- Robot Wars - Meet the Makers is being held at Aston University
- Event is organised by the University’s Design Factory Birmingham, part of a global network of design and digital consultancies
- It is being held on National Engineering Day on 13 November 2024.
To coincide with National Engineering Day, Aston University is letting the robots take over.
On Wednesday 13 November, members of the team that built some of the bots for the TV series Robot Wars will be on campus to share their knowledge and expertise with students and staff.
‘Robot Wars - Meet the Makers' is being organised by the University’s Design Factory Birmingham, which is part of a global network of design and digital consultancies and shares its expertise in areas such as 3D printing to boost the local economy.
The BBC and Channel 5 programme, which aired from 1998 to 2004 and then from 2016, to 2018 involved teams of amateur and professional roboteers operating remote controlled bots to fight against each other in an arena.
Paul Gretton, senior project manager of Design Factory Birmingham, said: “Whether students are fans of engineering marvels or just love the TV show, this event will hopefully spark ideas and inspire students and make it a really exciting and interesting one!
“We’re also providing the opportunity to interact with the robots, learn how they are made and find out more about our upcoming ‘Robo Challenge' in 2025 a challenge between colleges and universities.
“Of course, there is a more serious side to the visit as the exchange of ideas and innovation will help contribute to the University’s ambition to be recognised as a leader in science and technology innovation, driving socio-economic transformation in our city and region.”
The event is on National Engineering Day, which aims to make engineering and the UK’s engineers more visible by celebrating how they improve everyday lives and shape the world around us.
Aston University’s engineering research and courses are based at its College of Engineering and Physical Science. In 2022 it achieved Athena SWAN charter gold status, an award that was set up to help women advance their careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) in higher education and research.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk