TEHRAN – Iranian students aged 7-17 won second place among 31 countries in the RobotChallenge 2024 which was held from August 9 to 11 in Beijing, China.

Over 5,000 contestants participated in the competition. China and Romania ranked first and third respectively, IRNA reported.

A total of 16 groups, each made up of 3 students, represented Iran in the robotics competition. The Iranian team competed in RoboSumo, Soccer, Innovation, Robot Rugby, and Technical Report leagues.

For the second year in a row, the Iranian team managed to claim second place in the Technical Report. Two U12 Iranian teams won silver and bronze medals in the innovation league; China ranked first.

In the Innovation league, students aged 12 -17 won fourth place for the first time. The international robotics contest has been held annually since 2004.

Each year RobotChallenge, one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence robotic championships, brings together people from all over the world who compete with self-made, autonomous robots in various competitions.

This year, a Malaysian coach, Muhammad Zaki, accompanied the Iranian robotics teams, IRNA reported. Iran's under-17 team won second place at RobotChallenge 2023.

The Iranian robotics teams were comprised of 42 teens from across the country with their coaches, participating in five various leagues of the competition.

The five categories Iran participated in included Line Follower, RoboSumo, Rugby, Free Style, and Technical Report. Iran gained medals in RoboSumo and Free Style.

The teams were coached by Ma'ede Najafi, Nasrin Ashuri, Parisa Afshar, and Mohammad Hossein Naderi, with Ahmad Sami’ei as the head coach. 

The Iranian team had also gained second place in the 2022 competitions in India, and third place in the 2019 competitions in Malaysia. The competitions were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent achievements

The 24 Iranian robotics teams that participated in the Federation of International Robosports Association (FIRA) 2024 RoboWorld Cup in Sao Luis, Brazil,  managed to win 17 awards.

The 29th edition of FIRA Robotics and Artificial Intelligence World Competitions was held from August 5 to 9.  

A total of 1,300 participants from 18 countries including the United States, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Russia, Malaysia, China, India, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, and Iran competed in four main categories of FIRA competitions (FIRA Air, FIRA Sport, FIRA Challenge, FIRA Youth) in the form of 11 junior leagues and 10 senior leagues in U14 and U19 divisions.

The FIRA RoboWorld Cup includes competitions in the following leagues. FIRA AIR includes the use of autonomous flying vehicles in urban and disaster scenarios.

The Iranian teams participating in the 2024 World Robotics and Artificial Intelligence FIRA won 9 championships, achieved 7 runner-up positions, and secured third place in these competitions.

In the flying vehicles league, two teams ranked first, and one ranked third.

In FIRA youth competitions, U14 division, two teams won second ranking in the robosports, innovation, and business leagues.

Also, in the U19 division,  two teams won first ranking and in the robosports league, another team ranked first in innovation and business in robotics.

Moreover, the two teams ranked second in rescue and crisis management robots, and in the robosports league.

Two more teams received the best student awards in innovation and business in robotics.

The robotics team of Iran won a gold medal and three silver medals in the Dubai International Inventions Show (DIS) 2023.

The event provided a business platform for inventors, manufacturers, and dealers to present their latest products and innovations and exchange information.

For this occasion, delegations from different countries came to Dubai to present their patented inventions and new ideas, the competition brings together many participants and inventions in many diverse areas.

At DIS, excellence in innovation is highlighted through the Invention & Innovation Award, it brings recognition to the best inventions, innovations, and trade, adding to its merit is supported by many international delegates.

Over 20 countries including Iran, Canada, Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Romania, and Oman participated in the competition, ISNA reported.

The competition was held both in person and online.

MT/MG