A group of Year 9 students took part in the ‘RIAT on the Road 2023 Space Engineering Challenge’. Students were asked to design and build a communication structure that could be used to send a message from Mars. Design specifications meant that the structure had to fit requirements which included; creating a free standing structure, at least 500mm high; the robot had to move automatically from the start position and activate the satellite system; and the electrical power source needed to be stored within the structure.

Teams; Donut Ask, Abliviate; Big Ben, Technical Difficulties and Team Freddie, assigned roles for each team member and spent the day designing and creating their solution to the challenge.

Judged by Rob and Claire from STEMWorks and Bert from Lockheed Martin, teams were given marks for; use of electrical and mechanical systems; quality of structure; program solutions and reliability; and performance of the final solution including their team presentation. Well done to all of the teams involved, your solutions were fantastic! Congratulations to the overall winners, team ‘Big Ben’, who will go onto the finals at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford on July 15.

Thank you to Rob and Claire at STEMWorks and Bert from Lockheed Martin.