The International Robotics Championship Competition in Oradea witnessed over 700 competitors from 15 countries showcasing their skills. Our team - the only one representing Hungary - delivered an outstanding performance!
As one of Europe's premier professional competitions, the 12th International Robotics Championship saw the Faculty of Engineering team excel in multiple categories. The Debrecen Waffle Team, consisting of Kazakh, Chinese, Thai, Iraqi, Colombian, and Egyptian third-year students from the Institute of Vehicle Engineering and Mechatronics, stood out. The team members, Azaliya Sabitova, Lu Xiaodong, Rawitch Butdee, Mirna Hamza, and Jhon Nicolas Pena Martinez, secured second place in the “Line Follower Enhanced” category.
Line Follower Robots and Students to be Followed
"Line Follower Enhanced is one of the most complex robot categories in the Robotics Championship," said Dr. Almusawi Husam Abdulkareem, the assistant professor at the Institute of Vehicle Engineering and Mechatronics, who prepared the students. “Moreover, we had to compete against experienced teams familiar with the competition's nuances.
Every year, this category becomes increasingly complex. The robot cannot exceed 25 x 25 cm and 0.6 kg. The challenging course features sharp angles, interrupted lines, colored areas, obstacles, and ramps, with specific details revealed only on the competition day. It’s akin to a maze where the robot must follow the line without getting lost. The task must be completed as accurately and in the shortest time, making it an exciting challenge. Despite not having a maze for practice, the students persistently refined and designed their robot using algorithms like Flood Fill, which simulates the path of water during a flood. Due to its complexity, this was the team’s favorite competition category.”
The competitors noted that preparation took about a year, with countless nights working until 2-3 AM. Each team member undertook specific roles, from software development to mechanical design, allowing them to operate like a small company united by a common goal. They are deeply grateful that their mentor was available for support at any time – even late at night or on weekends – and to the faculty leadership for providing access to necessary labs, equipment, and resources.
Exciting Competition Series
During the two-day competition, the team faced multiple challenges. In addition to the Line Follower Enhanced category, they also competed in the Mini Sumo and MicroMouse categories with their self-built robots.
In the Mini Sumo Robot competition, two robots face off on the field – modeled after human sumo wrestling, and the robots must push their opponents out of the competition area to score points. MicroMouse is a type of robot that uses sophisticated search algorithms to independently solve a maze in the shortest possible time.
Experiences and Future Plans
The students reported that they gained invaluable experience in technical skills such as programming, mechanical design, and electronic PCB design, as well as in areas like teamwork, communication, and project management. They remarked that the competition underscored the inevitability of unexpected challenges and the constant need for improvement. Although participation demands significant learning and effort, the experience gained is priceless. Their future plans include participating in more competitions, including an event in Romania in November.
We are immensely proud of our students' achievements, which once again affirm that our faculty provides high-quality, practical, and innovative education. Our competitors have demonstrated exceptional teamwork and effective handling of unforeseen situations, qualities that are indispensable in this profession.
