A group of students at Christchurch’s University of Canterbury have claimed the coveted 2023 Warman Design and Build Competition.

The 36th edition of the competition, students were asked to create a proof-of-concept transport system capable of autonomously picking up scale representations of propellant fuel and oxidiser vessels from designated drop zones to deliver them to a planet on the outer fringes of the Milky Way, titled Gondwana.

The systems had to adhere to strict safety guidelines, ensuring that vessels with different fluids did not come into contact, were not carried together, and were placed in the correct storage silos. The entire time allowed for the operation was two minutes, with the system needing to fit within a 400mm sided cube located in the Setup/Start Zone.

Around 90 mechanical and mechatronic engineering students representing 16 university teams competed over the two days, with universities from Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand represented.

“For the past 36 years the competition has given students an opportunity to practice hands-on engineering design skills,” says Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO.

“As we ramp up efforts to tackle climate change and transition to a net-zero economy this competition has never been more important.

“Engineers are at the forefront of crafting solutions to these challenges and, as these talented students have demonstrated, it is not just about constructing sturdier infrastructures or designing smarter cities – it is about reimagining the role of engineering in a changing world.”

With the University of Canterbury winning First Prize, UNSW Canberra came in second, with Griffith University Nathan campus in third. The Weir Judges Award was presented to Edith Cowan University, while the NCED “Best Design” Award was also handed to Griffith University Nathan campus.

For more information regarding the competition, click here.

Architecture & Design Team

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