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UCL teams triumphed at IMechE Design Challenge – eye fifth national title
29 April 2025
UCL Mechanical Engineering students have triumphed at the 2025 London Regional final of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Design Challenge, taking both first and second place in a field of 16 competing teams.
Hosted by Imperial College London, the competition drew entries from seven universities across the capital, including Imperial, Kingston, London Southbank, Middlesex, University of East London, and University of Hertfordshire. Teams competed in concept, foundation, and advanced classes, with points awarded for presentation, design excellence, budget management, poster display, and head-to-head performance in the main event.
This year’s challenge required first-year students to design and build an autonomous vehicle capable of navigating a course with multiple targets and time-delay requirements. Precision and consistency were key, with points awarded for accuracy in hitting the targets.
UCL’s two teams delivered standout performances, with both scoring perfect marks and hitting bullseyes in every round of the main competition—a feat unmatched by any other entrants. Ultimately, the UCL B team clinched the overall title on points and will now progress to the national finals at IMechE headquarters in October, aiming to extend UCL’s four-year reign as national champions.
The vehicles were developed as part of the Design and Professional Skills module, where students engaged in design reviews and prototyping from the start of their first year. The exceptional results underscore the strength of UCL’s approach to hands-on engineering education.
Dr Tom Peach, Associate Professor and Director of the department's teaching lab MechSpace, where the winning prototypes were engineered, praised the effort of all participants, saying:
"This year’s London Regional final of the IMechE Design Challenge was the closest yet—well done to all who competed! In a nail-biting finish both UCL teams achieved a perfect score with bullseyes every time in the main competition, so it came down to points when selecting the overall winner. Congratulations to the UCL B team who narrowly came home with the cup!”
UCL 'B' Team – Overall Winners:
Left to right: Muhibur Rahman, Oriane Duval, Jasmine Zackri Tan, Vanessa Ogboli-Adetu, Nicolas Lo, Frederick Yeung
UCL 'A' Team – Runners-up:
Left to right: Mihnea Grigore, Kade Ruch, Antoine Pucelle, Harry Barlow, Josh Gomes, Vache Oganesian
Congratulations to both teams for your great work, and good luck to UCL B team at the National competition!