The Toyota Technology Challenge is an environmentally friendly engineering and technology competition for young people in the United Kingdom. The competition has been developed by Toyota Manufacturing UK in partnership with Rapid Electronics.
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The challenge is targeted at pupils in Science and Technology at Key Stages 3 and 4 (aged 11–16) of the National Curriculum. Teams of three to five pupils are asked to design and build an environmentally friendly model vehicle using either solar power or PIC microcontroller technology. The competition offers students the chance to put their electronics and engineering skills into practice. Pupils are encouraged to consider the environmental impact of their creations and the potential use of recycled materials.[1]
The challenge consists of three stages: the submission of a project folder, Regional Finals and the National Final[2]. Once registered into the competition, schools receive a free kit[3] containing all the electronic components necessary to build a vehicle. Teams can earn extra marks by making their vehicle more environmentally friendly, improving its performance and creating a team identity.
The winners of the Regional Finals win £250 for their schools and qualify for the National Final, which takes place at the manufacturing plant of Toyota Manufacturing UK at Burnaston, Derbyshire. The winners of the National Final receive £750 for their schools and a European holiday[4].
Contestants in the solar power category must create a vehicle which illustrates the idea of a car of the future, capable of harnessing solar energy, storing it and releasing it under controlled conditions. The vehicle must include recycled or recyclable components or materials within its design.[5]
The PIC microcontroller teams design and build a program-controlled environmentally friendly model vehicle, using a PIC microcontroller to provide in-built intelligence so that it can automatically avoid obstacles on a track. The vehicle must include recycled or recyclable components within its design.[6]
The 2010 winners were: