Home Automation Challenge 2018 launches in November

Are you currently a UK-based apprentice? Enticed by the chance to compete against the best and brightest across the UK in a free to enter competition….with a £2,000 prize!

The Institution will launch the 4th annual Home Automation Challenge in early November. This year, for the first time the competition will be open to international teams. As the institution’s leading apprentice competition, the challenge provides a brilliant opportunity for talented apprentices from across the globe to compete in an innovative design and manufacturing competition to improve an everyday home or garden device.

Teams of apprentices from businesses, colleges and training providers of engineering and manufacturing technologies are invited to participate irrespective of their current year of study. 

What is the challenge? 

Participating teams are required to design and manufacture a device to automate an everyday home or garden related task, the only restriction being the participant’s imagination.. Teams must demonstrate engineering competence through carrying out the following:

• Design a product and prototype a working model; 
• Provide a design specification, manufacturing instructions and user manual; 
• Provide a business case for the mass production and sale of the product.

Products will be marked based on a 50/50 grading of your final prototype and report.

Why get involved? 

As well as being free to enter, the challenge provides real-life experience of the entire cycle of designing and manufacturing a prototype. Teams will develop key manufacturing and engineering skills alongside business and soft skills that will enhance their future in an engineering career.

Where and when does it take place?

The Home Automation Challenge will take place at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry in July 2018. 

Assessment deadlines 

• Registration opens: 1 November 2017
• Register interest deadline: 15 December 2017
• Registration close: 12 January 2018
• Team report deadline: 28 May 2018
• Finals competition and award ceremony: July 2018

Further information

• Find out more and register to take part: www.imeche.org/hac
• Sponsorship opportunities are also available.