Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East
Thurrock, joined young engineers at the Selex ES Galileo facilities in Basildon
for the regional final of the Rampaging Chariots competition.
The event was the idea of Robot Wars Typhoon Robot Team
who after winning successive Robot Wars competitions wanted to widen community
involvement in robotics and inspire a young people in the process.
Sponsored by SelexES and organised by the Rampaging
Chariots Guild, the subsequent national competition provides participating
schools with a free Rampaging Chariot kit which teams build, test, and improve
themselves.
These powerful, radio controlled, featherweight sporting
robots are then put through their paces with a tough set of challenges ranging
from an assault course to a football tournament to determine the Robotic Games
Champion.
The local MP who has worked hard to promote engineering
among young people in South Basildon and East Thurrock commented: “Competitions
such as this are so important in demonstrating to young people that engineering
can be fun, exciting, and extremely rewarding. To see the young people produce
such high quality designs and to see their enthusiasm about their creations was
brilliant. I look forward to supporting the competition in the future and to
see even more schools from the local area competing.”
