At UniLaSalle Amiens, engineering training is largely based on practical projects.
First-year students took part in the Medieval Challenge, an educational project organized within the campus's MakerSpace, combining robotics, digital manufacturing, and teamwork.
For several weeks, students worked in pairs to design and build a functional miniature catapult. From modeling the parts to manufacturing them, they followed the major steps of an engineering project: designing the mechanism, prototyping, making technical adjustments, and then testing to improve range, stability, and accuracy.
To complete their project, the teams used the equipment at the MakerSpace, including 3D printing, laser cutting, and computer-aided design tools. This immersion allowed them to connect theoretical lessons to real-world manufacturing constraints.
The project concluded with a final tournament. Each team had to put their machine to the test through several challenges: aiming at targets, passing through bonus rings, and scoring as many points as possible. It was a unifying moment, but also an educational one, highlighting the importance of technical choices and precise adjustments.
Through the Medieval Challenge, UniLaSalle Amiens affirms its educational approach based on learning by doing, experimentation, and the development of practical skills that are essential for future energy and digital engineers.
