MathWorks hosts student robot challenge

18 March 2013

With growing calls from the UK’s engineering and technology industries to encourage more STEM students to learn hands-on programming skills and to leave university better prepared to solve real world engineering problems, a robot contest in Cambridge last Friday was a fun example of how MathWorks, together with University of Cambridge students, are teaming up to help enhance the academic experience.

MathWorks hosted the Student Robot Challenge at its new offices in Cambridge. Nine teams from the University of Cambridge participated in the contest, including students from engineering, science and maths disciplines. The challenge was to program a robot that could complete a navigational task using MATLAB and Simulink, applying theory and skills learned in the classroom to the real world.

  • The winners of the MathWorks Student Robot Challenge were Team MatLads, whose members were Richard Peach, and Wesley Wroe – their robot, Hawking, completed the course in a record time of 1m:39s:07ms.
  • In second place were Team QED-grad, whose members were Oliver Armitage, Henry Cathcart, Emil Hewage and Mark Varley – their robot Dirac completed the course in a time of 1m:41s:03ms.
  • In third place were Team CCA, whose members were Rob Hocking, Henry Jackson, Parousia Rockstroh and Tom Begley – their robot Newton completed the course in a time of 1m:44:5ms.

Each member of the first placed team was awarded a Google Nexus 7. Prizes were also awarded to the second and third placed teams. The judging was carried out by an experienced team of MathWorks engineers who awarded points for correctly completing a series of navigational tasks within the set time.

Professor Jan Maciejowski, Head of the Information Engineering Division at the University of Cambridge, said, “The MathWorks Simulink Robot Challenge is a great example of how we’re working with industry to help prepare students effectively for their future careers. Integrating industry standard tools such as MATLAB and Simulink and teaching skills such as Model-Based Design as part of the STEM curricula is essential. Project-based learning exercises such as this contest, which used LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT, offer opportunities to develop skills by encouraging imagination, creativity and problem-solving in real world situations.”

Jakub Sanak, an engineering student and a member of the team Duplo, said, “This contest helped to make theory come to life. We had a lot of fun today and we hope this type of contest can be an inspiration for other universities, colleges and schools to take part in more project-based challenges.  I’ve learned skills today that not only can be applied in my university course, but will also help me in my future career. ”

Tanya Morton, Application Engineering Manager at MathWorks, said, “There’s a major push to get more students in the UK interested in STEM subjects to help support the growth of the UK’s engineering and technology industries. By using industry-standard tools such as MATLAB and Simulink to program a robotic system, students get valuable hands-on experience and a taste of the challenges they may face in a career in industry.”

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