Robot Club

Spark your skills and bolt into action
3, 2, 1 - ACTIVATE

Every year, department members - whether student, academic or staff - have the chance to battle it out for Robot Club supremacy.

Welcome to the Combat Robot Club – where creativity meets controlled chaos.

The inaugural event, held in June 2024, saw an enthusiastic turnout from across the department - and the second year was even bigger!

Run by and for students and staff, the club brings together aspiring engineers and fearless tinkerers to Collaborate, Engineer and Battle (CEB) their own robots in a high-energy test of design, dexterity and destruction.

Each year, teams design and build their own machines in the department’s Makerspace, before putting them to the test in a fully enclosed, safety-conscious arena designed for one thing – robot carnage. The result is an electrifying mix of fierce competition, imaginative engineering and just enough silliness (sometimes involving googly eyes).

The club is open to everyone, whether you're a seasoned builder or just starting out. Two leagues – Veterans and Beginners – offer tailored challenges for all experience levels. Newcomers can learn the ropes in a low-pressure environment, while returners battle it out with upgraded bots and battle-hardened strategies.

But the Combat Robot Club isn’t just about winning – it’s about learning, collaborating and having fun. Whether you’re here for the CAD, the code or the chaos, you’ll find a welcoming community, plenty of support and the chance to build something truly unique.

Collaborate, Engineer, Battle!

Be prepared to give a minimum of 100 hours, approximately two hours per week, to this project.

There is a time commitment involved, but it should be approximately two hours per week of fun, learning how to create your own robot, by designing and building parts and experimenting with it.

And it will culminate in the Robot Club competition at the end of the academic year, which will see the two leagues fight it out for supremacy.

Winners of the Beginners League will have a chance to take on a Veteran, while the winner of the Veterans League will win a big prize.

Only robots will be harmed in the making of CEB scientists

The competition runs during the academic year, so watch out for more information about signing up in October/November each year.

Close up of hands working on the inside of a small yellow robot

A circular robot with a big red arrow pointing across it

Man crouched over a table with objects and electronic parts as he fiddles with a small robot

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The Leagues

Technical specifications

Veterans League

Robot weight (max): 1.5kg

Budget: Assigned on a team-by-team basis to ensure fairness

Beginners League

Robot weight (max): 1.5kg

Budget: None - all parts will be supplied as per design specs, to ensure fairness (and safety)

CEB Robot Club Rulebook:

Download

Should I sign up?

Yes. You should sign up.

It is a popular event and there are limited spaces. Registration operates on a first come, first serve basis.

This is a competition designed for everyone - from complete beginners who have never even built a Lego model to those with more advanced knowledge.

Competitors will have access to weekly workshops and access to the Makerspace - CEB's exciting cutting-edge facility for students and researchers to develop their mechanical and electrical engineering expertise.

It is an opportunity for anyone with interest to learn, develop and contribute to a collaborative, friendly and inclusive Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (CEB).

The Beginners League will consist of nine robots of teams made up of four or five people. Individuals are more than welcome to join, and a team will be made up of individuals while groups are also welcome. It is a fun competition for anyone with interest within CEB.

To add to the sense of excitement, each team will also contribute ideas for a House Robot.

"How can you not have a fantastic time watching robots - built by our students - create chaos and blow each other up?

"And learn a whole lot about engineering and solving problems while you're at it."
Josh Easy - Robot Club organiser

Man in sunglasses fiddles with a metal robot

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Woman in polka dot dress speaks into a microphone held by a woman in a black patterned dress with a man with a lanyard in the background looking on

Robot Club presenter and entertainer Jessica (right) is fantastic at whipping up a crowd and creating a fantastic atmosphere during 'battle night', which is designed to be enjoyed by everyone at CEB.