Burgess Hill and Brighton schoolchildren can learn about space exploration in the Quadcopter Challenge
and live on Freeview channel 276
The company, which is part of Raytheon Technologies, is urging children aged 13-14 to use their science and maths skills to design a ‘fully-functioning, four-bladed, remotely piloted air system’, known as a ‘quadcopter’.
Returning for its seventh year, the challenge aims to inspire and attract students to STEM-based subjects.
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Hide Ad“During the past 12 months school children’s education has been greatly disrupted,” said Jim Pawson, managing director of ISR Solutions and Missions Systems.
“The pandemic has shown how crucial science and technology is to our society,” he added.
This year’s theme, ‘Mission to Mars’, hopes to show children how STEM skills can be put to use through careers in space exploration.
Children will need to come up with creative ideas to respond to the engineering brief while learning how human innovations can help future generations explore space.
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Hide Ad“Around the globe, countries have made significant advances in space exploration,” said Jim.
“Focusing our challenge on space will hopefully inspire and attract students to STEM based subjects giving us a new generation of STEM leaders and innovators.”
Children will have access to RTX STEM ambassadors from across the UK and will be asked to push the limits of current quadcopter designs.
After a series of regional heats, the UK national final will be held virtually.
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Hide AdThe winning team will be able to fly their designs when safety guidelines permit it.
Entries must be submitted by May 24 and successful schools will be given four weeks to develop and build their ideas.
They will present everything to judges on June 22.
All participating schools will take part in a virtual full-day regional qualifying event in May where teams will present their ideas to Raytheon and guest judges.
The top team from each regional site across the UK will qualify for the UK national final.
To register interest for the UK 2021 Quadcopter Challenge email stem@raytheon.co.uk.