Robotics innovation takes centre stage at 2024 FIRA Canada RoboWorld Cup

This past weekend, the School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering hosted the inaugural FIRA RoboWorld Cup Canada Open Competition on May 18 and 19 at the SFU Surrey Campus.

The event celebrated diversity in robotics with competitions tailored to different age groups and expertise levels. Participants, ranging from under 10-years-old to university students, engaged in four thrilling categories designed to test their engineering and programming skills. The event also showcased autonomous vehicles, flying robots for urban and disaster scenarios, and the FIRA Sports league, which combined athleticism with robotics technology. New leagues, AI Arts and Smart Home, were also introduced.

Three teams from SFU participated, with one team from SFU’s Robotics Club, led by MSE student Ahmed Badway, winning third place in the autonomous race car category. The hybrid event allowed both online and in-person participation, highlighting the robotics community's adaptability. 

The competition concluded with an awards ceremony, and the top three teams will represent Canada at the FIRA RoboWorld Cup Final in Brazil in August. Stephen Dooley, executive director of SFU's Surrey campus, emphasized the importance of such events in showcasing community vibrance and cutting-edge innovation. SFU's commitment to technological advancement and education is reinforced through events like the FIRA RoboWorld Cup, which inspire and nurture the next generation of engineers and innovators.

Read more about the event here>>