NPIC 02 wins the 10th National Robocon Cambodia, held at the Morodok Techo National Stadium on June 25. INFORMATION MINISTRY
In the thrilling final competition of the 10th National Robocon Cambodia 2023 robotics event, held at the Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Elephant Hall on June 25, a team from the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC) emerged as the victorious team, defeating their worthy opponents from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC).
This year’s contest featured a traditional Cambodian ring toss game, which was selected as the centerpiece of this year’s international ABU Robocon 2023, which the Kingdom will host in August.
With an impressive score of 220 points, team NPIC 02 secured the coveted “jey yor” – the jackpot awarded to a team whose robots throw rings over all designated poles.
“The NPIC and ITC teams all demonstrated remarkable capabilities that meet international standards,” said Pang Nath, an adviser to the Ministry of Information.
“Both NPIC 02 and the runners-up, ITC 02, will proudly represent Cambodia in the upcoming August international competition,” he added.
Nath, who leads the event, warned both teams to expect strong challenges from the Japanese and Vietnamese teams, both of whom have pedigree in Robocon events.
He expressed his confidence that the robots of NPIC an ITC are of a high enough standard for international competition, noting with pride that such standards are still unachievable by many countries in the region.
“According to the participants, this year’s robotics competition was more advanced than in previous years. There were more entries and the fans were more enthusiastic,” he told The Post.
The competition featured teams from six higher education facilities, with all but one of them entering two teams.
The Elephant Hall was transformed into a pulsating arena of support by the screaming fans.
As NPIC 02 took on ITC 02 in the final, the air was filled with a symphony of shouts, songs and booming music. Supporters cheered fervently for their respective teams, their voices echoing throughout the hall, adding to the electric atmosphere.
Harmonious chants and anthems resonated from the stands as fans united in their unwavering support. The rhythmic beats of drums and blaring horns further intensified the energy, as if the music itself was fuelling the robotic prowess on the field.
The passionate activities of the NPIC supporters created an unforgettable experience, propelling NPIC 02 to a glorious victory, with the spirit of camaraderie and celebration enveloping the hall.
The competition centered on a traditional Cambodian ring toss, inspired by an ancient legend of a rabbit and an elephant worshipping at Angkor Wat.
Both teams were tasked with designing robots that could throw rings at narrow poles, a challenging feat for both humans and handmade robots alike. The objective was to land the most rings on the poles, determining the winners.
The elephant robots were programmed to roam around the exterior of the Angkor Wat terrace, while the rabbit robots were assigned the task of maneuvering inside the terrace.
With their innovative robot design and precision, NPIC 02 showcased their expertise and outperformed their opponents, ultimately claiming the championship title.
Chhay Phean, a lecturer at NPIC, managed the polytechnic’s teams. He said both of the NPIC teams have been assembling their robots and preparing for the competition for about six months.
“Our teams have won seven out of the last 10 competitions we have entered,” he added.
“Both our teams and those from other universities and institutes have developed our skills exponentially in recent years. We used to build small robotic cars, but now we employ large, complex machines,” he explained.
Phean was pleased to see the support for both teams and also pleased to note that initially, they appeared evenly matched, which boded well for the upcoming international competition.
He believed that some changes would need to be made before facing their next opponents.
“We need to strengthen the capabilities of our robots, because we have seen the Japanese and Vietnamese robots. Their robots are very fast,” said the lecturer, who led the team to the 2017 Robotics Championships in Japan, where they defeated China.
The ITC team’s robots have a unique design that means their robotic elephant can lift their robotic rabbit across Angkor’s terrace without having to use the stairs.
Phean said it looked like it would save time, but noted that the elephant could not pick up rings while it was carrying the rabbit.
“For this reason, NPIC chose to control the two robots separately. It will be interesting to see which strategy takes the win in October,” he said.
The ABU Robocon, founded by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in 2002, brings together talented students from across the Asian-Oceanian region.
With the National Television of Cambodia (TVK) leading the way, in collaboration with ABU and Japan’s state-run broadcaster NHK TV, Cambodia is poised to deliver a remarkable event.
“The ABU has 14 or 15 member countries, although four of them are delaying their applications as they have issues with the terms of entry,” said Nath.
Despite a few member countries facing entry issues, Cambodia is prepared to proudly embrace its role as hosts and eagerly anticipates a thrilling competition ahead.
