Institution news
Taking place each year, the Design Challenge lays down the gauntlet for undergraduate engineers, students at UTC (University Technical College), or those studying an engineering- related sciences course to design, build, and demonstrate a device to a strict specification.
Designed to complement their academic studies with a fun and practical engineering project with a relatively low bar to entry, the Design Challenge is a key part of the Institution’s strategy to develop the pipeline of future engineering talent and engages with hundreds of students each year.
For 2025, teams were tasked to design and build a device that simulates an autonomous robotic charging device and mimics industrial vehicles with hot swap battery charging capability, with a focus on automatic connection and disconnection. The device represents more complicated vehicles already being developed in industry, such as automated stacking machines and robots for warehouse environments.
The competing device must be capable of undertaking a repeatable movement along a straight line on a horizontal track and meet other requirements for time, accuracy, autonomy and more. While the total cost of components and operating requirements are fairly strict, this year’s specification enables students to use a wide variety of materials and locomotion for horizontal movement, including wheels, walking, sliding, jumping, and rolling.
Finalists taking part this year include:
Advanced Class:
- Affinity - Sheffield Hallam University
- FrozOhm - Bournemouth University
- SUA1 - Swansea University
- RGU Mechanizers - Robert Gordon University
- UCLAN 1 - University of Central Lancashire
- Admans Plug - University East London
Foundation Class:
- Krypton - Bournemouth & Poole College
- Spare Tyre Squad - Bournemouth University
- SUF1 - Swansea University
- DMEM - University of Strathclyde
- MMU1 - Manchester Metropolitan Uni
- UCL Team A - University College London
- UCL Team B - University College London
Alongside a practical demonstration of their device, students will also be assessed on their written reports and justifying the engineering decisions behind their choices in designing and creating their device before the announcement of the champions will be made.
For all students looking to take part in the next Challenge cycle, which will open for registration in late October, the 2026 specification has already been announced and is available on the Design Challenge website.
On behalf of the Design Challenge organising committee and IMechE, we wish all finalists the very best in their preparations for the competition.