The JF Kennedy Institute of Pordenone wins the final of the ABB RoboCup 2024
- ABB RoboCup aims to develop practical skills on latest generation robots and cobots to meet the needs of the world of work
- The ABB RoboCup contest was recognized as an official competition in the scientific-technological field in the “Program for the enhancement of excellence for the 2023/2024 school year” of the Ministry of Education
- 49 schools from all over Italy participated in the sixth edition of the contest.
The sixth edition of ABB RoboCup ended today, a contest created by the ABB Robotics Education team to involve high school students and make them passionate about the topics of the intelligent factory. After an intense day, divided between practical tests and training visits, the ITST JF Kennedy of Pordenone is the winner of this edition.
The initiative, born in 2019, aims to promote technical training both by providing schools with the necessary tools and by stimulating healthy competition capable of fully involving children. The added value of the initiative led the Ministry of Education to recognize ABB RoboCup as an official competition in the scientific-technological field.
“Education is one of the pillars of our strategy; for several years, in fact, at ABB Robotics we have activated initiatives that involve young people” – he highlighted Leonardo Leani, Head of ABB Robotics Italy. “ABB offers the world of schools a broad training package, a true ecosystem that includes teaching materials and theoretical-practical paths for teachers and students. The ABB RoboCup is part of this path, which goes beyond the concept of training by creating a bridge between schools and the world of work.”
Competition and collaboration: the educational value of ABB RoboCup
ABB RoboCup represents an important training opportunity for children from Higher Technical Institutes (ITS). This robotics competition not only stimulates the creativity and ingenuity of participants, but also offers hands-on experience in the field of advanced technology.
As pointed out by Maurizio Lepori, Head of Education ABB Robotics Italy:“The goal of ABB RoboCup is precisely to promote and develop the multidisciplinary skills necessary to work with robots and respond to the needs of manufacturing companies. And precisely to offer even more concreteness, the 2024 edition has broadened its horizons with visits to important companies in the sector”.
The educational value of this competition is demonstrated by the sponsors of the event: Intellimech, Confindustria Bergamo, Fondazione Dalmine ETS, Kilometro Rosso and SIRI (Italian Association of Robotics and Automation).
Educating for excellence: the contribution of teachers
The participation of ITS students in the ABB RoboCup is a tangible example of how collaboration between teachers and young people can lead to excellent results, enriching the training path and preparing students to face the challenges of the real world with competence and determination.
This initiative also owes its success to the dedication and tireless commitment of the teachers, who dedicate time and resources to support young people in facing this experience. A commitment that aims to bring robotics to the center of educational attention, recognizing it as a fundamental topic for the training of future generations of professionals.
“I feel deeply the importance of close collaboration between schools and companies, because together we can shape the future of our young people, inspire them with real skills and cultivate the next generation of innovators,” he underlined Loris Latassa, professor at Majorana in Seriateduring the final day of the competition.
ABB RoboCup 2024: technical training and practical skills
This year’s edition saw the participation of schools from all over the country: more than 1000 students challenged themselves – in the first phase of the contest – in over 100 hours of competitions over three exercises. The first required them to assemble two robots, a task that tested their understanding of mechanical components and ability to assemble complex devices with precision.
The second test involved the programming of a fundamental process in industrial automation: palletizing. The last exercise challenged the kids to program the robot to trace the outlines of the word “RoboCup.” This task required precision and skill in spatial manipulation, showing their ability to program complex movements with high accuracy.
The final phase of the competition took place at the Dalmine Foundation, where the students engaged in programming and interacting with the cobots and challenged themselves by answering a series of quizzes.
The awards ceremony at the Confindustria Auditorium in Bergamo saw the participation of all the promoters of the initiative, who underlined the need to invest in training in order to adequately prepare both the current and future workforce. ABB RoboCup 2024 demonstrated that it is possible to offer an innovative proposal for multidisciplinary training and interactive teaching.
During the event, a moment was dedicated to awarding eleven girls from the different ITS who participated in the ABB RoboCup 2024. This event not only celebrates talent and commitment in robotics and technology, but also highlights the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education for all, regardless of gender. Encouraging and supporting girls in pursuing scientific educational and professional paths is essential to building a more inclusive future.
A day full of emotions
During the day the children had the opportunity to visit three centers of excellence: JOiiNT LAB, Intellimech and ABB Dalmine. These activities gave them first-hand insight into cutting-edge technologies in robotics and industrial automation.
At the JOiiNT LAB, a joint research laboratory, students were able to closely observe how collaboration between universities and industry fosters the development of innovative solutions. This stimulating environment has shown the importance of applied research and synergy between different scientific and technological fields.
At Intellimech, a consortium of companies involved in mechatronics research, students explored the latest technologies for automation and industry 4.0. They were able to see how companies collaborate to create intelligent systems and advanced solutions, gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the modern industrial sector.
The visit to ABB Dalmine offered an overview of a plant recognized as a Lighthouse Plant and which embodies the principles of Industry 4.0.
