8th Robot Design Contest Marks Successful Start for 2017 HKUST Robotics Team
New training members of the HKUST Robotics Team competed against each other in teams with their self-designed robots at the 8th Robot Design Contest held on Nov 28, 2016 on HKUST campus.
This annual competition is a part of the new member recruitment process for the HKUST Robotics Team. Despite the challenging task of this year’s competition, which consisted of developing two different robots, training members were able to come up with amazing robot designs and there were a lot of exciting moments throughout the competition as they demonstrated their unique techniques. The competition attracted 123 students, who came from over 15 different countries and diverse academic backgrounds, including those from the School of Engineering, School of Science and School of Business and Management. The diverse nature of the participants cultivated a positive environment which enabled them to actively interact with and learn from each other to achieve a mutual goal.
The senior members of the Robotics Team supported the training members throughout the preparation and development of their robots, providing them with tutorials on electronics, mechanics and software programming. The senior members were also largely involved in organizing the competition. Computer Science and Engineering undergraduate Rex Ho Kei Cheng, Chairman of the Contest Management Committee of the 8th Robot Design Contest, described his experience at the competition as “both an exciting chance to interact with students having passion for robotics and an interesting experience to get actively involved in organizing such event”.
The contest marked a great success for the HKUST Robotics Team, highlighting the potentials that all the training members had for robotics innovation.
This contest is one of the activities in the Engineering Engagement FESTIVAL, an annual event organized by the School of Engineering’s Center for Global & Community Engagement (GCE) and aims at introducing different opportunities to students so that they can make a difference in their university life. The four main areas in the FESTIVAL are: Engineering Engagement Opportunities (Overseas), Design & Project Competitions (Local & Overseas), Student Chapters of Professional Institutes, and Public Exhibition, Seminar & Outreach Activities.
The Center for Global & Community Engagement would like to express heartfelt appreciation to RS Components Ltd for sponsoring prizes to the Champion team. RS’ partnership with HKUST Robotics Team started in 2011 in sponsoring electronics components and equipment for several robotics competitions. With their support, the Robotics Team members are able to demonstrate their talents in robot design with the appropriate and reliable components.
by Contest Management Committee Member & HKUST Robotics Team Senior Member - Hongseo Yoon (CPEG, Year 2)
