Advanced Challenge

The Advanced Hydrogen Challenge is our most recent programme, developed as a follow-on to the Hydrogen Challenge.

For ages 14+ the Advanced Hydrogen Challenge is a full-day, hands-on “design, build, race” team exercise. 

The Advanced Hydrogen Challenge is a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the general mechanics of road vehicles and the emerging technologies at the heart of fuel cell electric vehicles.

About the Advanced Hydrogen Challenge

• Further developed version of our tried-and-tested workshop, adapted for older students, meeting key STEM learning objectives within the national curriculum.
• Workshop equipment allows the building of considerably more complex, remote controlled, hydrogen powered LEGO cars with ‘unlimited’ hydrogen fuel.
• Participants design vehicles to perform a set of predefined tasks (e.g. drag race, slalom, hill climb).
• Workshop materials target students of all abilities, allowing the academically gifted to work closely with those who approach the challenge more hands on.
• Increased focus on engineering, mechanics and teamwork, encouraging teams to think creatively about developing their own systems for steering and powering their vehicles with a focus on the challenges faced by engineering teams in the field.

Workshop Breakdown

• Age Range: 14+
• Group Size: Up to 30 
• Team Size: 3 to 5 participants per team
• Duration: Full-day (Approx 6 hours)
   – Welcome – 5 mins
   – Introduction – 25-30 mins
   – Build/Test/Repeat – 4 hours
   – Races – 60 mins
   – Winners – 5 mins
   – Plenary – 10-15 mins

Learning Outcomes

• Ensuring all pupils are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
• To understand developments in design and technology, their impact on individuals, society and the environment, and the responsibilities of designers, engineers and technologists.
• To identify and solve their own design problems.
• To understand fuels and energy resources.
• To interpret observations and data.
• The workshops are structured to allow students facilitator-led and self-led enquiry, focusing on solving the problem of mechanical design in vehicles.