The Cambodian team contest the finals at World Robocon 2022. SUPPLIED
Students from the Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology made it to the final 6 teams of the 2022 ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (Robocon), hosted in the Indian capital New Delhi but held virtually on August 21.
Khim Vuthy, director-general of the National Television of Cambodia (TVK), accepted the Robocon flag as the Kingdom is slated to host the event in August 2023. He announced that next year’s theme will be “Casting Flowers over Angkor Wat”.
“We are proud to experience yet another successful year of Robocon,” said Vuthy, as Cambodia defeated Malaysia and Fiji to cement their place in the finals.
”We have already begun preparations to ensure all participants and guests have a pleasant and enjoyable time in Phnom Penh next year. The event will be hosted at the Morodok Techo National Stadium,” he added.
Pang Chamnan, the organiser of next year’s event, expressed his hope that Covid-19 will not present any obstacles to the 2023 Robocon, as 20 countries are scheduled to participate.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us. As hosts, we have to determine the disciplines and techniques that will be employed,” he told The Post.
He said the official discipline from Cambodia the host country is “Casting Flowers over Angkor Wat”. The flowers will be represented by rings, and there are three types of poles resembling the five spires of Angkor Wat.
”There are moats to negotiate to reach the poles. It will be very challenging, which we think will make it very exciting to play,” he added.
Each team has two robots working together to throw rings over the poles. To score points, the robots should match the colours of the rings to the poles.
“This formula makes it even more competitive,” said Chamnan.
He also mentioned additional difficulties. The robots would have to work together to travel on uneven roads to make it within throwing range.
“If the robots want to throw the rings, they have to climb up the stairs. Our model is very high, so the climb will also be difficult,” he said, noting that two Cambodian teams will be selected to take part in the contest.
“The host nation is allowed to enter two teams, whereas there will only one team from each other nation. This is obviously an advantage when calculating the Kingdom’s chances of making it through each round. Obviously it is also about technique and the ability of each team,” he added.
After winning the 9th National Robotics Competition in June, the CADT 01 team from the Cambodian Academy of Digital Technology competed against teams from 15 other famous universities of technology.
Although Cambodia was unable to win, it was an honour to participate, said Chamnan.
“In the semi-finals, we lost to India. We have no regrets – India has been participating in Robocon for a long time and we have only entered in the last few years,” he said.
”We enjoyed what we achieved this year and hope to do better as hosts next year,” he added.
