AWARDS

SCOTT Cranson, Matt Philson, Dane Lance and Acacia Milroy have outclassed engineering students from across the nation by winning the Warman Student Design and Build Competition 2003 National Finals.

The University of Western Australia students pipped students from Swinburne University and the University of Newcastle.

The competitions objective was to design and build a device using commonly available materials and components that moved along a horizontal surface to reach a vertical shaft while carrying two hockey balls and a lightbulb.

The device then had to comply the vertical shaft while carrying its cargo to reach a minimum height of 750 millimetres and stop.

The score was based on the height, time taken, weight and dimensions of the device.

The UWA team had a successful first run with their machine on the morning of the competition and also had the lightest device, weighing 220 grams.

However, with their nearest competitors, Swinburne University’s craft weighing only 290 grams, both teams decided to shave their devices and drill holes in them to reduce weight before the afternoon’s final run.

The UWA device emerged 14 grams lighter and visibly riddled with holes for the final challenge.

Swinburne’s device made an unsuccessful second attempt while UWA had another successful run to make the team the outright winners.