NUbots Claim Bronze at RoboCup 2025 | A Historic Finish in Brazil
A group of talented robotics students and engineers from the College of Engineering, Science and Environment has proudly represented the University of Newcastle, and Australia, at RoboCup 2025 in Salvador, Brazil, the premier global competition for autonomous robotics.
Known as the NUbots, the team competed in the soccer league with their independently moving humanoid robots, including “Kevin” and “Frankie,” guided by complex machine learning and software systems.
RoboCup 2025 was a history-making event, drawing 2,000 participants from 40 countries and welcoming over 60,000 visitors across five days of competition.
The NUbots secured 3rd place in the KidSize Soccer Competition, a remarkable podium finish that reflects years of effort, innovation, and teamwork. The team credits their success to the dedication of current members and the foundational work of past students. Their thrilling final matches, including a nail-biting game against China’s ZJU Dancers, pushed them to their limits and showcased the NUbots’ world-class capabilities.
PhD student Ysobel Sims, who wrapped up her final RoboCup this year, reflected on the achievement:
“To come away with a trophy is incredible. Seeing other teams with the new Booster K1 robots on arrival was certainly intimidating, but the team never gave up for a moment. So many people across so many years have contributed to where the NUgus robots are now.
This is an incredible end to my PhD studies and I'm so proud of what we have achieved together.”
Founded by Professor Stephan Chalup in 2002, the NUbots have built a reputation for innovation, taking home international awards and industry recognition for their work. The robots not only demonstrate agile footwork and strategy on the field, but also feature real-world applications in sectors like rail safety and search and rescue, thanks to collaborations with sponsors 4Tel and 4AI Systems.
As they fine-tune their robots in a new on-campus lab, the team is already looking ahead to RoboCup 2026 in Incheon, South Korea, and hopes to inspire the next generation of student engineers.
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