Rapid's impact on higher education

"Dealing with Rapid has allowed us to acquire all the test and measurement equipment in a timely fashion. It has been a pleasure dealing with Rapid’s excellent service, and we’ve found them to be an incredibly reliable partner.”

On Thursday, 1 May 2025, we had the pleasure of attending Coventry University’s annual robotic race and gained a closer look at how our partnership is supporting the university's next wave of engineers.

A warm welcome from Coventry University

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the Coventry University Robotics team, who offered a comprehensive tour of the impressive Beatrice Shilling Building.

Nik Tsanov, Development Officer at Coventry University, and the rest of his team walked us through various labs where Rapid-supplied components and test equipment are extensively used.

“We consider this to be a key part of the student journey,” Nik said, referring to the labs and classrooms. “The hands-on, practical application of electronics, including testing and fault-finding is essential”.

A long-standing partner since 2012

Coventry University has been a long-serving and valued customer of Rapid since 2012. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of supplying various electronic components and bespoke solutions tailored to the university’s specific needs.

“Our relationship with Rapid goes a long way,” Nik shared. “We deal with a number of suppliers, but even at the time (2012), Rapid was among our most trusted and reliable partners. For all the time that I have been here, Rapid has remained a key partner in the supplier’s choice”.

Putting our tools and services to the test

When asked about the importance of sourcing components from Rapid, Nik emphasised the role we’ve played in today’s competition. “The students have had a select number of components to choose from, to keep it fair. A lot of this comes from Rapid, along with the benchtop test & measurement equipment".

Nik was also able to show us our components in a more practical setting. “We have a demo board that effectively demonstrates a number of circuits that our students have made over the years,” Nik explained. “Most of the items that go into making these circuits have been supplied by Rapid – microcontrollers, LDRs, LEDs, amplifiers, etc. The process of our teaching involves building those in stages, powering them up, studying outputs, identifying imperfections or faults, and then rectifying and moving forward.”

“Rapid provided bespoke equipment, manufactured, kitted, bundled, and prepared to our exact specification, making them a pleasure to deal with. Overall, Rapid is a really good partner who allowed us to use bespoke solutions for our students.”

Tektronix’s role in T&M

The university has also made a recent transition to Tektronix oscilloscopes across its electronics labs. “We’ve tried a number of brands over the years, but we’ve now settled on Tektronix as a brand of choice”. “We are entirely, in every space, using Tektronix oscilloscopes, along with other equipment that has been supplied from Rapid.”

Tektronix AFG1022	Tektronix TBS2074B	Tektronix TBS2104B

Time for the race

The main event featured five student participants, each given three days to design and construct a robot fit for racing. The competition showcased a variety of design focuses, from functionality and visual appeal to speed and performance.

We saw a wide array of components being used, including various single-board computers, wiring, and sensors, many of which are available through rapidonline.com. Brands such as Arduino, Rapid’s very own wiring range, and many other brands were all on display for the day.

Some participants collaborated in teams, while others chose to compete independently. The competition attracted a broad range of students, from first-year undergraduates to master-level candidates.

Celebrations

The overall winner was Tom, who received one of our own FlashForge 3D printers in recognition of his achievement. This also marked his fourth time entering the competition, making his win particularly deserving.

The remaining participants were also acknowledged with prizes from Coventry University, ensuring that everyone’s efforts were celebrated.

Why days like these matter

Events like this represent more than just a day out, they demonstrate the importance of providing electronics to institutions in order to enhance student engagement, modernise teaching and learning, along with preparing students for the change to a more digital world.

At Rapid, we’re incredibly proud to be part of days like this.

A massive thank you to Nik and the wider Coventry University team for their warm hospitality and for organising such a well-executed event.

Looking ahead

We look forward to supporting future initiatives and returning for the next competition. If your university is interested in collaborating on similar educational events or initiatives, we’d love to hear from you.