The Salvador Convention Center, where the Robockup will be 2025.
Robockup is an international entrepreneurial initiative with the aim of advancing the state of the art of intelligent robots, AI and Auto Tomation. Annual Robockup event, where teams gather from around the world to participate in a number of league competitions, this year in Brazil from July 15-21. We spoke to the general chairmen of Robockup 2025 and the President of Robockup Brazil, Marco Simiz, to find out what plans for their event, some new initiatives, and how Robockup has evolved in Brazil in the last ten years.
Marco Sims
Can you give us a quick introduction to Robockup 2025?
Robockup will be held in Salvador, Brazil. When a robo -up was held in Brazil 11 years ago, in 2014, we had a total of 100,000 visitors, so it was a great success. This year, we expect more than 150,000 more, during all events. Nowadays, AI and robotics are attracting more attention. We are also in a city in Salvador, with a population larger than the previous place (Joo Pesoa). For this reason, we estimate the attendance is about 150,000 people.
Regarding the number of teams, registration has not yet stopped, so we are inaccurate about the final numbers. However, we expect about 300-400 teams and about 3000 rivals. We are helping with a visa, so we hope to see the partnership of teams not participating in the last two years due to visa issues. We are doing my best to make sure people can come on a robo -up!
This is also a great year for the Robockup community: we have just agreed to the partners of the new Global League, including Chinese companies Unitry, Furier and Booster Robotics. They will bring a robokup to their Huhoids and four -legged robots. This will be used not only for people but by some teams. They are amazing robots with very good skills. So, I think this will be a wonderful version of this year.
Did more teams inspire to participate in Robockup at Brazil’s 2014 event?
Yes, we have seen a significant increase in our Robockup community. In the last two years, Brazil has teams and participants in the fourth large number of Bordeaux (2023) and Eindhoven (2024). This was a huge increase because ten years ago, we were not even in the top eight or nine.
We have tried significantly with the RobokApunier in the last ten years. Most people who have participated in the RobokApunnier have moved and joined the Robockup Major League. Therefore, the number of teams in Brazil for the last ten years has been increasing in the year. This year, we have a large number of participants due to the low travel costs. We expect to be in the top three this year in terms of the highest number of participants.
A photo of the participants in Robockup 2024, which took place in Eindhoven. Photo Credit: Robockup/Bart van Overbick
It is impressive that many RobokApunier participants move on to join the main league team.
Yes, there is an initiative called Brazilian Robotics Olympiad in Brazil. At this event, we selected two junior leagues – ST not Stage and Rescue Line League – and we set up a competition based on these two leagues. We run it in regional competitions throughout Brazil – so 27 states. We set up at least one competition in each state during the year, and the best teams from each state come together with the main league. We organize a Brazilian Olympiad to get more students a robocApunior. In this way we have managed to increase participation in Robokupoduni. After that, when students go to university, many of them continue to participate, but in the main league. So it is a very successful strategy we have used in Brazil in the last 10 years.
Can you tell us about some of the more highlights of the Brazilian Robockup community in recent years?
Two or three years ago, one of the Brazilian teams was Robockup @H ome of money champion. We have seen a huge increase in the number of teams in the @Home League. In the national competition in Brazil, we have more than 12 teams participating. Back in 2014, we had only one team participating. So we have a big increase – this is a highlight of the league Brazil.
More teams are also participating in a small -sized league (part of the soccer league). Two years ago, one of the Brazilian teams was the Champion of Division B of the Small Size League. Therefore, in the last five years, we have seen some Brazilian teams in the top three positions in the main league in the Robockup World Competition. The increase in the number of these teams and what the teams are developing are the result of the quality. So at this time, we have the number of publications and teams participating in the competition with good results, so it is very important.
Another excellent contribution to this year is the league we created five years ago – a flying robot league, where autonomous drones perform some mission and functions. We proposed this league as a demo for RoboCup 2025, and this year we will have a flying robot demo in the competition. This will be the first time we have an autonomous drone in the Robockup competition, and the Brazilian community proposed it.
Domestic Standard Platform League, Robockup Robockup with Toyota HSR Robots in 2024 @home. Photo: Robockup/Bart Van Overbeek.
Will you participate in the competition this year, or will you focus full on your role as a normal chair?
This year, my laboratory (ACSO/UNEB) qualifies for a 3D simulation league (soccer), flying robot demo and roboop @home, so we are participating in three leagues. We also monitor the Robokupgunier teams in the Rescue Simulation League. This year, my students have been monitored a little from me because I am very busy with the organization.
In our 3D simulation team, we have a lot of developments with Deep Vanda Reinforcement Education and some new novel strategies that allow our teams to achieve new skills, and we are combining new skills with our former multi-aggrieved coordination strategy. For this reason, I think we will have a strong team in the competition because we are not only working on skills, we are also working on multi-agency strategies. When both aspects are joined, you may have a really good soccer team that plays very well. We have a good team and are expected to achieve a bigger position this year. In later years, we were in the top four or fifths, but we hope to enter the top three this year.
In 3D, you not only work on multi-agent aspects, but also work on skills such as walking, kicking and running. Teams are now trying to develop new skills. For example, in recent years, our team has developed a sprint moving movement, which was the result of Deep Panda Reinforcement Education. It is not a natural running motion but a moving movement that acts according to the rules of the league. It moves the robots from one point to another very quickly, making the team very competitive.
Most teams are learning skills but do not know how to exploit them strategically in the game. Our focus is not only on creating new skills but also on using it strategically. We are currently working on a very innovative approach.
This year, the Simulation League will run a challenge using a new simulator based on Mujoko. If the challenge goes well, we can move to this new simulator in the following years, which can imitate the real Human OID Eid Robots more realistic.
Robockup action from the semifinals of Robockup Soccer Human OID Ed League on 2024. Photo: Robockup/Bart Van Overbeek.
In the end, is there anything else you want to publish about Robockup 2025?
We are working on partnership with local companies. For example, we have one of the world’s largest oil companies sponsor from petrobras. They will discuss how they are using robotics and AI in their industry. He was also one of the first sponsors of the Flying Robots League. It is important to keep these links between the industry and the Robockup community.
We also have excellent support from local companies and government. They will show the community their latest development. In the Rescue League, for example, we will showcase the local force showing what they do to support people in catastrophic situations.
This event is also an excellent opportunity for Roboppers, especially those who have never gone to Brazil, visiting some tourist destinations, spending several days in Salvador. Salvador was the first Brazilian capital, so we have a rich history. There are many historical Tihasic sites and some entertainment options, such as beaches or parties. People can enjoy and enjoy the country!
About Marco
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| Marco Sims is a collaborative Professor of Brazil, Salvador, Bahia State University. He is the general president of Robockup 2025 and the president of Robockup Brazil. |
Tags Gs: Robockup, Robockup 2025
Lucy Smith is a senior managing editor for AIHUB.
