Teams of school students from around the country competed in a robotics challenge involving space missions at an event hosted by the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science.
The Tomorrow’s Engineers Elite Engineering Programme (EEP) Robotics Challenge was one of nine regional heats and took place on 7 June with teams aged 11 to 14 aiming for a place at the national finals in Coventry on 23 June.
The competition, organised by EngineeringUK, encourages students to learn how to build, program and control autonomous LEGO robots to complete a series of space missions.
Harris Academy Bromley came out overall winners on the day, Cardinal Pole RC School won the Robot Challenge, St Thomas More Language College won Robot Design, Dormers Wells High School won Teamwork and The Rochester Grammar School won the Project award.
Kok Ho Huen, from the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, said: “It was an amazing day. I’m always impressed by the ability of the students to organize themselves in a professional manner but it’s even more impressive when there are such a large collective of them competing together. I think the students had a great time and took away new experiences and skills, this made the day a great success. All students fully engaged with all aspects of the competition. It was smiles all round at the exciting prize giving finale!”
The Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge introduces student teams to real-world engineering, technology, robotics and computing challenges. The challenge aims to help students put their school learning into context and discover exciting new careers.
Chief Executive of EngineeringUK Paul Jackson said: “In order to meet the country’s demand for engineers we need to double the number of graduates and apprentices entering the engineering industry.
“Programmes such as the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge aim to help young people from all backgrounds understand the variety, excitement and opportunity presented by a career in engineering.”
For more information on the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge please visit www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/robotics.