An incredible engineering challenge taken on by UTC Swindon Y12 students has been recognised by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), who awarded the projects 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in its Presenting Around the World Competition.
The projects put forward were a driving simulator the students had created from a car donated by Honda and F24 electric race car.
Students had worked on the cars as a voluntary combined engineering/digital project, where they set to work stripping out all the expendables – air bags, steering column, pedals etc – and replacing them with electronic parts to create an interactive driving simulator, which runs off the mains.
Head of School Neil Pouney explains: “It is up and running and is really interactive.
The big screen and sound make it a really immersive experience. But what is most pleasing is this is a vehicle (excuse the pun) for trying out new ideas and techniques. From learning how to safely remove air bags, the entire steering column, all the dash, to coming across challenges like the heat generated by the electronics and how to keep the cabin cool. The students have even rigged up visual aids such as dash-mounted rev and brake displays by getting into the software and programming Arduino to replicate the visuals.”
All these little engineering challenges are adding up to widen their engineering knowledge as a whole and aren’t something you won’t find on offer at most mainstream schools!
Of the presentation, which took place on Tuesday 14 March, Neil said: “I was really proud how the team presented to a very tough judging panel from the IET. They were so professional and passionate in their delivery. The prize money won (£180, £120 and £100) will help them take their projects even further.”
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