SLIIT ROBOFEST 2019, the annual much-awaited robotic battle organised by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology for the 10th consecutive year, concluded on a high note recently showcasing creativity and boundless enthusiasm. Held since 2010, the main objective of SLIIT ROBOFEST is to inspire and provide future minds the opportunity to design, build and adapt to new technologies especially in the field of robotics thereby enhancing their theoretical and practical knowledge.

During this year’s ROBOFEST 2019 edition the organisers sought to elevate the competition to international standards encouraging these aspiring young science experts to push the envelope of their developing engineering skills, knowledge of robotics and abilities to work creatively as a team. This year’s competition consisted of two categories; University and Schools. “Each year we are inspired by the enthusiasm and creativity of these competitors. As ROBOFEST 2019 celebrates a decade of achievement, it also showcases how our students are on the right track in pursuing an education in engineering while absorbing new knowledge and relishing the excitement of competition,” said Prof. Saman Thilakasiri, Dean, Faculty of Engineering.

The winner of the University category was Speedy 2.0 from the University of Moratuwa, in second place Roadster also representing the University of Moratuwa and third was KARR from the University of Peradeniya. A total of 55 University teams participated in the competition. This year’s University robotic challenge was to build a miniature robot which can move fast to solve a maze and find the final destination within minimum time. The competition followed the concept of Micro-mouse robotic challenges and the robot which could solve the maze in the shortest time was declared the winner of the challenge. The University Category was open to students of a University or any University level degree-awarding institute.

A team comprised of a maximum of five members in which all members were from the same University or Institute. In the schools category, 134 institutions from across the island participated. Team Neon from Central College Kuliyapitiya won the challenge. In second place was Omega 2 from D.S. Senanayake Collage, Colombo and in third place was Deathend - Royal College Ranabima. Competitors were challenged to design a mobile robot capable of navigating through lines and achieving the final goal of using colour sorting methods. A team comprised of a maximum of five members and all had to be students from the same school.

The competition consisted of a preliminary round for each category where ten finalists were selected. These finalists competed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and were awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in addition to valuable cash prizes. The growing influx of entries annually for the competition is a reflection of the increased interest and enthusiasm of young inventors towards the world of robotics during the past few years. ROBOFEST provides a suitable platform to showcase their talents and potential.