23 IN FOCUS Robotics Team races on proved one of the HKUST Robotics Team’s sti est challenges yet, as the COVID- pandemic and social distancing requirements added major complications to the teamwork involved in building the model machines that compete in local and international robotics competitions. However, the high-performance team came through with aplomb, being named First Runner-Up and receiving the Best Presentation Award and a Special Award for their robot’s agility in the Asia-Paci c Broadcasting Union (ABU) Robocon Festival . The competition was organized online for the rst time in December . Over teams from more than countries and regions in Asia-Paci c took part. The HKUST Robotics Team is open to all students with an interest in robotics, with those from engineering disciplines forming a core part. First launched in , it has become a popular and successful co-curricular activity, with members winning over awards in leading student robotics contests in Hong Kong, nationally, and globally. Members also participate in community-based projects. The two sub-teams formed to take part in the in-person Robocon Hong Kong Contest in September also performed remarkably. The War Dragon team was crowned champion – HKUST’s th championship since – and the Fiery Dragon team won the Best Engineering and Best Artistic Design awards. A total of HKUST students took part in the two teams, including nine non-local students from seven di erent locations in Asia. The competition’s theme in was “ROBO Rugby s”, with participants required to build two robots to collaborate in picking up, passing, receiving, and kicking the rugby ball to successfully score goals. Coping with the ever-changing situation created by the pandemic required adaptability and persistence as the situation unfolded. Di culties included teammates being stuck overseas, leaving only half of the Fiery Dragon team in Hong Kong to carry out the initial design and build stage. Meanwhile, the all-local War Dragon team had to discuss via regular Zoom meetings, nish tasks at home as much as possible, and stagger lab time so fewer people were present at one time. However, the two sub-teams remained unfazed, dealing with every eventuality, including last-minute technical hitches with their robots requiring instant modi cations. “It was an incredible time to be part of the team. Not only did we learn how to build high-performing robots but all the uncertainties also taught us how to handle the unexpected and work together to overcome di culties as they arose. An amazing experience!” War Dragon team leader YIU Cheuk-Tung, Year Computer Engineering, said. A HKUST rugby robot in action (left photo), and encouragement by War Dragon team leader Yiu Cheuk-Tung (right photo, rst right) as teammates prepare to compete. Find out more about the team’s story
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