The first robotics competition, called "Looking for the New Shakey", has named its winners. It was organised by the Scientific Senate of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania. The winners were awarded at an event held at the Metropolis Theatre in Bucharest.
Grand prize of the national robotics competition "Looking for the New Shakey"
The grand prize was won by the young innovator Vlad Alexandru Pătrulescu who presented a remote-controlled robot in the shape of a spider - the Lens V 2 robot The Scientific Senate of FDVDR will fund the next robotics project to be developed by the winner of the competition.
The Lens V 2 robot has the ability to move easily over rough surfaces and access locations that may be unsafe for people at risk. The Lens V2 robot could be used in reconnaissance and identification missions in toxic environments where humans would not have access.
"The robot is just one of two projects I have been working on for two years. It's actually a multi-purpose platform that could have different applications. I've been passionate about this field since the third grade and I'm glad that my robot was so appreciated in this contest", said Vlad Pătrulescu during the award ceremony for the most intelligent robot in Romania.
Sustainability Award
The prize for sustainability was won by the Seramitae Robotics High School Club of the "Costache Negri" National College, Galati, with a robot that can collect waste from various surfaces and could replace the work of cleaning staff on pavements and in parks. The team presented a miniature model, but the innovators promise to develop it in the future.
Popularity Award
The Popularity Award was won by the Magic Sciences team from the "George Coșbuc" National College in Cluj with a platform for monitoring and warning of pollution and weather threats. The ambitious project consists of a terminal that could process information from multiple systems.
"Looking fot the new Shakey" aimed to encourage innovation in this future field. Teams from leading robotics clubs from all over the country and one of the most appreciated robotics teams in Romania and abroad, which has won numerous awards at the International Robotics Championships, prestigious universities in the country, as well as Romanian high school and university students with exceptional results in this field participated.
Thus, the AutoVortex CSU ASE Romania team was among the finalists. The team won awards at this year's Robotics World Championship in the USA - AutoVortex succeeded in receiving the "Alliance Award Finalist" in the Edison division final and the "Control Award" for advanced Java programming of the competition robot.
- In February 2023, AutoVortex won 1st place at the International Robotics Championship in South Korea.
- In July 2022, the team won 1st place at the International Robotics Championship in Utah, USA,
- In 2021, in Chicago, USA, they won 1st place at an International Robotics Championship.
The criteria for selection were the applicability and performance of the robot, the creativity and innovation of the robot, the mechanical construction and the performance of the software with which it is equipped. The robotics projects entered in the competition were reviewed by leading experts in the field:
Ana Maria Stancu, EURobotics Board member, founder of RoboHub - learning center for robotics and programming, CEO of Bucharest Robots - the first start-up in Romania dedicated to humanoid robots and service robots;
Dănuţ Eremenco, Creative Business Development Professional, Marketing & Communication Enthusiast;
Răzvan Drumeși, President of the Students' League of the Faculty of Automation and Computers
Vlad Băiceanu representative of the National Institute for Research and Development in Computer Science Bucharest
Codruta Vitan, School inspector for institutional management from ISMB
Laurențiu Matache, TV Host Antena 3 CNN;
Bogdan Neacșu, Sociallitegroup Media Partner
Marius Florin Ghibernic, Google Romania specialist
Special guests included:
Associate Professor PhD Nicoleta IACOB CEO & Founder at ITLevel;
Daniela Lică, Director of Prahova County Centre of Excellence
Looking For The New Shakey - the robotics teams that made it to the finals of the competition:
- Cyber Tech Robotics Team - Faculty of Engineering of Sibiu, which presented an autonomous robot for collecting tennis balls, a robot with practical utility for any tennis court and athletes training
- The TM 2 robotics team, which unveiled a multi-purpose machine that can carry 2300 kilograms over land and water
- The Short Circuit Robotics Team - Computer Science for the Future Association, which presented the Cuza robot - with a communication optimization function.
- Daniel Tincescu and Cosmin Rucăreanu's team has brought to attention an energy production station combining two renewable resources.
- Abso Tech Team - Petru Maior Theoretical High School, presented a robot that will be able to replace a whole range of human activities in the construction field and not only
- Team AutoVortex - Romania's National Robotics Team - Politehnica Bucharest, they presented a robot already winner at other international Shaky Shaky competitions.
