The DTU RoboCup competition offers a new obstacle that includes the interaction between magnets and electricity that Ørsted discovered. In addition, the participating robots must overcome 9 other obstacles on the competition track.
The 200-year anniversary of H.C. Ørsted's discovery of electromagnetism naturally characterizes this year's DTU RoboCup. An Ørsted obstacle has thus been added to the track that the robots must cross. At the new obstacle, the robots must pick up a magnetic ball, which they must subsequently shoot through a pipe with the greatest possible force. During the journey through the tube, the magnetic ball passes two electromagnets in the form of electrical wires. The faster the current is induced in the two electromagnetic coils, the more points the robots get.
“Electromagnetism forms the basis for the robots' electric motors, and it has therefore been only natural for us to include an Ørsted obstacle in this year's edition of DTU RoboCup. The new obstacle basically reflects the same function that you know from your magnetic bicycle lights, ” says professor Ole Ravn, DTU Electrical Engineering.
DTU RoboCup has been held for more than 20 years to focus on the development of robots.
Ole Ravn estimates that the new obstacle is one of the most difficult on the track, as it requires both high precision and good maneuverability of the robot.
Autonomous robots
The participants have pre-programmed the robots so that they can drive through the track on their own and solve a total of ten challenges, which includes driving through a tunnel, over a seesaw, getting a golf ball in a hole and taking a quick ride on the ‘racetrack’.
"Participants must not touch their robot along the way, but get points for all the obstacles the robot passes flawlessly," says Ole Ravn.
Live stream in 360 degrees
This year, due to the corona virus situation, it is not possible to be a spectator to DTU RoboCup. Instead, you can follow the competition on livestream, where there will be the opportunity to watch in 360 degrees as the robots move around the track.
It is still possible to register for this year's edition of DTU RoboCup. Read more on DTU RoboCups website.