King's College London

The UK's first ever robotics competition for girls was launched at King's last month. The Girls Robotics Challenge sees teams of female students aged 12-16 from schools in London design, code and build their own robots, under the supervision of King's students, to complete space exploration-themed challenges.

Last month the teams joined the inaugural workshop in King's new engineering labs, attending lectures about cutting-edge robotics research, and how to think like an engineer. They also learned how to code their own robots and participated in a robot showcase, putting their robots through their paces in front of each other. Over lunch, the girls had the chance to meet some King's researchers as well as robots from the Engineering and Informatics Departments, including robots Pepper, Tiago and Origaker.

Over the coming months, the teams will develop and build their designs using kits provided by King's.  They are encouraged to use sustainable materials, and will be judged on their use of materials to build their bot. Each robot will need to navigate a course on its own using ultrasonic distance sensors, providing the girls with the opportunity to learn how to code autonomous decision-making, so that their bot can figure out a route for itself. All of this will be framed within the exciting topic of space robotics, with the competition challenges themed around exploring distant planets.

The programme aims to provide participants with a wide range of valuable skills, including coding and design thinking, inspiring them to consider future careers in engineering or computer science. By allowing the girls to take the reins of the project over a long period of time in collaboration with their mentor, the project also challenges them to think independently and develop creative solutions to potential problems, in a safe environment. The experience of working as a team and meeting like-minded fellow students aims to foster a sense of belonging amongst the cohort, in a field in which women are still in the minority.

"The Girls Robotics Challenge is an inspiring initiative that empowers young women to lead in STEM, highlighting their creativity and technical potential. Being part of this journey alongside the girls is incredible, as we witness their innovative ideas come to life with the dedicated support of King's staff and students, who mentor and inspire the next generation, fostering a more inclusive future in technology." - Professor Yang Gao, Professor of Robotics and Head of King’s Centre for Robotics Research. 

Each team is helped by a student mentor from King’s, who will support them at a “Hack Day” at King's in February to solve any problems they have experienced. The final “Challenge Day” in April will see the teams going head-to-head, and the winner of the inaugural Girls Robotics Challenge will be crowned.