Teams from seven Chicago-area high schools competed in Argonne National Laboratory's 16th annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest at the Chicago Children's Museum. Participants were required to build a machine that takes at least 20 steps to water a plant.
Maine Township High School South team from Park Ridge took the top prize with a carnival-themed machine.
The Maine South invention had 60 steps. Among other component parts, the students used a bicycle wheel, pulleys, an air tank, a Ferris wheel, a log flume, go-karts and a carousel.
Friday's competition was held at the Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier. The winners now advance to the national championship next month at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich.
The team now goes to the national championship in Michigan next month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
