cells have been created at airports across the country to foster local innovation networks and accelerate real solution development. Guided by BMNT’s Innovation Pipeline ® LIFT Cells have curated hundreds of problems sourced directly from their airports, specifically their teammates. Teams at airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Helena Regional Airport in Montana (HLN) partnered with the local community, including working with high school robotics teams to 3D manufacture TSO needed faceshield during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The TSA Innovation Team has grown to reinforce the leadership’s commitment to enterprise-wide innovation support. Since the publication of the TSA Innovation Doctrine, the Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) team includes six full-time staff, several detailed programs, and executes approximately $2,500,000 to bring solutions to officers and passengers.

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Ready for more?

Welcome to the College of Communication & Information

Schools and colleges.

• College of Communication & Information
• School of Communication
• School of Information
• School of Communication Science & Disorders

Centers of Distinction

• Centers and Labs
• Garnet & Gold Scholar Society

News & Events

At college of communication & information, cci students judge middle and high school students at tsa state competition.

11 CCI students in STARS (Students & Technology in Academia, Research & Service) Alliance attended this year’s State Conference as judges. One of STARS Alliance’s goals as an organization is to educate and bring awareness to K-12 students about IT/computing education programs, careers, etc. Through events like the TSA State Conference, the members of FSU STARS help mentor the next generation of tech leaders in Florida. STARS president and Information Technology student Maggie Martin-McKinnie shared, “TSA is always my favorite trip we go on as STARS. There is so much passion for tech in these young leaders, and it is exciting to hear about how excited they are to learn more about technology. Many of the kids ask us about college as well, so we get to be advocates for FSU, specifically the College of Communication and Information.”

Stacci Smith who attended both the TSA Leadership Conference in the fall and the State Competition in the spring spoke about her experience, saying, “The most rewarding part was seeing so many inspirational and intelligent students create amazing and exciting projects across various STEM fields! Being able to witness these students present their projects has inspired me to be more innovative in my career in technology.”

CCI STARS students that attended this year’s TSA State Competition were: Maggie Martin-McKinnie, Itel Nagli, Betty Phipps, Ashari Penerton, Stacci Smith, Owen Van Lenten, Logan Wiggins, Ryan Surujballi, Thum Rangsiyawaranon, Jai Reed, and Khylle Valle.

CCI Hosts Research Day for Students, Faculty, and Staff

School of Communication Students Present at the Moore Agency

Technology Problem Solving

"participants use their skills in problem solving to develop a finite solution to a problem provided onsite.", for the connecticut state conference, this competition entails using materials both brought and provided to complete a given task to the best of one's ability within around two hours. only teams of two (2) may participate., items required for submission :, toolkit specified within the 2019-2020 competitive events guidelines.

The Ultimate Guide to Problem Solving in TSA Section 1

Written by: Matt Amalfitano-Stroud

Section 1 of the TSA is split into two major question types: Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. Problem Solving is an extremely general term, so what does it mean in regards to your admissions test? Let’s take a look at what you need to know in order to solve every problem in the TSA!

THE BASICS OF THE TSA

First things first, you’ll need to make sure you know everything about how the TSA works. Let’s take a minute to go over the basics of the exam so you’re prepared for the exam!

What is the TSA?

The Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) is a 90-minute – 2-hour long test that is used by the University of Oxford  and  University College London . It covers a large variety of subjects, from Psychology to PPE , so the content of the exam isn’t subject-specific .  

There are two Sections in the TSA, the 90-minute multiple-choice section (Section 1) and the 30-minute essay writing section (Section 2).

In Section 1 , you will have to answer a total of 50 questions based on two major principles , Problem Solving and Critical Thinking . Problem Solving involves numeracy-based questions while Critical Thinking tests your reading and deduction abilities .    

Section 2 asks you to write a short essay answering one of four available questions . These questions are very general and cover a wide variety of topics, including ethics, politics and current affairs. Your time is limited in this Section so your answer won’t be as extensive as a typical essay. Bear in mind that this section is only included in some versions of the TSA Oxford , meaning only certain Oxford applicants will need to complete this.  

TSA Structure

How is the TSA Scored?

Scoring for the TSA is quite unique compared to other. admissions tests. Both sections of the TSA have different marking schemes due to the variance in question type.  

Section 1 is marked by the examining body, Cambridge Assessment Admissions Testing . The process of marking involves taking the raw marks from the assessment and converting them into a score on a scale roughly between 1 and 100 , which will be your final result. This scale does not have a consistent conversion from year to year but is instead adjusted based on the difficulty of the paper .  

As an example of the scoring, here you can see the score distributions for the Oxford TSA for the 2023/24 admission cycle:

TSA Oxford Section 1 Scores 2024

TSA Oxford Section 1 Problem Solving Scores (2023)

As you can see here, the majority of applicants scored within the high 50’s and 60’s in the Problem Solving portion of the TSA.  

When is the TSA sat?

Applicants sitting the TSA Oxford will be taking the test in mid-October at an approved testing centre.

You will need to register for the TSA online, with registrations starting from September 1st. 

If you want to learn more about the TSA, check out our Definitive TSA Guide !

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TSA SECTION 1

Section 1 of the TSA isn’t especially complicated as far as exams go, but knowing what you can expect to find when you start the exam will be extremely beneficial for you. Let’s go over what Section 1 looks like and how it functions.  

Each Section of the TSA is housed on a separate paper if you’re taking the exam on physical paper, as it can also be done digitally. Either way, the exam paper is going to look very similar to this example:

There’s nothing here that should be especially mind-blowing to you, it’s a pretty standard test. There are, however, a couple of things that may catch you out, the main one of these being the question organisation .  

Some admissions tests will split different types of questions into subsections , but that isn’t the case here. All of the 50 questions are mixed together between Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, with no specific order between the two (although the specification states that the questions are roughly in ascending order of difficulty). This shouldn’t cause any major issues, but you will just need to remember that you’ll be constantly hopping between two different mindsets (don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds once you’ve gotten some practice).

As for the questions themselves, you’ll have five potential answers to pick from, which are labelled A – E . Some pages will contain two questions , while other pages will contain just one longer question.  

You will be able to do any working out or note-taking on the question paper. In fact, it’s recommended to do so as you will not be permitted any additional paper in the exam. You also won’t be allowed to bring in any additional resources , including calculators and dictionaries.  

TSA preparation can be daunting, but Exams.Ninja has the perfect solution!

The Exams.Ninja TSA Preparation Platform is ideal for any stage of your exam prep, from your first steps down to your last minute revision . There are tons of resources available to you instantly when you sign up, so create your free account  now to see how you can optimise your preparation!

THE ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR TSA PROBLEM SOLVING

Now it’s time to look at the skills you’re going to need to solve any problem the TSA throws at you. Spoiler alert: it’s going to involve maths!

We already touched on it briefly before, but Problem Solving questions within the TSA are all focused on testing your basic mathematical abilities . If you’re not currently studying mathematics, there’s no need to fret . The maths that’s required here won’t be any more taxing that the level you would have studied at GCSE or equivalents .  

The challenge in these questions doesn’t come from pure mathematics . Instead, they are testing your ability to use simple mathematics in practical, real-world scenarios . The question can involve anything from analysing train times to calculating postage costs.  

With that being said, you’re still going to be skilled in some areas of mathematics, so let’s go through the different disciplines you’ll need to revise, according to the TSA Specification :

Number Concepts

This is the most basic you can get with mathematics, but it’s still essential knowledge at the end of the day. The TSA is going to have plenty of questions surrounding fractions , percentages , decimals and place value , so you need to make sure you won’t be getting caught up at the first hurdle!

Numerical Operations

Again, this is extremely simple, but you’re going to need to know the “four number rules” , addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. As well as whole numbers, you’re also going to need to be able to use these basic functions in regards to fractions , decimals and percentages .  

These won’t be too complicated but imagine the kinds of calculations you would need to do in real life . For example, you’d need to be able to subtract a percentage of a whole number (or even a decimal number) in order to work out the cost of an item on sale, a scenario that could very well appear in the test!

On top of all this, you’re going to need to know how to calculate the average, or mean, of a collection of values:  

m = sum of the terms/total of terms

Units of Measurement

Many of the Problem Solving questions in the TSA will be based around one or more of these units . You will likely have encountered all of these frequently throughout your life, so the key knowing how to use them in a problem-solving context. These units are:

• Time and Dates (Minutes, Hours, Days, Months, Years)  
• Currency (the TSA will typically only use British Pounds unless otherwise stated)  
• Distance Measures (Kilometres, Meters, Centimetres)
• Weight Measures (Grams, Kilograms, Litres)  

Note that some questions may require you to work with other units , specifically distance and weight measurements that are outside of the metric system (inches, feet, tonnes and gallons). However, these questions will not require you to convert values between two different measurement systems.  

Space and Spatial Reasoning

You’re going to need a basic knowledge of geometry in some questions, starting with knowledge of the measurements for different aspects of a shape.

• Area – For example, a rectangle would be calculated by Area = Length x Width .
• Perimeter – For example, a rectangle would be calculated by Perimeter = (Length + Width) x 2 .
• Volume – For example, a cuboid would be calculated by Volume = Length x Width x Height .

You’re going to need to be able to use all three of these calculations , although the shape will usually be relatively simple. Trigonometry isn’t covered in the TSA specification.  

Tables and Graphs

Lastly is the ability to extract data from tables and graphs. The graphs used in the TSA may not be to scale , but the necessary data that you will need to collect from them will always be available in some form!

Exams.Ninja Tip 

If your current studies don’t heavily depend on maths, you’ll need to sharpen your skills ready for the TSA. Even though all of this knowledge may seem basic on paper, there’s a good chance you’ll have forgotten something since your last mathematics exam!

The best way to see if there are any gaps in your knowledge is to take a past paper . The TSA only covers mathematics to a GCSE level, so you won’t need to be taking a TMUA or MAT past paper! If you find that you’ve breezed through it with no issues, then great! You shouldn’t have any trouble tackling the maths included in the TSA. And if there were any areas that you struggled with, then it’s time to start revising!

Our TSA 6-Month Preparation Timeline fully explains how you can best use your time and resources before the exam, including when you should use past papers and practice questions!

As we said, this is all very basic stuff. But remember, the TSA isn’t a pure mathematics exam . Many questions in the test will require you to juggle several of these disciplines at the same time, all while trying to solve the problem based on the context of the scenario itself . These questions will have a lot more variables than a pure maths question, as well as more elements that are designed to catch you out.

Some questions will include irrelevant pieces of information that only serve to make you confused or create errors in your working out. The best way to avoid this is to thoroughly read through the question, data and available answers. These questions can catch you out, but only if you rush through them and pay no attention to the extra details that a TSA question can bring. When you pay attention, you won’t find it hard to pick out the relevant information and i gnore anything you don’t need .  

THE QUESTION TYPES OF TSA PROBLEM SOLVING

Most of the Problem Solving questions in Section 1 of the TSA can be split into three categories. Each one will be testing a different skill outside of pure mathematics, so let’s go over the three major question types and see how you can answer each one in the exam.  

Relevant Selection

This is something we’ve touched on already, but the TSA questions aren’t going to be as direct as your standard mathematical problem. These questions are designed to mimic real-world scenarios , which means they will have additional context and information . As we know, this information isn’t all going to be useful to us. In fact, it’s pretty uncommon that you’ll be given only what you need in both the TSA and real life!  

Therefore, some questions in the TSA specifically test your abilities to find the information relevant to you . These questions can take many forms, including graphs , lists and tables , but they all serve the same purpose of providing you with excess information that will not help you in solving the problem. You’re still going to need to solve a standard mathematical problem at the end of it all, but you’re going to need to cut through the rubbish and determine what you need before you can even think about finding the solution.  

There are a lot of questions to answer and only 90 minutes to get through them, so is there a fast method of doing this? Unfortunately, there isn’t really a shortcut to get to the answer quicker for these questions. We always say this, but reading through everything in the question is essential . It may feel like you’ve wasted time reading something that’s not useful, but rushing through the information provided will increase your chances of missing something you actually do need. If you lose the point because you’ve missed something vital, the entire time spent on that question will be wasted instead.  

Some of these questions will benefit from the process of elimination . For example, you may need to identify individuals from a table of data that meet several different criteria . Provided you’ve read the question first and know exactly what you’re looking for, you should be able to find out very quickly whether an individual meets the criteria or not. If just one criterion is not met according to the data, then that individual can be considered not applicable . This won’t work for every question, but it’s certainly a tactic that can help save a little bit of time .

Try out some practice questions on Relevant Selection here!

Finding Procedures

A typical TSA question isn’t going to explicitly state what kind of mathematical procedure you’re going to need to use to solve a problem. When you’re simply given a set of data and a question, it can be tricky to know where to begin , which is the point of these types of questions. Even if the actual calculations aren’t too difficult, the challenge here comes from knowing what you need to do .  

Since all of these questions are multiple-choice , you’re already at an advantage when you encounter this type of problem. After you’ve thoroughly read the question and answers, your next step is to find the link between the two . The question you need to ask yourself is, “How do I get this answer from the available information?” .

One way of solving this effectively is to work backwards from each answer. Even if your first attempt doesn’t match the question exactly, you will be able to tell if you’re using the right procedure if your result is close to what the question has asked. From there, it’s just a simple process of applying your procedure to each answer until you’ll find a solution that matches the question.  

Remember, the maths featured in the TSA isn’t particularly complex, so most of the procedures that you’re going to need to find will be covered in the “four number rules” . If you have no idea where to start on a question, try out some combinations of these four functions and see how close your solutions are to the potential answers.

Try out some practice questions on Finding Procedures here!

Identifying Similarity

These questions are going to test your ability to read and interpret data in multiple forms . The question may ask you to find a correlation between data or match two specific pieces of data together according to the context of the question, but the process for doing this will always require you to understand everything that is given to you .  

The first two things to do when answering these questions are to make sure to know exactly what the question is asking and then go through all of the data to get an understanding of what you’re dealing with. This type of question is going to be the biggest test of your data analysis skills , as you’re going to need to be able to both identify and work with specific pieces of data from what you’ve been given. When taking into account that there are two different types of data presented in two different formats , you’re also going to need to be able to convert data into one universal format that will fit both pieces together in order to find the solution to the problem.  

Throughout the exam, you’ll see plenty of visual elements within the questions, including graphs and tables . These are already very handy on their own, but you can get even more use out of them by using them in your notes . Remember, the question paper doesn’t get seen by the examiner and has no effect on your marks , so you might as well use the space for your rough work!  

In a sense, these questions can be seen as a combination of the first two question types, as you’ll be needing to find similarities in data and then figure out the procedure needed to give you your answer from them. This, combined with the fact that you’re working with two different types of data, may make these questions seem far more difficult than the others! But in reality, the data you’ll be working with is often much less extensive than other questions, meaning your search for what you need shouldn’t be too hard . The challenge here doesn’t come from looking for data but from understanding all of the data that you’re given.

Try out some practice questions on Identifying Similarities here!

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TSA PROBLEM SOLVING PRACTICE QUESTIONS

With your newfound knowledge of the different Problem Solving question types, it’s now time to have a go at a few examples. Try out our TSA style questions here and then check your answer and method with our worked solutions.  

Relevant Selection Practice Que stion 1

My hairdresser charges £30 for a haircut, £50 for a cut and blow-dry, and £60 for a full hair dye. They also do manicures, of which the first costs £15, and includes a bottle of nail polish, but are subsequently reduced by £5 if I bring my bottle of polish. The price is reduced by 10% if I book and pay for the next 5 appointments in advance, and by 15% if I book at least the next 10.

I want to pay for my next 5 cut and blow-dry appointments, as well as for my next 3 manicures. How much will it cost?

The correct answer is C

Bear in mind that the information regarding full hair dyes and 15% reductions is not relevant to the question.

Paying for my next 5 appointments will cost £50 per appointment before accounting for the 10% reduction, hence the cost counting the deduction is £45 per appointment.

So the total for 4 appointments = 5 x £45 = £225 for the hair. Then add £15 for the first manicure and £10 x 2 for the subsequent manicures using the same bottle of polish, bringing an overall total of £260.  

Relevant Selection Practice Que stion 2

Alex is buying a new bed and mattress. There are 5 bed shops Alex can buy the bed and mattress he wants from, each of which sells the bed and mattress for a different price as follows:

• Bed Shop A: Bed £120, Mattress £70
• Bed Shop B: All beds and mattresses £90 each
• Bed Shop C: Bed £140, Mattress £60. Mattress half price when you buy a bed and mattress together.
• Bed Shop D: Bed £140, Mattress £100. Get 1/3 off when you buy a bed and mattress together.
• Bed Shop E: Bed £175. All beds come with a free mattress.  

Which is the cheapest bed shop for Alex to buy the bed and mattress from?

The correct answer is D

We can work out the Answer by considering each option:  

Bed Shop A: £120 + £70 = £190  

Bed Shop B: £90 + £90 = £180  

Bed Shop C: £140 + (1/2 x £60) = £170  

Bed Shop D: (2/3) x (£140+£100) = (2/3) x (£240) = £160  

Bed Shop E: £175  

Therefore the cheapest is Bed Shop D.  

Relevant Selection Practice Que stion 3

Some of the information is missing from the above table. What is the rate of girls’ absenteeism at Hurlington Academy?

The correct answer is D.

We can first work out the rate of girls’ absenteeism. First we need to work out how many of the pupils at Heather Park Academy and Holland Wood Comprehensive are girls. Let g be the number of girls in Heather Park Academy. Then 0.06(g)+0.05(1000-g)=(1000)(0.056). Then 0.06g-0.05g=56-50. Then 0.01g=6, so g = 600. Hence 600 pupils at Heather Park Academy are girls. The proportions at Holland Wood Comprehensive are the same but there are half as many pupils, so 900 pupils at the two schools combined are girls.  

The average absenteeism of girls is 6.1%. We know that 900 of the 1100 girls have an average absenteeism rate of 6%. Let the average absenteeism rate of girls at Hurlington Academy be r. Then 900 x 0.06 +200r = 0.07×1100. Hence 54+200r=77. 77-54 = 200r. 23/200 = r. r=0.115. Hence, the rate of absenteeism amongst girls at Hurlington Academy is 11.5%.  

Finding Procedures Practice Que stion 1

Jim washes windows for pocket money. Washing a window takes two minutes. Between one house and the next, it takes Jim 15 minutes to pack up, walk to the next house and get ready to start washing again. Each resident pays Jim £3 per house, regardless of how many windows the house has. In one day, Jim washes 8 houses, with an average of 11 windows per house.  

What is his equivalent hourly pay rate?  

The correct answer is C.  

First, calculate the total pay and then divide this by the number of hours Jim works for an hourly rate.

Total pay = 3 x 8 = £24; total time = (11 x 8 x 2) + (15 x 7) = 281 minutes = 4.68 hours. 24/4.68= £5.12 [the total time is equal to the number of windows in total multiplied by the time taken to clean each window, plus the time travelling between the houses, which is 15 multiplied by the 7 journeys required].  

Finding Procedures Practice Que stion 2

The last 4 digits of my card number are 2 times my PIN number, plus 200. The last 4 digits of my husband’s card number are the last four digits of my card number doubled, plus 200. My husband’s PIN number is 2 times the last 4 digits of his card number, plus 200.

Given that all these numbers are 4 digits long, whole numbers, and cannot begin with 0, what is the largest number my PIN number can be?

The correct answer is A.

We know the husband’s PIN number must be divisible by 8 because it has been multiplied by 2 3 times and had a multiple of 8 added to it.

The largest 4 digit number which is divisible by 8 is 9992. Minus 200 is 9792. Divide by 2 is 4896. Hence the largest the husband’s last 4 card digits can be is 4896.

Minus 200 is 4696. Divide by 2 is 2348. Hence the largest my last 4 card digits can be is 2348. Minus 200 is 2148. Divide by 2 is 1074. Hence the largest my PIN number can be is 1074.

Finding Procedures Practice Que stion 3

Hannah is buying tiles for her new bathroom. She wants to use the same tiles on the floor and all 4 walls, and for all the walls to be completely tiled apart from the door. The bathroom is 2.4 metres high, 2 metres wide and 2 metres long, and the door is 2 metres high, 80cm wide and at the end of one of the 4 identical walls. The tiles she wants to use are 40cm x 40cm.  

How many of these tiles does she need to tile the whole bathroom?

The correct answer is C.

For each of the walls where there is no door, the wall is 6 tiles high and 5 tiles wide, which is 30 tiles. The wall where the door is requires a row of 2 tiles above the door, then there is a width of wall of 120cm which requires completely tiling, which is 6 tiles high and 3 tiles wide, hence this wall requires a total of 20 tiles. Hence a total of 110 tiles are required for the walls. The floor is 2 metres by 2 metres, so 5 tiles by 5 tiles, hence 25 tiles are required for the floor. Hence the answer is 135.  

Identifying Similarity Practice Question 1

The set two maths teacher is trying to work out who needs to be moved up to set one and who to award a certificate at the end of term. The students must fulfil certain criteria:

Who would move up a set and who would receive a certificate?

A) Bahara would move up a set and receive a certificate.

B) Bahara and Lucy would move up a set and Bahara would receive a certificate.

C) Bahara, Terry, and Lucy would move up a set and Bahara and Shiv would receive a certificate. D) Lucy would move up a set and Bahara would receive a certificate.  

E) Lucy would move up a set and Bahara and Terry would receive a certificate.

The correct answer is B.

Firstly, determine who will move up to set one. Terry, Bahara, Lucy, and Shiv all have attendance over 95%. Alex, Bahara, and Lucy all have an average test mark over 92. Terry, Bahara, Lucy, and Shiv all have less than 5% homework handed in late. Therefore, Bahara and Lucy will both move up a set.

Secondly, determine who will receive a certificate. Terry, Bahara, Lucy, and Shiv have absences below 4%. Alex, Bahara, and Lucy have an average test mark over 89. Bahara and Shiv have at least 98% homework handed in on time.

Therefore, only Bahara will receive a certificate.  

Identifying Similarity Practice Question 2

The graph above shows item pricing from a wholesaler. The wholesaler is happy to deliver for a cost of £35 to companies or £5 to individuals. Any order over the cost of £100 qualifies for free delivery. Items are defined as how they come to the wholesaler, therefore 1 item = 2 rugby balls or 1 football or 5 tennis balls.

What is the total cost to an individual purchasing 12 rugby balls and 120 tennis balls?

The correct answer is A.  

Begin by converting all the quantities into terms of items as that is the terminology used on the graph axis. Therefore 12 rugby balls = 6 items and 120 tennis balls = 24 items. Reading from the graph reveals their respective prices as £9 and £5.

Therefore, the total cost of products in the order is (6 x 9) + (24 x 5) = 174. Since this is significantly more than £100, the delivery charge is waived.  

Identifying Similarity Practice Question 3

The table above shows the goal scoring record of teams in a football tournament. Each team plays the other teams twice, once at home and once away. Here are the results of the first four matches:

• United 2 – 2 City
• Rovers 0 – 3 City  
• City 2 – 1 Rovers
• Rovers 0 – 3 United

What were the results of the final two fixtures?

A) United 2 – 0 Rovers, City 0 – 0 United

B) United 1 – 0 Rovers, City 1 – 1 United

C) United 0 – 0 Rovers, City 2 – 1 United

D) United 1 – 0 Rovers, City 2 – 2 United

E) United 2 – 0 Rovers, City 3 – 1 United

The correct answer is E.

In Rovers’ first 3 games, they have scored 1 goal and had 8 goals scored against them. In total they scored 1 goal and had 10 goals scored against them, so they must have lost their last game against United 2-0.  

In City’s first 3 games, they scored 7 goals and had 3 goals scored against them. In total they scored 10 goals and had 4 goals scored against them. Hence they must have won their game against United 3-1. Hence the answer is E.  

There are going to be  even more TSA practice questions on Exams.Ninja soon, so keep an eye out!

So there you have it! You should now be able to go into Section 1 of the TSA with the confidence that you’re prepared for every kind of problem it wants you to solve! That’s not to say that you shouldn’t prepare for something unexpected , there are times when the test will throw you a question that doesn’t quite fit into any of these categories. However, these are usually pretty straightforward problems, such as pattern identification , probability or simple equations . As long you’ve prepared your mathematical knowledge to the best of your ability, you shouldn’t have any issues getting a great score!

Remember, Problem Solving is only half the story . If you want to learn more about the Critical Thinking portion of Section 1, check out our Definitive Guide now!

Oxford TSA Results 2023 – The Definitive Guide to your TSA Score

Tsa section 2: the definitive guide to section 2 of the tsa 2024, tsa preparation: your 6-month tsa preparation timeline, the definitive guide to tsa section 1: critical thinking, your definitive guide to choosing ecaa or tsa.

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Transforming Problem-Solving Within the TSA

When the Transportation Security Administration needed a way to accelerate problem-solving, they turned to BMNT for help. The result was the first-ever Innovation Doctrine in federal government.

The Challenge

Created in the aftermath of 9/11, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a ubiquitous site in airports today. Its systems and procedures are designed to keep passengers safe in the nation’s airports and throughout major transportation systems. With constantly changing technology and threat levels, the TSA needs to be flexible and innovative.  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted air travel, but it reinforced TSA’s need to innovate to maintain security. Solutions and adjustments needed to happen fast. Adherence to existing policies and procedures wasn’t going to get the job done.

The TSA wanted a new approach – something to accelerate problem-solving and transform the agency, giving personnel the freedom to suggest and test innovations that would improve efficiencies for frontline security officers, as well as improve the passenger experience. The effort needed to be guided by a common framework and language so the 60,000 employees spread throughout the TSA would understand how to innovate, not just restate what needed to be done.

The Resolution

TSA Administrator David Pekoske appointed Chief Innovation Officer, Dan McCoy, to lead the effort. McCoy then turned to BMNT. Together, we created the TSA Innovation Doctrine, the first of its kind in the federal government – a living document that guides the actions of TSA staff without dictating how those actions must be taken.

The Doctrine includes an enterprise-level system for innovation that is repeatable and scalable to solve problems throughout the agency. The Innovation Pipeline ® provides a systematic approach to generate a steady flow of actionable and mission-focused ideas for testing and implementation.

The Doctrine also commits principles like small bets – allowing staff to identify problems and test low-risk, scalable solutions to determine what works best. This leads to rapid implementation, allowing TSA to quickly scale viable ideas to address the constantly changing threat landscape.

Finally, TSA is growing ecosystems of interconnected networks including public and private industry and organizations to co-evolve capabilities around a shared set of technologies and principles. 

The Innovation Doctrine is not just a license to re-imagine and solve problems as they arise, it is a permission slip to fail fast, to move closer to genuine solutions.

The Impact: MORE TRUST, RAPID PROBLEM-SOLVING, ENHANCED SECURITY

Real-world applications quickly materialized. In 2022, TSA staff discovered 6,542 firearms during routine screenings. Most of those firearms were loaded, creating a serious threat to TSA officers, airport workers and passengers. When a firearm is found, checkpoints must close, lines get longer, and passengers are delayed. In 2023, TSA’s new Launchpad team used BMNT’s sprint model to address the issue. 

The team pulled in industry and subject matter experts and within 90 days the team developed two minimum viable products (MVPs) and one prototype, which is now being tested at Dallas Fort Worth airport by the local LIFT Cell.

Other innovation efforts are also underway, thanks to the TSA Innovation Doctrine:

• Over 325 employees, ranging from frontline security officers to TSA leaders, received personalized innovation training. This helps employees identify, scope, and solve TSA challenges regardless of where they exist in the organization. Solutions are being developed locally at airports, like breakaway barriers for K-9 screening and Advanced Image Technology (ATI) officer interface improvements, and TSA leadership has the visibility they need to make accurate budget requests and invest those funds wisely. 
• Over 60 LIFT Cells have been created at airports across the country to foster local innovation networks and accelerate real solution development. Guided by BMNT’s Innovation Pipeline ® LIFT Cells have curated hundreds of problems sourced directly from their airports, specifically their teammates. Teams at airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Helena Regional Airport in Montana (HLN) partnered with the local community, including working with high school robotics teams to 3D manufacture TSO needed faceshield during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The TSA Innovation Team has grown to reinforce the leadership’s commitment to enterprise-wide innovation support. Since the publication of the TSA Innovation Doctrine, the Chief Innovation Officer (CINO) team includes six full-time staff, several detailed programs, and executes approximately $2,500,000 to bring solutions to officers and passengers.

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FAA lifts temporary ground stop of Alaska Airlines flights after technical issue is resolved

The Federal Aviation Administration lifted a ground stop for all Alaska Airlines flights Wednesday after grounding the planes earlier as a result of a computer problem at the carrier.

The Seattle-based airline said in a statement that an issue arose “while performing an upgrade to the system that calculates our weight and balance.”

The FAA initially approved a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon flights starting at approximately 10:50 a.m. ET.

It was lifted just before 11:45 a.m. ET.

It wasn't immediately clear how many flights were affected. An Alaska spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.

Collaborative Robotics is prioritizing ‘human problem solving’ over humanoid forms

Humanoids have sucked a lot of the air out of the room. It is, after all, a lot easier to generate press for robots that look and move like humans. Ultimately, however, both the efficacy and scalability of such designs have yet to be proven out. For a while now, Collaborative Robotics founder Brad Porter has eschewed robots that look like people. Machines that can potentially reason like people, however, is another thing entirely.

As the two-year-old startup’s name implies, Collaborative Robotics (Cobot for short) is interested in the ways in which humans and robots will collaborate, moving forward. The company has yet to unveil its system, though last year, Porter told me that the “novel cobot” system is neither humanoid nor a mobile manipulator mounted to the back of an autonomous mobile robot (AMR).

The system has, however, begun to be deployed in select sites.

“Getting our first robots in the field earlier this year, coupled with today’s investment, are major milestones as we bring cobots with human-level capability into the industries of today,” Porter says. “We see a virtuous cycle where more robots in the field lead to improved AI and a more cost-effective supply chain.”

Further deployment will be helped along by a fresh $100 million Series B, led by General Catalyst and featuring Bison Ventures, Industry Ventures and Lux Capital. That brings the Bay Area firm’s total funding up to $140 million. General Catalyst’s Teresa Carlson is also joining the company in an advisory role.

Cobot has the pedigree, as well, with staff that includes former Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, NASA and Waymo employees. Porter himself spent more than 13 years at Amazon. When his run with the company ended in summer 2020, he was leading the retail giant’s industrial robotics team.

Amazon became one of the world’s top drivers and consumer of industrial robotics during that time, and the company’s now ubiquitous AMRs stand as a testament to the efficiency of pairing human and robot workers together.

AI will, naturally, be foundational to the company’s promise of “human problem solving,” while the move away from the humanoid form factor is a bid, in part, to reduce the cost of entry for deploying these systems.