Hundreds of dancing, rescue and even soccer-playing robots will rule The University of Queensland on the weekend of August 11–12, when it once again hosts the State Championships of RoboCup Junior.
Almost 500 school students will wheel out their best robotic creations to vie for a chance to represent Queensland at the national Championships.
The battle begins at 9am on Saturday, August 11, at the UQ Centre, Union Road, St Lucia campus, with Championship winners announced at ceremonies on Saturday, August 11, at 5pm, and Sunday, August 12, at 4pm.
More than 100 teams from all over Queensland have been preparing for the Championships throughout the year and will compete in three categories: Soccer, Dance and Rescue.
The RoboCup Junior Championships has been operating nationally since 2000 and aims to encourage young people to take an interest in electrical engineering and related information and communication technology areas.
The competition encourages hands-on creation in a fun and exciting environment.
“RoboCup Junior provides an exciting introduction to the field of robotics for young students,” said Dr Stephen Wilson, a senior lecturer in UQ’s School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE).
“Robot design and construction is a fantastic platform to introduce concepts from a wide variety of ICT and electrical and mechanical engineering fields. We find the teamwork skills and motivation help in so many other aspects of school life with some finding pathways to a rewarding career.”
ITEE staff were impressed with the high standard of participants in RoboCup Junior and were committed to nurturing the development of information and communication technology skills in young people, he said.
Special workshops are available to help students and teachers build their knowledge and understanding of robotics to assist them back in the classroom to build robots for the upcoming Championships.
Queensland champions will travel to the Gold Coast to compete in the RoboCup Junior Australian Open Championships held between September 1 and 2.
Media inquiries: Susan Smith, Marketing & Communications Manager, School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (telephone 07 3365 2382 or mobile 0409 980 671).
