Cyprus shines in major international robotics festival

Cypriot students excelled at the Robotex International robotics festival in Estonia earlier this month, placing high in a number of categories.

“We proudly followed on social networks the young roboticists raising the flag of our country countless times on the podium of Robotex International 2021,” the Cyprus Computer Society (CCS) said.

Taking place at Saku Suurhall in Tallinn, Robotex International involved the participation of approximately 600 students from 21 different countries, including India, Italy, the United States, Turkey, Madagascar and Azerbaijan.

In the LEGO Sumo category, where the aim is to use your robot to take your opponent out of the ring, Cyprus’ four participating teams took second place for children up to 14 years old, second place for children up to 13 years old, and third place for children aged 14 years old and older.

In the Folkrace event, a competition that seeks to emulate the nature of closed-circuit rallycross racing, Cyprus took first place for children up to 16 years old.

In the LEGO Line Following events, where the robots are tasked with completing the track marked with a black line on the field as quickly as possible, Cyprus took first, second and third place for children up to 13 years old, as well as fourth place for children over 14 years old. In the enhanced version of the same event, Cyprus came in fifth place.

“Our awards in Estonia prove that the flame still burns among youth and the future is predicted even brighter for this sector in our country,” Chairman of the Robotex Cyprus Organising Committee Panicos Masouras said.

Masouras also noted that ‘the field of robotics should be a priority in the National Strategy for the Development of Digital Skills’ and should be added to Cyprus’ educational system as both an autonomous and interdisciplinary subject.

“Concerning the government’s strategy to attract technology companies in order to make Cyprus an international technology hub, an effort should be made to attract international robotics companies to the island,” Masouras added.