Robo Challenge BBC Projects: The Boat that Guy Built

The BBC have recently launched a new programme on BBC1 which features motorcycle racer and mechanic Guy Martin as he attempts to renovate a neglected narrowboat using british inventions from the industrial revolution.

Robo Challenge were delighted to be on board with the show and were commissioned to research and build original british working inventions which would then be used or replicated in the TV show. In last weeks episode Guy had to build the worlds first instant water heater. The engineers at Robo Challenge were given an old sketch from the archives and just 3 days to produce a working water heater replica. 

Robo Challenge re-make original British inventions for popular BBC1 show

The instant water heater is made of 3 main components. Underneath the main compartment is a gas burn which is switched on for only 5-10 seconds before use. The main compartment is a long slender tube which is full of elongated springs which get heated by the gas burner. Above the main tube is a bowl with many small holes where the water is poured into the top. This allows the water to trickle down the springs, gradually heating up before it pours out of the spout at the bottom. Once the water is poured in the top bowl it takes approximately 5 seconds for the water to reach the bottom piping hot!

You can watch the episode online here. Make sure you watch The Boat that Guy Built on BBC 1 every Wednesday at 7:30pm for more bespoke engineering from Robo Challenge Ltd.

For more information about this project and Robo Challenge Ltd please contact us via info@robochallenge.co.uk. You can also find us on Facebook and on Twitter (@robochallenge) 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Robo Challenge at Newcastle Maker Faire 2011

Maker Faire returns to the UK bigger and better than ever before with an eclectic mix of cool robots, garden-shed inventions, knitted wonders, the occasional fireball and oodles of opportunities to make your own creations.

Robo Challenge will once again feature at this years event which takes place on March 12th & 13th. The Robo Challenge zone will feature a mini arena with controllable robots to play with using the Wii remote and Wii balance board. We will also show a selection of Robo Challenge’s favourite creations that have been featured on the Gadget Show in recent years such as the Kung Fu robot.

Play with classic synthesizers, see live 3D printing, learn to solder, play musical tesla coils, become a guerrilla knitter, turn a beer can into a pinhole camera, use a Wii balance board to control a robot, make your own stop-motion movie and much more...

This special event takes place simultaneously at Centre for Life and Discovery Museum, Newcastle, with one access all areas ticket available. This ticket enables you to see all of Maker Faire plus Life’s planetarium, motion simulator ride and brand-new under 7’s gallery.

See you there!

For more information check out the Newcastle Science Festival website.

Robo Challenge host UK Championships at the Gadget Show Live!

Robo Challenge are proud to be hosting the 2011 UK Championships as one of the main features at this years Gadget Show Live at the LG Arena! Over 100,000 tickets have been sold for the biggest home tech event in the UK which starts April the 12th and finishes on the 17th.

The Robo Challenge Ltd Arena

The Robo Challenge area is one of the largest stands at the event and will be displaying lots of cool engineering projects that have been built for The Gadget Show TV series. Check out our kung fu robot, the chainsaw powered dragster and a wii mote control robot plus lots more. Robo Challenge will also be launching our new mini bots at the show. The 400g robots are great fun and can be test battled on our stand at the Gadget Show Live. Throughout each day Robo Challenge will be putting on some spectacular demonstrations inside our bulletproof arena. From TV destroying to computer chucking our live robot testing sessions are an incredible sight to see. Between each show we will be letting the audience have a go! Up to 4 people at a time can take control of the Robo Challenge bots as they go head to head in the arena in an adrenaline fuelled experience.

Find out more and sign up for the championships here.

Jason Bradbury signing posters on the Robo Challenge stand at TGSL 2010

Keep an eye on our website news pages for Robo Challenge/TGSL 2011 competitions coming up. See you there!