ME72 Engineering Design Competition

41st Annual Engineering Design Competition

Apex Cleanup: Summit, Mint, Bank

In the 41st Annual ME72 Capstone Design Competition, teams of mechanical and civil engineering students design and build robotic systems to compete in a fast-paced engineering challenge. The competition centers on a striking central structure: a four-foot-tall, steel-skinned pyramid with 37-degree sloped faces. The summit is a flat 3 ft × 3 ft deck. The pyramid defines the game's visual identity and shapes its core challenge. Robots must climb the inclined steel faces. Robots must crest the summit. Robots must operate on the top platform while competing directly with other teams. During each match, robots collect scattered Hot Pellets from the field. Robots transport the pellets to the pyramid's summit. Pellets deposited at the summit are converted into Energy Credits. The Energy Credits are returned to the field. Energy Credits are banked at ground-level Vaults to score points. The pyramid is both an obstacle and the central mechanism through which higher-value scoring is achieved, rewarding teams that can combine mobility, control, and strategic decision making. The competition emphasizes speed, strategy, and physical interaction in a shared arena. The arena is often congested. Teams must operate reliably under time pressure. Across the Fall and Winter quarters, students enroll in the two-term ME72a/b Capstone Design course sequence. Students progress through the entire engineering design cycle, encompassing concept development, analysis, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and iteration. The Capstone course experience culminates in a public tournament. One team emerges victorious and hoists the ME72 trophy.

*Please help us keep our gym floors neat by wearing tennis shoes or soft rubber soled shoes. Thank you!