Thousands of robotics enthusiasts are set to converge for an international competition on the Sunshine Coast.
Thirty-four teams from around the world will take part in the RoboRAVE World Championships, which will be held in Australia for the first time at the University of the Sunshine Coast from July 13 to 14.
The event is expected to provide an estimated $1.3 million boost to the local economy.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli said council was thrilled to collaborate with RoboRAVE Australia to host the event.
“This is the first time the world championship event has been held in Australia,” she said.
“We are proud to support this event through our Major Events Sponsorship Program, another example of how we are creating opportunities that strengthen our economy now and into the future.
“We are also committed to fostering youth innovation and STEM career pathways and there is no better place to experience future technologies than right here on our Sunshine Coast.
“It’s wonderful to see a huge interest in participation as we welcome international students and their families who will experience everything our beautiful region has to offer.”
RoboRAVE is a renowned international series of competitive robotics events designed for participants ranging from primary school students to university students and adults.
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Each team must design, build and program a fully autonomous robot to complete tasks using advanced technology such as vision tracking.
More than 4000 people are set to compete in the competition, with some of them hailing from China, Egypt, Japan, Mexico, Poland and Taiwan.
Attendees will witness cleverly designed robots tackling vertical surfaces, battling in sumo arenas and navigating intricate mazes, among other thrilling challenges.
RoboRAVE Australia President Tim Hadwen encouraged participants and volunteers to register now to secure their spots.
“The world championships coming to the region encompasses more than six years of development of the robotics education ecosystem in the Sunshine Coast and around Australia,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to our biggest event ever with a whole heap of exciting changes to adapt to the scale this competition has grown to.”
Spectator tickets will be released a month before the event.
To make the event happen, RoboRAVE needs volunteers across three days. Volunteers are given training, as well as a tee-shirt and food and drinks.
