Cybernetics Robot Rally – University of Reading
14 March 2005
High-tech robots designed by students in the University of Reading's world-renowned Cybernetics Department will be buzzing around campus on Thursday 17 March. Four teams of students will be racing their mechanized creations around a set course as part of the 'MEng challenge', which is the group project for students in the third year of their four-year degree. The course will not be made available to the students until two hours before the race, and the fastest robot wins. Dr William Harwin, of the Department of Cybernetics, said: "The project is intended not only to develop technical skills, but also to teach students how to work together and understand team dynamics, as well as manage the safety issues, budgets, and public relations aspects of a project. "The project is loosely based on the 2003 Darpa Grand Challenge Race in which autonomous robots raced across the desert. Lacking a desert and the funds, this will be a rather smaller affair." This is the second of three events that the students must take part in. In December 2004, the four teams had to make their robots perform a 'lurch across the tennis courts'. The third and final project event will take place in June 2005. For further information, including results, images and movie clips from the first event, please visit the website: http://www.cyber.reading.ac.uk/robot_rally/index.htm. The Cybernetics MEng Robot Rally is sponsored by Thales and Scottish & Newcastle. End For media enquiries, please contact Dr William Harwin on (tel) 0118 378 6792 or (email) w.s.harwin@rdg.ac.uk