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A cause for robotics celebration

17/04/2015
Robots did battle at Middlesex University this week when the national final of a robotics competition came to the campus in Hendon and saw two Middlesex teams take the top spots.  

Middlesex teams scoop top places in robotics UK finals
Robots did battle at Middlesex University this week when the national final of a robotics competition came to the campus in Hendon and saw two Middlesex teams take the top spots.

Teams of students taking part UK finals of the ‘Eurobot’ competition were tasked with designing, building and programming robots to compete against others.  Each team had to programme their robots to complete a number of birthday celebration related tasks such as opening presents and blowing up balloons.

Design Engineering students from Middlesex University competed against students from Imperial College, London, in the contest open to young people from across the UK.  Middlesex University students John Peerless and Ravi Ravi scooped first place, while Middlesex’s Calum Knott and Zelbane Abdelati came second with Imperial College, London in third place.

The top three teams have won a place at the international finals to be held in La Ferte Bernard, France, from 9 May to 12 May 2013, where they will be pitted against the best teams from across the globe.

Middlesex University Technical Tutor Michael Heeney said: “All of the students showed passion and determination to build the best possible robot for the competition.  All of the teams worked incredibly hard to design and build not only a working robot for the competition, but also a strategy to take them to the World Finals.  I’m delighted about the Middlesex win and particularly for Ravi who wanted to defend his title from last year, after scooping top prize in the 2012 UK final.”Eurobot 2 2013

Student Zelbane Abdelati who also came second in the competition said: “We entered the competition in 2012 and it was great fun, so we knew the type of things to expect this year.  However, we’ve been completing the project on top of our normal work, so it’s been really busy with some very long days spent on our robot.”

Student Calum Knott from Cockfosters said: “The programming and strategy was the most challenging part of the competition, but we really enjoyed the international finals last year, so worked hard to get through.  We’re looking forward to the finals in France now!”

Photos:

Top: The Eurobot competition held at Middlesex University

Bottom: Middlesex students Zelbane Abdelati (left) and Calum Knott with their robot

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