Manufacturing Machinery World November 2019

A Loughborough University engineering
student has been crowned winner of the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
Mechatronics Student of the Year competition,
sponsored by L.B. Foster Automation &
Materials Handling.
Twenty year old Guy King is a final year
student studying Mechanical Engineering at
Loughborough University. His entry ‘Design
and Build Chess Playing Robot’ was judged the
overall winner at the final presentations held at
IMechE’s headquarters in London. He received
a cheque for £1000 and a glass trophy from
sponsor L.B. Foster.
Dr Mark Aston is Chief Technical Officer at
L.B. Foster. He says: “Mechatronics is a
multidisciplinary field of engineering that
includes a combination of mechanical
engineering, robotics, electronics, computer
engineering, telecommunications engineering,
systems engineering and control engineering.
Guy’s project was an exceptional example of
mechatronics in action. In addition, his
competition presentation was thorough and
professional and impressed all of the judges.
“Creating an automated chess playing robot,
taking into account the complexity of some
chess moves, is an extraordinary
accomplishment. It demonstrates a clarity of
thought, as well as recognition of the potential
THE NEXT GENERATION
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY STUDENT WINS
IMECHE MECHATRONICS STUDENT OF THE YEAR 2019
commercial opportunities. Congratulations
Guy.”
Guy beat off competition from three other
finalists. Leah Edwards from Loughborough
University presented her ‘Automated Noughts
& Crosses System’; Andrei Ciobanu talked
through his ‘Vision-based Target Tracking
System for Sports’, whilst Mathus Thongkerd
shared his project ‘Design and Development of
Autonomous Picking Robot’.
Guy says: “It was quite nerve-wracking
presenting to such a knowledgeable judging
panel in the inspiring surroundings of IMechE’s
headquarters, especially considering the people
who have stood here before me. This is a great
addition to my CV and I hope it’s just the start
of a successful career in engineering.”
Dr Martyn Paradise, Fellow IMechE, chaired
the Mechatronics Student of the Year
competition. He said: “The quality of
competition entries is of the highest level and
reflects the exceptional engineering talent that
we have in our universities. IMechE champions
these type of activities as we are all about
harnessing talent and developing skills and
competencies through a commitment to
continuing professional development. This
competition is an inspiring example of what can
be achieved with energy, enthusiasm and
application.
“I’d like to thank L.B. Foster for its
continued support of the competition,
providing £1000 to our winner and each of our
finalists with a stunning glass trophy to mark
their success.”
Hosted at the IMechE headquarters at 1
Birdcage Walk, London, the annual awards
celebrate the best undergraduate or recent
graduate student project in the field of
mechatronics. Judges included Dr Martyn
Paradise, Dr Mark Aston, Chief Technical
Officer at L.B. Foster Europe and Jerry Hughes
Fellow IMechE, a specialist consultant focused
on the global fluid power industry.
T 020 7304 6833
E paul.haines@imeche.org
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12 Manufacturing Machinery World, November 2019