Robots that can put out fires and robots that can crawl and swim in radioactive environments were among the student ideas that have been recognised with awards from a prestigious industry body.

Six students from Lancaster University’s Department of Engineering have received awards from the Institution of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE).

The awards, which were presented by Dr Martin Yates from Rolls Royce and who is the Chairman of the IMechE Fluid Machinery Group, are given annually to reward academic excellence.

The students that received awards are:

· Daniel Williamson - Project Prize for the most outstanding project in Mechanical Engineering for the design and build of a small sample biaxial test-rig.

· Matt McDonnell – Mechanical Engineering – Best Project Certificate for the ‘Best Project’ for the design and build of a robot that can crawl and swim.

· Sam Herring – Mechatronic Engineering - Best Project Certificate for the ‘Best Project’ for the design of an advanced fire-fighting robot.

· Jarred Minards – Nuclear Engineering - Best Project Certificate for the ‘Best Project’ for the design and feasibility for igniting and sustaining an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma.

· Ryan Skeats – Mechanical Engineering – Best Student Certificate for the design of porous aluminium structures for hybrid aluminium – phase change material passive thermal management systems.

· Sam Mottershead – Mechatronic Engineering – Best Student Certificate – for the design and Implementation of a pick and place robot arm with colour recognition.

Dr Yates said: “The IMechE Fluid Machinery Group was delighted to be able to present the Engineering awards to the Lancaster University students. The students presented on a diverse range of topics ranging from autonomous fire-fighting robots to novel heat sinks for next generation batteries. In all cases the engineering was of a very high standard and the students presented their work in a very professional manner. They should be rightly proud of their engineering achievements which has been recognised by these awards.”

Professor George Aggidis is Professor and Head of Energy Engineering a Fellow of the IMechE and Board Member of its Power Industries Fluid Machinery Group.

He said: “I am delighted with the students’ success and the quality of the projects they presented indicating the depth and breadth of the engineering teaching at Lancaster, with its project-based focus, producing outstanding engineers with the ability to attract recognition by both industry and academia.”