EDGE4x4, a team of four 15 & 16 year-olds from Worcester are busy preparing to represent the UK in the World Finals of the Land Rover 4x4 Technology in Schools Challenge in April.

The challenge is to design and build a 1/10th scale radio-controlled, four-wheel drive vehicle according to detailed specifications of size, weight, and approach angles, with an array of sensors. The vehicles compete upon demanding off-road courses, overcoming extreme obstacles like rope bridges, steep slopes and narrow tracks which are designed by Land Rover to simulate full-scale testing.

The challenge teaches young engineers many skills and tests their literacy, presentation, marketing, engineering and design skills by requiring them to produce not just the car, but also a 20-page portfolio, a ten-minute presentation and an exhibition stand. Additionally, they are judged on how they present themselves to the media and undertake special challenges on the day, like software coding and extra vehicle tests.

Ed Cosson, Toby Weymouth, Alfie Parry and Ed Robins, all from The King’s School in Worcester, are looking forward to the five-day World Final at Warwick University just before Easter. This will be the final outing for EDGE4x4, when they will compete against teams from nine other countries including Australia, Singapore and the Czech Republic, at the end of what has been an incredibly successful and rewarding two years.

The team used a combination of the latest manufacturing and design technologies such as laser cutting, 3D printing, CAD design as well as old-fashioned skills like cutting, metal-bending, tapping, threading, filing and mould-making. For example, the team laser-cut the chassis, built their own gearbox out of aluminium, and vacuum formed a highly detailed body.

National Finals Trailer 2018