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Tech United from the TU/e becomes robot soccer world champion in Eindhoven
Photos by Bart van Overbeeke
For five days, independent robotics took center stage in Eindhoven. Three hundred teams from forty countries competed for titles in five leagues: RoboCupSoccer, RoboCupRescue, RoboCup@Home, RoboCupJunior, and RoboCup Industrial.
Photos by Bart van Overbeeke
At the RoboCup 2024, Tech United became robot soccer world champions for the eighth time in the Middle Size League (MSL). In a tough match with yellow cards back and forth, the team from TU Eindhoven won 6-1 from the Chinese BigHeroX, which made short work of ASML's Falcons in the semifinals. New champions were also crowned in the other leagues. The healthcare robot from Tech United finished in a deserving fifth place.
Robot soccer world champion
Van Perslucht was the robot of the match in the MSL final with three goals. Tech United's number four shot sharply from distance several times in an otherwise tough final in which BigHeroX regularly threw the buck.
Tech United's other goals came from Robodinho, Zessi and the Nut. Due to a broken fuse, the Chinese team had to play much of the second half with one less robot.
Van Perslucht was given a crowd change in the closing stages in an entertaining final that was appreciated by the crowd, as evidenced by the wave that was set off in the second half.
The @HOME league - helpful robots at home
In the @HOME league, teams competed to make their robot the best helper in a home situation. From filling the dishwasher to bringing coffee, these robots had to be able to do it all.
Thus, we are getting closer and closer to practical help in the home, which will obviously be in increasing demand with an aging population.
The Japanese team Hibikino-Musashi@Home took first prize in the Domestic Platform Standard competition. Tech United finished a creditable fifth.
Rescue - realistic disaster course
In a disaster, such as an earthquake, there is a need to quickly search for survivors among the debris. And then there are places or situations that are not safe for humans, but where robots can go.
The robots in the Rescue league are trained on courses designed by real rescue workers. The winners in that category in the Major League is the team Robotec.
High temperatures and exciting matches
On the very days that ten thousand people are gathered in halls in Eindhoven for the RoboCup 2024, summer finally kicks off in Eindhoven. Fortunately, the high temperatures do not stop the participants and visitors from making it a roaring success.
“It is incredibly beautiful to see how full the stands are and how visitors have also been able to find us from day one,” says René van de Molengraft, professor of robotics and tournament director of RoboCup 2024.
“Also, the workshops at our science festival were enormously well attended and appreciated.”
“The participants demonstrated in their sportive competitions with autonomous robots the extent to which the RoboCup promotes science and innovation in robotics. I am very proud of all the participating teams.”
