Responsive System A year 2 design project to design a system that responds to its environment.

Module Lead

Franziska Conrad

Teaching Team

Dr Lyndon Buck
Gary Underwood
Bilal Baluch
Elana Nerwich

The Responsive System Project challenges students to design a mechatronic system that reacts through mechanical movement to environmental changes. Emphasising a STEAM approach, it encourages collaboration between engineering and the arts to promote creativity and innovation. The system must respond autonomously to human proximity and one environmental factor such as light, sound, or temperature, and deliver a specific non-contact experience: AMUSE, ENCHANT, SURPRISE, or WARN.

Key challenges include creating a functional, expressive, and safe system tailored to a location in Jubilee Square. It must use only approved materials, include an electronic control system (e.g., Arduino), fit within a standard storage box, and be installable within one minute without causing damage. Students must balance technical precision, sustainability, and creative expression. The project emphasises quality construction, efficient use of energy and materials, and a clear, engaging user experience, all within defined performance and design constraints