Mechatronics students win IMechE National Design Challenge
Mechatronics students win IMechE National Design Challenge
13/10/2016
A team of first year BEng Mechatronics students are winners of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers’ National Design Challenge competition
The mechatronics students with their Line Launcher and the trophy
Mantas Zadeika, Tommy Arno and Thomas Maund, all students on the BEng Mechatronics degree at Middlesex University, have been declared winners of IMechE’s third National Design Challenge.
The team from Middlesex reached the national final after winning the Greater London regional heat in April.
Teams were required to build a device for firing a rope from one ship to another at sea, known as a Line Launcher, but on a smaller scale for indoor use. A miniature firing range was set up at IMechE’s headquarters to test the accuracy of each entry.
“I appreciate the great support from both the staff and my colleagues. This along with the fact that we have access to some great facilities here at Middlesex proved to be a great aid in our win,” Tommy Arno, BEng Mechatronics student
Mantas, Tommy and Thomas rose to the challenge and their device comfortably beat launchers from the five other universities who made it to the final.
Tommy says he and his teammates are proud they were able to win the competition at the national level.
“It feels great to have won the IMechE competition. Having spent many hours working on our launcher, it's nice that all our hard work has paid off and we have come away with a win.
“Being exposed to a project and competition like this has proven to be an invaluable experience. The team-working skills and ability to work under pressure are traits that will be of great benefit to us during the rest of our studies and working lives.”
Preparing the device to launch
Dr Aleksandar Zivanovic, Technical Tutor for BEng and MEng Mechatronics degrees, says that all students on design engineering courses at Middlesex are encouraged to enter the IMechE Design Challenge as part of their course. The challenge gives the students an ideal opportunity to put what they’re learning into practice.
“The competition required our students to follow the complete design engineering process, from conception through design and implementation to operation. They worked really hard as a team to develop their device and were successful on the day,” says Dr Zivanovic.
“The experience will stand them in good stead as they develop their design engineering careers.”
Mechatronics students win IMechE National Design Challenge
Mantas Zadeika, Tommy Arno and Thomas Maund, all students on the BEng Mechatronics degree at Middlesex University, have been declared winners of IMechE’s third National Design Challenge.
The team from Middlesex reached the national final after winning the Greater London regional heat in April.
Teams were required to build a device for firing a rope from one ship to another at sea, known as a Line Launcher, but on a smaller scale for indoor use. A miniature firing range was set up at IMechE’s headquarters to test the accuracy of each entry.
Mantas, Tommy and Thomas rose to the challenge and their device comfortably beat launchers from the five other universities who made it to the final.
Tommy says he and his teammates are proud they were able to win the competition at the national level.
“It feels great to have won the IMechE competition. Having spent many hours working on our launcher, it's nice that all our hard work has paid off and we have come away with a win.
“Being exposed to a project and competition like this has proven to be an invaluable experience. The team-working skills and ability to work under pressure are traits that will be of great benefit to us during the rest of our studies and working lives.”
Dr Aleksandar Zivanovic, Technical Tutor for BEng and MEng Mechatronics degrees, says that all students on design engineering courses at Middlesex are encouraged to enter the IMechE Design Challenge as part of their course. The challenge gives the students an ideal opportunity to put what they’re learning into practice.
“The competition required our students to follow the complete design engineering process, from conception through design and implementation to operation. They worked really hard as a team to develop their device and were successful on the day,” says Dr Zivanovic.
“The experience will stand them in good stead as they develop their design engineering careers.”
Find out more about design engineering courses at Middlesex.