Forty-three engineering student teams from the University's Faculty of Engineering competed, designing, developing, and demonstrating a pre-programmed robot arm course as part of the "Digitally Designed Stories" competition using the DIZ's state-of-the-art equipment and their collaboratively honed skills. The top four teams then battled it out, showcasing their expertise in computer-aided design and programming.
The competition challenged students to leverage Siemens Solid Edge software to create intricate 3D models, which were subsequently 3D printed in the DIZ. They then programmed a robotic arm to navigate complex obstacle courses, all while weaving a unique narrative through their robot's movements.
1st place
The victorious team winning a £500 amazon voucher, "Thoughts and Prayers," comprised of Musaib Charkey, Sarwin Nathan Sunthara Lingam, Shreyas Mottur Venugopal, and Jia Cheng How, secured first place with their impressive design and execution.
2nd place
Second place winning a £300 Amazon voucher was awarded to "Dysfunctional Mechanics," with team members Callum Dunkley, Tatiana Scott, Alen Erkimisyan, and Tanya Samaradiwakara.
3rd place
"Knights of the Round Table," featuring Deepti Kulandaivelan Priya, Priscille Peyron, and Sanya Aneja, claimed third place of a £200 Amazon voucher.
The judging panel consisted of industry experts: John Dale (Siemens Industry Account Manager, University of Sheffield), Ross Caddens (Director of UK PreSales and Business Development at Siemens Digital Industries Software), Nav Chahal (Siemens Business Development Intern), and Nathan Plumb (PhD Candidate in Flexible Assembly Systems at The University of Sheffield). Nathan, played a crucial role in assisting students with the complex programming aspects of the competition.
It's been an amazing experience to see the students go through each stage of the competition, collaborating together to create innovative designs and bring everything to life at the final!"
Islay Maclean
Siemens Intern and Manager of the Digital Innovation Zone
The competition highlighted the students' ability to seamlessly blend design and programming skills, demonstrating the power of collaborative innovation within engineering. The event served as a testament to the high caliber of student talent developed within the University of Sheffield's DIZ.
The DIZ, the only facility of its kind in the world, is developed in partnership with Siemens and is run by an undergraduate team from the University. The zone acts as a ‘living lab’ where students can learn to use cutting-edge technologies, from edge computing to digital twin simulation, and apply it to their studies.
Located in the Heartspace in the University’s iconic Mappin building, the DIZ provides easy access to equipment and facilities with support from Siemens engineers and a team of trained student Digital Advisors.
