Overview

Mechatronics includes mechanics, pneumatics, electronically controlled systems, programming, robotics, systems integration and development. It is the job of the mechatronics technician to combine these areas to design, build, maintain, and repair automated equipment, and programme equipment control systems.

As well as factory assembly lines, mechatronics is used in everything from bottling machines to cash dispensers and automated production lines.

This is a practical competition, for a team of two. This will test your understanding of logic circuits, design and fault-finding skills in a challenging environment. To complete the tasks competitors are expected to apply their theoretical knowledge of fundamental principles of automation, pneumatic, electro-pneumatic, sensor and PLC technologies.

Competitors who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK during December 2022 for the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 cycle.

The skills that are tested in the practical competition include:

  • Designing, building and testing pneumatic, electro-pneumatic circuits and PLC programmes for sequential and non-sequential tasks; system building and process optimisation
  • Mechanically assembling a given set of components and sub-systems to a specification
  • Adding new functionality and operations to a given application.
  • System integration of multiple modular production systems and optimisation
  • Integrating distributed devices using appropriate industrial protocols.

The skills you need to demonstrate

  • Analytical skills

  • Problem-solving

  • Time-management

  • Critical thinking

  • Decision-making

  • Logical

  • Technical skills

  • Judgement

Contact details

Entry criteria

  • This is a team activity (teams of two).
  • Team of competitors must have their own PLC and programming software for National Qualifier and National Final stages.
  • Competitors must be available for the National Qualifiers and National Finals.
  • There is no limit to the number of entries per organisation
  • Competitors must be familiar with the core competencies (these can be found in the Technical Handbook within the useful resources section).
  • This is a practical competition that will test your logic, design and fault finding skills in a challenging environment.

How it works

Registrations are now open and close midnight 28th March 2024.

The first stage of competition is a remote or online test sent after registration closes.

Competitors have three days to complete the task between the 24th-26th of April 2024.

Live Qualifier starting on 30th May 2024.

Bookings are made as following but other qualifiers will be added to allow date clashes with exams etc:

30-05-2024 – Festo HQ, Northampton
05-06-2024 – Middlesex University, London
06-06-2024 – Southern Regional College – Northern Ireland

To help finalists prepare ahead of the UK Final, we will provide relevant technical training and share mindset development techniques, to support them to remain focused on achieving success.

National finals will take place between the 18th-22nd November 2024 in Manchester (venues TBC)

Competitors who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK during December 2024 for the WorldSkills 2026 Cycle, subject to the skill progressing to the international competition cycle.

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