We recently reported on the Reformula Innovation Competition organised by the Engineering Mission at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). In the present piece of news, we report on the autonomous robot programming competition organised by Széchenyi István University (SZE) for secondary school students. Both universities are members of ARNL. These two competitions, which took place at roughly the same time earlier this year, along with similar competitions, which had been organised earlier in Hungary, highlight the fact that interest in autonomous systems (AS) and in their programming have become widespread also in Hungary, furthermore, they raise the possibility that projects on AS topics could well be integrated into and become an integral part of secondary school education.
The autonomous robot programming competition for secondary school students was organised by the SZE with the aim of familiarising students with some of the technical and IT tasks and challenges arising in conjunction with self-driving vehicles. To solve these tasks, a computer simulation environment and small mobile robot platforms were made available to the competitors. After the online round, the best teams were invited to and competed at the SZE Zalaegerszeg Innovation and Training Centre.
About 50 teams from all over the country participated in the SZE's online autonomous robot programming competition, with three students and one teacher per team. The aim of the programme was to introduce young people to the latest automotive technologies – including control technology, measurements with sensors and robot programming - at secondary school level.
Two student-teacher teams from Békéscsaba and two from Cegléd finished in the first four places of the online round. These teams competed against each other in the finals in person. They had to program their self-driving robot vehicles to cover the longest distance on a given course in a given time.
“Our university not only builds students' success by providing them with up-to-date knowledge, but also develops their skills. For example, in addition to professional knowledge, the ability to work in a team is essential for success in the world of technology. This competition is a great opportunity to do just that." - said Ferenc Friedler, Rector and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University.
András Háry, CEO of the ZalaZONE Industrial Park Zrt., which is owned by the Széchenyi István University Foundation, which also maintains the SZE, emphasised that the complex environment of the ZalaZONE automotive test track is home to programmes based on innovative technologies such as the one represented by this competition.
"Talented students, for instance the ones who take part in the competition, can become students of the SZE. They will also be able to participate in the ZalaZONE internship programme, and get involved in the work there." - the CEO pointed out to the young people.
More information about the event can be found on the SZE website.