Laurentian University’s robotics teams, Roboparks and Snobots, were formally honoured in Greater Sudbury this week for their outstanding performance at the prestigious Federation of International Robot Sports Association (FIRA) Roboworld Cup held in South Korea this past September. The event brought together forty teams from more than 10 nations, showcasing the pinnacle of student innovation in robotics. In a display of remarkable skill, the Laurentian contingent secured an impressive medal haul across five distinct events, earning four gold, two silver and three bronze medals in total. The teams’ success was further amplified by their capture of the coveted U-19 Championship. This victory was particularly historic as it marked the first time a Canadian team had ever competed in this junior age category, which included high school students from Sudbury’s own Lockerby Composite School. Xingyu Zheng, the coach of Roboparks and a LU student, expressed the profound significance of their achievement. “Getting this championship from South Korea, we really feel we can do a lot in Canada, in Ontario, in northern Ontario, in Sudbury,” said Zheng. Overcoming Challenges on the World Stage For the young participants, the international competition was as demanding as it was rewarding. Taiyu Luo, a Grade 10 student at Lockerby Composite School who joined the team through his passion for technology, detailed the problem-solving nature of the event. “(The competition) was difficult because sometimes the robots will not tell you what is wrong. You need to find out by yourself,” he said. The students’ dedication was noted by Meng Cheng Lau, an assistant professor at Laurentian’s School of Engineering and Computer Science who oversees the robotics program. He highlighted the comprehensive skills the team members developed, from coding and mechanical repairs to battery management and emphasized the value of the experience for both university and high school students. Lau also voiced immense pride in the students’ perseverance, especially considering the logistical hurdles of such a long journey. “They chipped in time, weekends, hours into making this happen. It is not easy,” Lau said. “Especially we have to travel far from Canada to South Korea. All the flights, jet lag, and they still pulling everything together.” Local recognition and a promising future The teams’ international success has not gone unnoticed at home. Sudbury MPP Jamie West presented the students with a legislative scroll to formally recognize their accomplishments. He underscored the importance of celebrating such achievements to inspire the next generation and raise the profile of robotics in the region. “I think that the field of robotics isn’t well known in Sudbury and so, we just found out,” West said. “They let us know what happened and we want to invite them to recognize them.” This landmark victory is already generating increased interest in Laurentian’s robotics program. Lau pointed to the growing field of physical AI, where artificial intelligence is used to control physical objects like robots, as a key area of future innovation. “Physical AI is still something very new and we should push into these directions. I’m happy to see more and more students actually get involved,” Lau said. “I started the lab with just only two students in 2024. Now I have more than 10 or 15 students.” With their triumph in South Korea solidifying their international reputation, the Laurentian robotics teams are already looking ahead. Their next international challenge will require a much shorter commute, as it will be hosted in Markham, Ont. Team members said the competition will offer another opportunity to build upon their world-class success.
