Two thousand researchers and innovators from 50 nations will join together in Sydney, Australia June 2019 for the world’s biggest annual robotics event: the RoboCup. Business Events Sydney (BESydney) secured the event in their home city with the highest bid along with University of New South Wales (UNSW) and RoboCup Junior Australia. Researchers and innovators will gather at the event to compete for one of the RoboCup world trophies.
“This is the ‘space race’ of robotics,” said professor Maurice Pagnucco, deputy dean (Education) in Engineering and head of the School of Computer Science and Engineering at UNSW, and regarded as an expert in artificial intelligence and cognitive robotics.
The event will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) and Darling Harbour foreshore. It has been 19 years since the event was hosted in Australia, but the new ICC Sydney has the latest technology for the event. Different events at the RoboCup include search-and-rescue, caregiving assistance, and other real-world scenarios.
“RoboCup brings the best of the best in robotics to our shores to debate, discover and drive our future. Over six days, up to 600 teams will compete in front of 20,000 spectators,” said Lyn Lewis-Smith, chief executive of BESydney. The event aims to spark innovation in young students as well as interest in robotics and advanced autonomous systems. It is a stimulating even to promote technology and highlight the newest innovations.
UNSW has won five world titles so far in its history with the RoboCup, defending their title by defeating a German team in 3-1 in Shanghai earlier in the year. “We look forward to competing again in 2019 on home soil, showcasing the outstanding capabilities of UNSW’s computer science and engineering students,” UNSW president and vice-chancellor, Ian Jacobs, said in a statement.
The robots at the events are usually about waist high and compete in a 9-metre long field. The robots rely on algorithms to move during the match. Teams are not allowed to control them.
“RoboCup celebrates developments in artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, unlocking exciting jobs for future generations, while generating $7 million direct expenditure for our economy,” said NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres.