The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that the competition will run from July 2 to July 5 at the Songdo Convensia. The International RoboCup is organized by the RoboCup Federation and the city of Incheon, with support from the ministry.
This year's event features various robotics challenges, including robot soccer, disaster rescue, home service, and manufacturing processes. South Korea is represented by ten teams competing in four categories: soccer, home service, manufacturing, and rescue operations. Additionally, over 40 domestic and international robotics manufacturers and parts companies will participate in an exhibition and an international symposium on robotics technology.
For the first time, a humanoid robot challenge will be held this year, with 12 teams from domestic universities competing to demonstrate the capabilities of humanoids in manufacturing and logistics environments. The teams will perform tasks similar to real-world processes, such as sorting parts, transporting items, sequential assembly, and attaching wheels. The focus is on validating the applicability of humanoids in industrial settings.
To be deployed in industrial environments, humanoid robots must not only walk but also recognize, grasp, move, and assemble components. This challenge is expected to serve as a practical platform to assess the dexterity, visual recognition, and autonomous control capabilities required in manufacturing and logistics.
Before the opening ceremony, the ministry held a meeting with university students and young professionals to outline policy directions for robot talent development. This includes the establishment of a "Humanoid Specialization Graduate School" in the second half of this year, which will support the development and operation of educational programs, research equipment, and industry-academia collaborative projects. Opportunities for joint R&D and practical applications between universities and companies will also be expanded.
Kim Sung-yeol, head of the Ministry's Industrial Growth Office, stated, "This RoboCup is a gathering of global robotics talent competing in technology, and it is a significant opportunity for our country to showcase its ascent as a leader in AI robotics. We will actively incorporate suggestions from the youth meeting to ensure they become world-leading talents."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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