The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is delighted to announce that teams of up to six students from universities and university technical colleges (UTCs) can register to take part in Design Challenge 2025. Teams will be designing, building and testing a device to simulate an autonomous robotic charging device; much like autonomous electric charging connectors for impaired users, or industrial vehicles with hot swap battery charging capability, with a key focus on automatic connection and disconnection.
To register your team, simply complete the registration form on the Design Challenge website, download the 2025 competition documents and gather your team to start designing your autonomous robotic charging device!
The competing device should be capable of doing a repeatable task in straight line, on a track laid horizontally. The device can be of any construction and propulsion method, limited only by cost, and size, within the specification detailed in this document and the associated “IMechE Design Challenge – General Specification 2025”. The device can be based on any moving technology that has contact with the horizontal surface, such as wheeled, walking, sliding, jumping, or rolling.
Participants will use their engineering knowledge on a project where they design and manufacture an autonomous robotic charging 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.
Carrying on from 2024 to the 2025 competition cycle, students from university technical colleges (UTCs) are invited to compete in the Foundation Class (formerly known as the First Year Competition) alongside students in the first year of their undergraduate degree.
Additionally, the Advanced Class (formerly known as the Second Year Competition) is 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.
There will also be a Concept class which will be open to all entrants up to the first year of their undergraduate degree (full details to follow). We will be running a series of webinars throughout 2025, which will be accessible to all entrants to help maximise your chances of success.
For any further details on the competition, please visit the Design Challenge website or email the team directly with your questions and on behalf of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the organising committee, we look forward to welcoming all teams for the start of the 2025 Design Challenge.