Royal Navy Young Engineers' 07 Challenge

 

On March 29th 2007 , 2 teams of young engineers represented Keswick School in the finals of the Royal Navy Operation Enigma Challenge.

 
The year 10 team, calling themselves:
'The Seals'
(Special Electric Amphibious Landing Squad), consisted of Ryan Clarke,
Sam Vivash and Matthew Kerrison.
 
The year 12 team, calling themselves:
'The Ospreys'
(based on the nature of
the challenge - see later), consisted of
Robbie Shimmin and Chris Wilson.
  
   

The teams had to decipher messages sent in code, which gave them details of the challenge. This was to build a radio controlled vehicle that could negotiate around several islands, then drive over land and pick up a spy satellite that had fallen behind enemy lines, returning safely to the master ship.

Both teams chose to design and make an amphibious vehicle with a pick up mechanism, which proved to be a considerable challenge.

The event itself, held at HMS Sultan in Portsmouth, after staying a night on HMS Bristol, involved testing their vehicles against the clock, as well as giving a presentation to Navy Engineers about how they designed and made them. Although they didn't win, they were commended on their designs and all felt the challenge had been a fantastic opportunity and a great learning experience for them.