Students from the University of Chichester showcased their engineering talents in a fierce robot combat event at Bognor Regis, with the winning team’s robot, Lamorak, overcoming tough competition. The event highlights the growing role of robotics in education and the university’s commitment to future technologies.
In an exhilarating display of ingenuity and engineering prowess, students from the University of Chichester clashed in robot combat at the Tech Park in Bognor Regis. This event, reminiscent of the excitement created by the BBC series Robot Wars in the 1990s, continues to captivate young engineers and technology enthusiasts alike in 2025.
First and second-year degree students collaborated on group projects to design and build their robots from scratch, transforming their creative concepts into practical and achievable designs. Six teams entered the purpose-built arena, culminating in a fiercely contested final where the team known as Group 3 triumphed with their robot "Lamorak," expertly controlled by engineering student Toby Andrews. Reflecting on his journey, Toby revealed, "In week one, I came fourth. I'd overdone the attachments and let the pressure get to me. By week two, I stripped the flipper robot back to its core design and focused on staying calm. That mindset shift made all the difference. I won the competition and took down five spinner robots. Sometimes, keeping it simple and trusting your design is all you need."
The event underscored not just the excitement of competition but also the educational value of such projects. Gareth Anstee, an engineering projects lecturer at the university, expressed his satisfaction with the event's outcome. "For me, the day went really well, with all the robots functional and able to do something, which is always great," he stated. Anstee, who has a notable track record in robot combat himself—having recently won the UK Hobbyweight category at the Robot Combat Championships with his robot 'Revolt'—believes that the students gained invaluable experience. “They found issues with all their robots and will be able to do it again better next year, with some even able to make significant upgrades between rounds of the competition,” he added.
The growing popularity of robotic competitions is not confined to the Chichester campus. Events like Unibots UK, scheduled for March 2025 at the University of Cambridge, aim to further engage students in robotics by providing an arena for teams to showcase their autonomous creations. This competition encourages collaboration and is designed for participants at an elementary experience level in robotics.
Through these initiatives, institutions like the University of Chichester promote interdisciplinary learning and innovative thinking. The Centre for Future Technologies at the university further exemplifies this commitment, focusing on emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and sustainable development. By collaborating with various businesses and stakeholders, the centre aims to foster growth and advancement in these fields, ensuring that students leave with practical skills applicable to the contemporary job market.
As technological advancements continue to reshape industries, events like the robot combat at Chichester not only provide a thrilling venue for student creativity but also help cultivate the next generation of engineers capable of tackling future challenges. Highlights from this year's clashes are available online, allowing a wider audience to appreciate the incredible work and enthusiasm displayed by the students.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
More on this
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https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25201805.university-chichester-students-battle-robot-combat/?ref=rss - Please view link - unable to able to access data
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https://www.chi.ac.uk/news/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer/ - Gareth Anstee, an Engineering Project Lecturer at the University of Chichester, won the UK Hobbyweight category at the Robot Combat Championships in Sheffield. Robot combat involves designing and building robots to compete in trials of damage, control, and aggression. Anstee has been competing for over 10 years, with his robot 'Revolt' previously finishing third in the championship. His victory is celebrated as a significant achievement in the field. ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/news/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer/?utm_source=openai))
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https://unibots.uk/ - Unibots UK is an autonomous robotics competition open to university clubs, offering cash prizes. The 2025 competition is scheduled for 29th and 30th March at the University of Cambridge. The event is designed for participants with elementary experience in robotics, featuring robots competing to collect balls in an arena. The competition aims to foster collaboration among students passionate about robotics. ([unibots.uk](https://unibots.uk/?utm_source=openai))
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https://www.chi.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-future-technologies/ - The Centre for Future Technologies at the University of Chichester supports research in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Electromagnetics, and Applied Sciences, with an emphasis on sustainable development. The centre collaborates with various businesses and stakeholders, both domestically and internationally, to advance these fields. ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-future-technologies/?utm_source=openai))
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https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer-4761123 - Gareth Anstee, an Engineering Project Lecturer at the University of Chichester, won the UK Hobbyweight category at the Robot Combat Championships in Sheffield. Robot combat involves designing and building robots to compete in trials of damage, control, and aggression. Anstee has been competing for over 10 years, with his robot 'Revolt' previously finishing third in the championship. His victory is celebrated as a significant achievement in the field. ([sussexexpress.co.uk](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer-4761123?utm_source=openai))
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https://ukeducation.fanuc.eu/ - The FANUC UK Industrial Robotics Competition 2025 is an annual event where teams of two compete to be crowned the best talent in the country. The competition includes an Entry Stage, Qualifiers, National Finals, and the opportunity to represent the UK in international competitions. The event offers hands-on training from industry leaders in factory automation and aims to inspire the next generation of engineers. ([ukeducation.fanuc.eu](https://ukeducation.fanuc.eu/?utm_source=openai))
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https://studentrobotics.org/blog/2024-09-02-sr2025-registration-open/ - Registration for the 2025 season of Student Robotics is now open. Based in the UK, Student Robotics challenges teams of 16 to 19-year-olds to design, build, and program fully autonomous robots to compete in an annual competition. Teams have six months to engineer their creations, with support and mentorship provided throughout the process. The competition culminates in an in-person event around Easter 2025. ([studentrobotics.org](https://studentrobotics.org/blog/2024-09-02-sr2025-registration-open/?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The event described took place recently, and the article provides specific details about the competition and participants. However, similar events have been reported in the past, such as the University of Chichester lecturer winning the UK Hobbyweight category at the Robot Combat Championships in Sheffield in August 2024 ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/news/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer/?utm_source=openai)). This prior coverage may indicate a recurring interest in robot combat events at the university. Additionally, the article mentions the Centre for Future Technologies at the university, which focuses on emerging areas like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-future-technologies/?utm_source=openai)). This connection suggests that the university is actively involved in technological advancements and may have a history of hosting related events. The freshness score is high, but the presence of similar past events warrants a slight reduction.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Toby Andrews and Gareth Anstee are not found in earlier publications, indicating originality. The specific wording of the quotes matches the article, with no variations or discrepancies noted. This suggests that the quotes are exclusive to this report.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Argus, a local news outlet. While it provides detailed coverage of the event, the outlet's reputation and editorial standards are not widely known, which introduces some uncertainty regarding its reliability. The article includes references to official university sources, such as the Centre for Future Technologies, which adds credibility. However, the lack of broader coverage from more established media outlets means the source reliability score is moderate.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents a plausible account of a robot combat event at the University of Chichester, with specific details about the competition, participants, and outcomes. The involvement of university lecturer Gareth Anstee, who has a history in robot combat, adds credibility to the event's authenticity ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/news/robot-combat-champion-is-chichester-lecturer/?utm_source=openai)). The mention of the Centre for Future Technologies aligns with the university's focus on emerging technologies ([chi.ac.uk](https://www.chi.ac.uk/research/centres/centre-for-future-technologies/?utm_source=openai)). However, the lack of coverage from more prominent media outlets raises questions about the event's prominence and the outlet's reach. The plausibility score is high, but the limited media coverage suggests a need for further verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a detailed account of a robot combat event at the University of Chichester, featuring original quotes and specific details. While the freshness and originality are high, the source's reliability is moderate due to the outlet's limited reach and the lack of broader coverage. The plausibility of the event is supported by references to official university sources, but the limited media coverage suggests a need for further verification. Given these factors, the overall assessment is 'OPEN' with medium confidence.
Tags:
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University of Chichester
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robot combat
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student innovation
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engineering
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technology competitions
