The 2024 Design Challenge Regional Finals saw teams of up to six students from universities and university technical colleges (UTCs) undertake the task of designing and building a repeatable vehicle which represents the first stages of a robotic vehicle that could be used for materials handling purposes.
The device can be of any construction and propulsion method, limited only by cost and size. This will help develop the participants’ practical skills and enable them to gain valuable experience of working on a real-world project in the process.
Participants used their engineering knowledge on a project where they design and manufacture a device, develop their business and technical expertise when they are put to the test through various challenges: poster, presentation, design review, design excellence and main challenge.
The Design Challenge 2024 Regional Finals saw students from university technical colleges (UTCs) competing in the Foundation Class (formerly known as the First Year Competition) alongside students in the first year of their undergraduate degree. Meanwhile the Advanced Class (formerly known as the Second Year Competition) is now open to any student wishing to participate, from UTC to the final year of an undergraduate degree. Mixed-year teams from the same educational establishment are welcome. In addition, teams also competed in the Concept class which is open to all entrants up to the first year of their undergraduate degree.
Welsh Regional Final (17 April 2024, Swansea University) – Hosted by Will Newton, Programme Director of Mechanical Engineering, Swansea University; Chair of the Welsh Region IMechE Design Challenge
In the Foundation (open to first-year university students) and Advanced (open to second-year university students) classes, Swansea University teams ‘2’ and ‘A’ were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final which will be taking place on 11 October at One Birdcage Walk, London.
Welsh Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation and Advanced
Greater London Regional Final (22-23 April 2024, London South Bank University) – Hosted by Elisa Puccinelli, Chair of the Greater London Region IMechE Design Challenge
In the Foundation and Advanced classes, University College London teams ‘A’ and ‘C’ were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
Greater London Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation and Advanced
North West Regional Final (24 April 2024, Manchester Metropolitan University) – Hosted by Tom Armstrong, Senior Lecturer, Department of Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Manchester team ‘1’ (Foundation class) and the University of Central Lancashire team ‘Advanced’ (Advanced class) were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
North West Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation and Advanced
Wessex Regional Final (26 April 2024, University of Portsmouth) – Hosted by Antigoni Barouni, Senior Lecturer in Material and Manufacturing (Composite Materials); IMechE Academic Liaison Officer for University of Portsmouth School of Mechanical Engineering
Poole & Bournemouth College team ‘Saturn’ (Concept class), Bournemouth University’s team ‘Rusteez’ (Foundation class) and team ‘Megatron’ (Advanced class) were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
Wessex Regional Final individual category and overall results – Concept
Wessex Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation
Wessex Regional Final individual category and overall results – Advanced
North East Regional Final (2 May 2024, Teesside University) – Hosted by Dipal Patel, Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Manufacturing Engineering, Teesside University
Sunderland University team ‘1’ (Foundation class) ended up as the overall winners of the Design Challenge 2024 North East Regional Final and progress to the Foundation class category of the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
North East Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation
Scottish Regional Final (29 May 2024, Robert Gordon University) – Hosted by Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu, Principal Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, Robert Gordon University
Strathclyde University team ‘Big Wheel’ (Foundation class) and Robert Gordon University team ‘RGU Mechanizers’ (Advanced class) were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
Scottish Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation and Advanced
Yorkshire Regional Final (30 May 2024, University of Leeds) – Hosted by Andrew Jackson, Lecturer, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds
Sheffield Hallam University team ‘Sheffield Hallam’ (Foundation class) and University of Leeds team ‘SMAART’ (Advanced class) were the overall winners of their respective competition classes and they progress to the Design Challenge 2024 National Final.
Yorkshire Regional Final individual category and overall results – Foundation
Yorkshire Regional Final individual category and overall results – Advanced
