Robot contest "Tower of Hanoi"

The European Robotics Challenge 2011 (in short euRobotics challenge) is to build up the Tower of Hanoi - an excellent problem to teach and study the problem of designing optimal algorithms (recursive or iterative). The Tower of Hanoi problem is a fantastic scenario to teach and study some of the most demanding scientific challenges in robotics today.

Solving the Tower of Hanoi problem – if done efficiently and fast - requires the seamless integration of: 

• perception including object recognition, scene understanding and situation awareness,
• world modeling (in 3D),
• task planning (for mobile manipulation),
• motion planning (for mobile manipulation),
• coordination and control including navigation.

In spite of its challenging nature the Tower of Hanoi problem also has the appeal that it does not overload the problem with too many issues which for the time being only obstruct the clear view to this seamless integration and complicate the problem even further. It is an excellent vehicle to study the scientific issues listed above not only in isolation but also in an integrated manner. It is a vehicle for research and education in mobile manipula-tion and, last but not least, it yields a perfect setting for a robot contest for students and their teachers inter-ested in mobile manipulation.

Who can participate?  

Teams of robotics students, undergraduates as well as graduates, from all over Europe that are interested in mobile manipulation are welcome to participate in the challenge. Professors are asked to motivate and tutor their students to join the challenge - an excellent opportunity to meet and compete with young researchers from all over Europe.

Prizes & Awards

All teams that pass the qualification and manage to get into the semifinals will receive a travel grant of 1.000 EUR each to be able to travel to the finals in London. In addition the best three teams will receive a monetary prize.

Important Dates

• 05. Nov. 2011 Deadline for registration
• 01.-25.Nov. 2011 Remote access, testing and evaluation
• 09.-10. Nov. 2011 Qualifications (cyber-contest) 
• 02. Dec. 2011 Contest (semifinals and finals, in London)

Interested to participate? 

First of all, please look at the detailed information about the challenge and contest in the next sections of the website.

To register for the event, please, send an email to the event secretariat.

Participation in the contest will be free. Travel costs have to be covered by participants themselves (semi-finalists however will receive a travel grant of 1.000 EUR each to be able to travel to the finals in London). Registration is required.

*Deadline for registration*: 15 October 2011.

Event secretariat 

Locomotec UG
Nobelstraße 15
70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Email: contest@locomotec.com