2022.05.30
The student team DIT Robotics of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan recently participated in the Eurobot robot competition and came in fourth place among 150 international teams. In 2019, the team came in fifth place in the same competition.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Eurobot was suspended for two years. Yet DIT Robotics continued to prepare for the competition by developing a more advanced multi-sensor positioning system with an omnidirectional chassis, which greatly improved the robot’s positioning accuracy and moving efficiency.
The theme of this year's Eurobot competition was “archaeology,” and each team entered two fully automated robots. During a 100-second period, each robot had to avoid obstacles, identify red, blue, green, and other hexagonal objects, bring them back to the base, arrange them on the display cabinet, and replace fake statues with real ones.
In the first round of the five qualifying matches, DIT Robotics ranked fourth in global points, thereby entering the quarterfinals of the second round. The final was held on May 29, with DIT Robotics represented by Department of Power Mechanical Engineering students Cheng Chaowei(鄭兆瑋) and Chen Ching(陳靜), who were draped in the NTHU flag and ROC flag, respectively. They beat the Tunisian team in the first match, but then lost to Austria and France, finally coming in fourth place. First place went to Serbia, Austria came in second, and France came in third.
Team captain Cheng Chaowei said that their impressive performance was the result of all the steady effort they put into updating their system over the past two years, despite being unable to compete abroad. On top of that, from October of last year, they spent most evenings testing and troubleshooting late into the night, and even worked all night a few times. The result was an amazingly agile robot, capable of moving at various angles while simultaneously rotating.
Cheng said that during the 100 second period, the robot had to automatically complete all the tasks, so all possible mistakes had to be eliminated in advance.
Chao Chiao Hsuan(趙喬萱), a sophomore in the College of Technology Management, said that even though the team members were all vaccinated, it still wasn’t easy convincing their parents that it was safe to go abroad while the Covid-19 pandemic was still an issue. Of course, they were also concerned that a team member getting infected would hinder their performance, but as it turned out, they all remained Covid free.
The team’s advisor was Professor Chen Jung Shun(陳榮順), who was unable to attend the competition due to his teaching responsibilities, but remained in close contact with the team during the event. He also watched the live broadcast online, cheered for his team, and was delighted with their performance.
Prof. Chen said that the team members were mainly sophomores and juniors, and that they were good at seeking advice from their senior classmates when they encountered problems in such areas as image processing, positioning, and communications. Furthermore, they excelled at taking the initiative to look up information, and their strong performance in the competition demonstrates their problem-solving abilities.
The 12 members of the team were Li Weishan, Chen Yufen, Dai Yong, Chen Yanting, Chen Ching, Peng Chenyu, Chen Jiamin, Cheng Chaowei, Liu Haoyu, Lu Guanlun, Hsiao Chingwen, all of the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering; and Chao Chiaohsuan of the College of Technology Management.
DIT Robotics was sponsored by the Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, the College of Engineering, the NTHU Alumni Association, the Zhumeng program, Argosy Technology, Fittech, El Monte Nursery, Excetek, and STMicroelectronics, among others.
DIT Robotics took fourth place in this year’s Eurobot competition.
DIT Robotics took fourth place in this year’s Eurobot competition.
Team captain Cheng Chaowei鄭兆瑋 (center) draped in the NTHU school flag, and Chen Ching(陳靜) (left) draped in the ROC flag.
The team’s mascots holding up the team flag.
The two robots made by DIT Robotics in the competition with the team from Tunisia.
One of the robots made by DIT Robotics in the competition with the team from Tunisia.
The two robots made by DIT Robotics in the competition with the team from Tunisia.
DIT Robotics with team advisor Chen Jung Shun(陳榮順) (center).
DIT Robotics with team advisor Chen Rongshun (center).
The 12 members of the team (front row, from left) were Li Weishan(李威杉), Chen Yufen(陳昱棻), Dai Yong(戴雍), Chen Yanting(陳彥廷), Chen Ching(陳靜), and Peng Chenyu(彭震祐); (back row, from left) Chen Jiamin(陳嘉旻), Chao ChiaoHsuan(趙喬萱), Cheng Chaowei(鄭兆瑋), Chen Jung Shun (陳榮順) (advisor), Liu Haoyu(劉皓宇), Lu Guanlun(盧冠綸), and Hsiao Chingwen(蕭景文).
The secret of DIT Robotics’ success was an advanced multi-sensor positioning system with an omnidirectional chassis.
