MCAST University - Robot for IEEE Championship

MCAST Robotics Team

The MCAST Robotics Team is a student-led engineering group from Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, based in Paola. The team is composed of students from engineering disciplines, particularly Electronics and Control Engineering, working collaboratively to design and build innovative robotic systems.

Our goal is to develop competitive robots while providing students with hands-on engineering experience in real-world applications. Through these projects, we strengthen practical skills in embedded systems, electronics design, mechanical integration, and automation.

We actively represent MCAST in international competitions such as the IEEE Region 8 Robot Championship, where we have already participated in multiple editions and will be competing again this year.

About the Team

The MCAST Robotics Team consists of dedicated students working across several key technical areas:

• Mechanical Design
• Electronics and PCB Design
• Embedded Systems Programming
• Sensors and Control Systems
• Robotics Integration and Testing

In the 2024 edition of the IEEE Region 8 Robot Championship, the MCAST team “The Punisher”, composed of students Ben Farrugia, Chris Saliba, and Luke Camilleri, competed under the mentorship of a senior lecturer.

The team achieved notable success, earning two recognition awards:

• Most Effective Add-on
• Best Looking Robot and Branding

Competition Overview

The IEEE Region 8 Robot Championship Malta 2024 was held on the 23rd and 24th of November at Montekristo Estate Arena, Malta.

The competition is designed to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among students, with a strong emphasis on:

• innovation and creativity
• problem-solving
• teamwork and collaboration
• engineering design

Teams were challenged through multiple competitive tasks, including:

• Time of Fall
• Weight in Line
• Climate CHAOS
• Hanging Hazard

Each challenge required robots to perform precise, efficient, and reliable operations under time and design constraints.

Electronics and PCB Development

A critical component of our robotic systems is the electronics and control architecture.

This system is responsible for:

• sensor data acquisition
• motor control and actuation
• communication between subsystems
• power distribution and regulation
• real-time decision making

Our robots rely heavily on custom-designed PCBs, developed by students to integrate multiple subsystems efficiently.

Typical electronics include:

• microcontroller-based control boards
• motor driver circuits
• sensor interface modules
• communication modules
• power management systems

These systems must operate reliably under dynamic conditions such as movement, vibration, and varying loads during competition tasks.

Why PCBWay Support Is Important

As a student-led team, rapid prototyping and iteration are essential to improving our robot designs.

Access to high-quality PCB manufacturing from PCBWay would allow us to:

• develop and test multiple PCB iterations
• improve system reliability and performance
• integrate more advanced electronics into our robots
• reduce development time between design cycles
• provide hands-on PCB design experience for students

PCBWay’s support would significantly enhance the quality of our electronics and accelerate our development process.

As a student-led team, rapid prototyping and iteration are essential to improving our robot designs.

Access to high-quality PCB manufacturing from PCBWay would allow us to:

• develop and test multiple PCB iterations
• improve system reliability and performance
• integrate more advanced electronics into our robots
• reduce development time between design cycles
• provide hands-on PCB design experience for students

PCBWay’s support would significantly enhance the quality of our electronics and accelerate our development process.

Visibility and Collaboration

In return for your support, the PCBWay logo will be featured on:

• our robots and competition hardware
• team apparel and branding materials
• technical presentations and reports
• social media platforms and outreach content
• public demonstrations and events

Our team actively shares updates and development progress with the student community and wider audience, providing strong visibility for our partners.

Team Impact

Through participation in competitions like the IEEE Region 8 Robot Championship, we aim to:

• promote STEM education in Malta
• inspire students to pursue engineering careers
• develop both technical and soft skills
• encourage innovation and entrepreneurship

These experiences provide students with valuable real-world skills, including:

• robotics and automation design
• embedded systems development
• teamwork and project management
• problem-solving under pressure

Acknowledgment

We would be honored to collaborate with PCBWay in the development of our robotic systems.

Your support would directly contribute to enhancing student learning, improving our competition performance, and strengthening engineering education at MCAST.

Together, we can continue to inspire the next generation of engineers while pushing the boundaries of student-led innovation.