Robots built by Tonsley students have gone into battle in national university competitions.

Two teams from the School of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics (CSEM) went to Sydney last month to compete in the Warman design and build competition and the National Instruments annual event in Sydney.

Engineering lecturer Dr Stuart Wildy said the Flinders team, comprising Hayden Gordge, Reuben Smith, Shiva Rouholfada and Benjamin Kirss, gained invaluable experience – including meeting competitors from other universities and a tour of the Weir Minerals manufacturing facility.

The competition attracted 80 students from 17 universities, with Monash University Clayton, University of Newcastle and RMIT taking the top three prizes.

The Warman competition, sponsored by Weir Minerals and organised by Engineers Australia, will be staged for the 30th time next year. Contact engpracawards@engineersaustralia.org.au for details for next year’s competition.

Meanwhile, a total of 23 universities competed in the finals of the National Instruments Autonomous Robotics Competition at the University of Technology Sydney. The Flinders team comprised Joel Kluske, who built the robot, Melissa Drogmuller who selected the electronic components and wiring and Celeste Mercado, who programmed the robot to navigate through the course.

The team made it to the final 16 knockout round, with the University of Wollongong building the winning robot to work in a hospital of the future. Swinburne was runnerup.

Contact Dr Wildy for more information on the 2017 solar car challenge and other student collaborative projects.