MEAM MSE students independently competed at IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2024 in Japan. The team, comprised of four students from the class of 2025 – Saurav Agrawal, Sai Chand Gubbala, Tejendra Patel and Kevin Paulose – took on this challenge with enthusiasm and determination. The team competed the F1tenth Autonomous Grand Prix and the Bots & Bento competition.
With guidance from Rahul Mangharam, Professor in ESE, and support from the Dean’s Office, these students embraced the opportunity to test their abilities. In this blog post, team member Kevin Paulose shares their experiences, challenges, and triumphs at this event.
The 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in PACIFICO Yokohama, held from May 13–17, was a thrilling experience for us emerging robotics enthusiasts. The event was an incredible gathering where the world’s leading robotics experts showcased and competed with their cutting-edge technologies.
Expectations can be a prelude to disappointment, but they also fuel our ambitions. While our apple fell very far from the tree in our attempt at these competitions, our learning curve was pretty steep in those five days. Multiple sleepless nights and all-day tinkering at the conference put our limits to the test. The scale of teams that participate in these competitions is unsurpassed.
The F1Tenth competition was collaboratively founded by our mentor, Prof. Rahul Mangharam, a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. The F1TENTH competition is a racing event where participants design, build, and race 1/10th scale autonomous race cars. The objective is to create the fastest and most reliable self-driving car using advanced algorithms and sensor technologies whilst adhering to the competition’s rules and regulations.
The Bots & Bento competition involved participants using components and modules from Olive Robotics to design, build, and program a robot capable of completing specific challenges. Teams were required to assemble their robots using various hardware, including servos, cameras, IMUs, and omnidirectional wheels, and simulate their designs using URDF files.
The ICRA 2024 conference in Japan was an incredible opportunity to immerse ourselves in the cutting-edge world of robotics engineering. The event allowed us to network with brilliant minds from around the globe, providing invaluable insights and inspiration. Our time at ICRA was filled with learning and growth. Exploring Japan was equally enriching; the country’s unique blend of tradition and technology left us in awe. From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the serene beauty of Yokohama, we experienced a culture that is both kind and disciplined. The food was a delightful adventure, and the efficient public transport made getting around a breeze.
Overall, the conference and our time in Japan were transformative. We returned with a deeper understanding of the robotics sector, a network of new connections, and a renewed passion for our work. The experiences and lessons from ICRA 2024 will undoubtedly shape our future endeavors in the field of robotics.
