An automatic post driver for a tractor has won a €2,000 engineering prize.

Institute of Technology Sligo students Colm Morley, Shane Timoney, Caolan Treanor and Conor Walsh were awarded the prize for their entry, titled ‘‘Automatically fed post driver’’.

Their design allows tractor operators to drive posts without having to dismount their tractors, significantly improving the safety and efficiency of the process.

Previously, there had been no post drivers that are able to hold, feed and drive a post without the operator having to dismount the tractor.

Other entries to the competition include a human-powered washing machine, an advanced limb prosthesis, a clean-energy inflatable tower, a flexible robotic arm and a safe-release building hook.

Dermot Byrne, Engineers Ireland president, congratulated the students and said: “The diversity and creativity of contemporary engineering is very much reflected in this year’s projects, which span areas such as robotics, clean energy and mechanical engineering.

“It is imperative Ireland can bring new techniques, processes and skills to all sectors so that we can compete on a global stage with our competitors.”

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