RoboCup Junior 2013
RoboCup Junior is set to kick off again for 2013 and is the second consecutive year that the University of Newcastle’s Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment have hosted the tournament.
Last year’s event saw 160 participants from 15 schools across the Hunter Region compete across the day with over 140 students witnessing the action as spectators. In the past, such robotic events were only hosted in Sydney so the return of the event to the area was highly welcomed.
The day consists of students from both primary and secondary schools compete in a series of robotic challenges ranging from students programing their robots to dance. Playing an action packed game of robotic soccer and programming robots to save an object in an obstacle based scenario known as rescue.
RoboCup junior is a feeder strand for the international RoboCup tournament which is hosted by a different country each year that comprises of Universities and research institutions all around the world aiming to harness the abilities of artificial intelligence. By the year 2050 the international RoboCup tournament aims to beat the current (Human) world champion soccer team using robotics and artificial intelligence.
The purpose of RoboCup Junior is to educate and nurture the student’s ability to program, learn a logical sequence to solve complex problems, discover the potential of artificial intelligence and most importantly having fun whilst doing it! It is vital that events such as RoboCup junior exist as it provides a platform for future engineers and creative thinkers of the future to exhibit and learn the potential of their skills.
The tournament is organised by school teachers, parents, University staff, Academics and students both past and present from the University of Newcastle’s NUbots robotics team.
The event kicks off on the 1st of August 2013 at 9am hosted at the Forum (University of Newcastle). Spectators are more than welcome to attend at the cost of $2.00 per person and must register by sending an email to Ryan Jeffery. Any students, teachers or parents wanting to know more about the tournament can also contact Ryan by phone on 4921 7997 or email Ryan.Jeffery@newcastle.edu.au.
