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AIT, TRS and SEAGATE to jointly host national “BicyRobo Thailand Championship”

22 Jul 2011
AIT


The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Seagate Technology (Thailand)
Limited, and Thai Robotics Society (TRS) have partnered to jointly host
the national contest to select the best unmanned bicycle robot in the
2nd Annual BicyRobo Thailand
Championship. 

The three partners announced details of the event a
national-level press conference at AIT on July 21. The contest for
university students aims to develop engineering skills in robotics and
automation systems in Thailand, officials said.

BicyRobo Thailand Championship is a competition to build a
bicycle robot which is able to balance itself and able to navigate
along a predefined path. The team that produces the bicycle robot
which is able to run the longest and fastest autonomously will be the
winner. Seagate has provided 1.7 million baht sponsorship for the
contest and several prizes for winning teams.
The 2nd
Annual contest will be hosted by the Bangkok Racing Circuit on
Srinakarin Road, in early 2012.

Expressing delight with AIT’s role in the annual event, Prof.
Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, AIT Vice President for Resource Development,
said AIT’s Mechatronics field of study, which has been operating for
over 10 years, has been cooperating with universities in Thailand and
in other countries to produce graduates and develop robotics technology
and automated systems for Thailand and the Asian region. “The 2nd
BicyRobo Thailand Championship is a good example the excellent academic
cooperation between AIT, universities in Thailand, and the private
sector,” he said.

Prof. Worsak added that the competition would directly benefit
Thai students who would receive professional-level training at AIT on
August 11. He said the organizers hoped that the technology
derived from the competition could have direct and indirect uses for
the country in the near future.

“Thailand’s 2nd annual BicyRobo Championship
aims at inspiring youngsters in Thailand to sharpen their
skills in robotic technology, automation and control
engineering. The contest also develops innovative and unique
robotic technologies that will benefit both the Thai industrial and
education sectors as well as the country’s overall development,” Dr.
Thavida Maneewan, president of the Thai Robotics Society (TRS)
said.

Ms. Sirirat Euaypadung, Teparuk plant manager, Seagate
Technology (Thailand) Limited said: “Seagate is excited to sponsor the
2nd Annual BicyRobo Thailand Championship. Contestants
can take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to enhance their
science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. In addition
to technology skills learned through the hands-on experience of
building, designing and programming the unmanned bicycle robots, these
university students have an opportunity to work with robotic experts,
academics and industrialists, and to enhance their skills, such as
critical thinking, team building and project management.”

“As the contest continues to gain momentum, the possibility for
using new technologies to improve people’s lives continues to grow
exponentially. These contestants are among the leaders in the push to
create, develop and execute technological and robotic advancements for
Thailand’s future,” Ms. Sirirat added

Associate Professor Manukid Parnichkun, chairman of the
organizing committee of BicyRobo Thailand Championship and lecturer at
the Mechatronics field of study, School of Engineering and Technology,
AIT said: “Through this challenging contest, university students who
have special passion for science, technology and robotics, will be
empowered with the latest trends in the industry.” 

He explained that AIT is always on the alert to provide students
with opportunities of importance for their development. “Our aim is
always to broaden the technical horizon of the students and project
them to use their theoretical knowledge into practice, fully embedded
with skills required for their further studies and future careers,”
Assoc. Prof. Manukid said.

“From success in the 1st contest, we have witnessed
how university students are able to come up with practical robotic
innovations. For the upcoming contest, contestants are committed
to developing and stabilizing their unmanned bicycle robots. They
aim at enhancing various technical capabilities so that their vehicles
are well-balanced and faster than ever,” he added. 

As the contest main sponsor, Seagate offers funds for contest
prizes including the 150,000 baht cash for the winning team, while
100,000 baht goes to the first runner-up. The team with the best
technique and the most creative team win 50,000 baht in cash
each. Each of the 16 finalist teams will be given 20,000 baht to
develop its vehicle.

Registration runs from now until August 5, 2011 at www.trs.or.th. Contestants
training, rules and regulations announcement and Q & A Session will
be hosted at AIT on August 11, 2011. The preliminary round contest
will be hosted on November 2, 2011. The final round contest will
be hosted on February 8, 2012.

bicyrobo_web.jpg
From left: Ms. Sirirat Euaypadung, Teparuk plant manager, Seagate
Technology (Thailand) Limited; Dr. Thavida Maneewan, TRS President;
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, AIT Vice President for Resource
Development; and Associate Professor Manukid Parnichkun, chairman of
the organizing committee of BicyRobo Thailand Championship.