Students' robots battle in Chengdu to advance to next stage of competition

Students participate in the qualifiers of the World Robot Contest Trials 2024 – ENJOY AI. [PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY]

Hundreds of teenage teams faced off at the qualifiers of the World Robot Contest Trials 2024 – ENJOY AI held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Saturday.

The two-day event, which was hosted by Chinese Institute of Electronics, opened at the China Tianfu Agricultural Expo Park in Xinjin district and attracted more than 1,000 participants. The Chengdu qualifying tournament marked its third year in Xinjin district. The competition was divided into three groups – elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. Participants competed in events such as "ENJOY AI – sports closing ceremony," "ENJOY AI – galaxy attack and defense", and "ENJOY AI – leap into space" on Nov 9 and 10.

At the World Robot Contest, the ENJOY AI category is a designed artificial intelligence promotion activity specifically for teenagers. Currently, the ENJOY AI global competition has covered 24 countries and regions and over 210 cities, with participants coming from universities, colleges, and schools worldwide. The number of participants exceeds 500,000 each year.

"The development of robotics technology is a significant indicator of today's technological advancements and a key direction for future technological progress," said He Enhong, executive deputy chief of Xindu district.

The qualifiers of the World Robot Contest Trials 2024 — ENJOY AI opened in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Saturday. [PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY]

The competition has been held in Xinjin three consecutive times, showcasing a profound recognition of Xinjin's efforts in technological innovation, He said, adding that taking this competition as an opportunity, Xinjin district will uphold the concept of "hosting events, building cities, promoting industries and benefiting the people, continuously striving to create a favorable environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, and actively contributing to the creation of a bright chapter for Xinjin as a highland of intelligent manufacturing and a happy water city".

According to organizers, the intense competition placed high demands on the construction and operational performance of the robots. Participants had to conduct a thorough and detailed verification of the robots' ability to follow a line, their precision of movement and adaptability within the specified time frame. During this process, participants had to quickly identify any issues with the robots, immediately communicate with teammates, collaboratively adjust various parameters, and ensure that the robots were in optimal condition to face their opponents.

The qualifiers of the World Robot Contest Trials 2024 — ENJOY AI opened in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Saturday. [PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY]

"The participating contestants need to fully utilize their knowledge on-site, integrating mechanical structures, sensors, programming, logic and other skills to control the robots in completing various tasks. They not only have to autonomously devise strategies but also make timely adjustments based on the on-site conditions. Within the specified time frame, judges would assign corresponding scores to the contestants based on how they complete the tasks," said Xiao Hongyuan, a referee of the contest.

A participating student from Xinjin Experimental Primary School said: "During the preparation process, I learned to use new tools and equipment, solve problems, collaborate with teammates, and discover shortcomings from failures. I experienced the joy of innovation, which are valuable experiences that I couldn't have gained in school or at home."

According to organizers, the top-performing teams from Sichuan province in this qualifying tournament will advance to the national finals, where they will battle it out for victory.