News

Vienna, 14.12.2011

Flying Robots at Europe's Largest Robotics Competition in Vienna

RobotChallenge at the "Aula der Wissenschaften" (Hall of Science) in Vienna from 10 to 11 March 2012

VIENNA - Europe's largest robot competition will be taking place once more in Vienna in March 2012: From 10 to 11 March 2012, robot designers will be competing against one another at the Aula der Wissenschaften in Vienna with their self-built autonomous robots in a total of 14 disciplines. This will be the first year that flying robots will be sent into the race; they will have to outdo one another with fast and accurate navigation in three-dimensional space. This year, the event organisers, the Austrian Society for Innovative Computer Sciences (INNOC) and the Federal Ministry of Science and Research, are expecting 500 participants from over 20 countries. Robot developers will be able to register for the competition online (www.robotchallenge.org) from 15 December 2011. Participants who register by 15 January 2012 will get a third off the entry fee.

RobotChallenge has been held in Vienna once a year since 2004 and has developed into one of the largest robotics competitions in the world over the last few years. Both novices and experienced robot designers take advantage of the event to present their latest developments to an enthusiastic public in exciting contests. 14 disciplines make for two varied days of competition: Besides humanoid robots modelled on the human body, RobotChallenge also involves contests between "sumo" robots, who - in keeping with the rules of the traditional Japanese martial art - try to push their opponents out of the ring as quickly as possible. In the Freestyle Exhibition section, robot developers have the opportunity of presenting their extraordinary and original creations - from a robot that mixes cocktails to the electronic butler. In 2012, flying robots will compete against one another for the first time in the so-called "Air Race".

Robotics as an economic factor with potential

Robots are increasingly taking on important tasks and are entering into more and more areas of people's lives. For this reason, RobotChallenge is also meant to serve as a platform for networking and for nurturing young talent from the robotics sector. As an interdisciplinary field of research, which combines findings from the areas of computer science, electronics, mechanics and artificial intelligence, robotics will play an increasingly large role in the economy as well in future.

RobotChallenge is organised by the Austrian Society for Innovative Computer Sciences (INNOC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Science and Research.