Autonomous Robot Manipulation Challenge

Organized and Supported by RoboCup, MathWorks, and Universal Robots

The Autonomous Robot Manipulation Challenge is a RoboCup-affiliated event aiming to involve young researchers and students to address challenging problems related to autonomous robot manipulation, within an educational scientific competition.

The challenge is jointly organized with the technical support of RoboCup, MathWorks, Universal Robots, and with previous collaboration with AIPlan4EU UE project.

New season starting January 2025!

Pre-Registration open here

Participants are tasked with completing a recycling task with a robot manipulator in a dynamic environment. Robot manipulation and grasping are important skills for most robotic applications. This challenge aims to provide a leveled playing field for RoboCup participants and student teams to research and demonstrate their skills regarding manipulation perception and control in a simulated environment and later transport those algorithms to commercial robots. Teams will implement perception and control algorithms in MATLAB and Simulink to grasp and manipulate bottles, cans, and detergent pouches within a table to classify them into two bins. Points are awarded based on the performance of the algorithm in new environments.

Finalists will be invited to RoboCup 2025 to participate in person programming a real-robot set-up featuring Universal UR5e robots. Even if you are uncertain about participation, feel free to pre-register to obtain more information about the challenge and to stay involved in this initiative in the future. Note that Pre-registration is not a commitment to actual participation and final registration.

Organizing Committee

Luca Iocchi & Oskar Von Stryk (RoboCup Federation)

Jose Avendaño (MathWorks)

Rune Søe-Knudsen (Universal Robots)

Marco Simoes & Reinaldo Bianchi (RoboCup Brasil)

Organizing Partners

Prizes

Top 4 teams: Invite to participate in the RoboCup 2025 Finals using an in-person setup with real Universal Robots UR5e*
Top 4 teams: Up to $1250 travel assistance to the RoboCup Finals in Salvador, Brasil
All teams: Certificates of participation and skills developed in robotics manipulation algorithm development for all team members

*Note: Invitation to finals does not include registration and only top 4 qualifying teams are eligible for travel expense assistance

Important Dates (TBD for 2025)

November 2024 - Pre-registration open for the 2025 season
January 10, 2025 - Registration open. New game environment and templates released. Teams can start programming after being registered.
February 12, 2025- Live challenge kick-off session and Q&A for teams (Recording)
April 11, 2025 - Registration deadline
April 27, 2025 - Submission deadline for semifinals round
May 5, 2025 - Announcement of teams qualified for in-person finals
July 15-21, 2025 - Finals during RoboCup 2025 using Universal robots at Salvador, Brasil

Participation Guide

ParticipationGuide_Robot_Manipulation_Challenge.pdf

Registration

All teams must register.

1. Teams may register whether they currently participate in a RoboCup league or not with no fees for the virtual qualification round. Some fees will be necessary to register for the RoboCup finals if a team qualifies within the top 4.
Registration deadline: April 11th, 2025
Questions about registration? Email:financeiro@robocup.org.br or roboticsarena@mathworks.com

Submission

Participating teams will complete a submission form providing links to their code/files and a video of their algorithm in action.

Additional Information

MathWorks support for RoboCup (Complimentary MATLAB licenses)
Templates for RoboCup Virtual Robot Manipulation Challenge
Questions about MATLAB and Simulink? Email: roboticsarena@mathworks.com

F.A.Q.

Finals 2024 Official Standings

1st - MathRam (440) - Tecnológico de Monterrey - Tampico/Mexico

2nd - Kingsbot (420) - Kings College - London/UK

3rd - BisonBots (340) - Lipscomb University - Nashville TN/USA

Finals 2023 Official Standings

(Perception challenge points/Manipulation challenge points)

1st - UOS Robotics (559/570) - University of Seoul, South Korea

2nd - RoboKT (420/545) - Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

3rd - Acopalices (166/470) - Federal University of Technology, Paraná, Brazil

4th - SillyArm (203/342.5) - Centre for AI, IoT, and Robotics, IIITDM Kancheepuram, India

5th - Dragons77 (104/360) - D.Y.Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi, India

Qualifying Submissions 2023

Final.wmv

Dragons 77

UOS Robotics

ARMChallenge2023RoboKT.mp4

RoboKT

SillyARM_robocuparm2023_semifinals.mp4

SillyARM

submission.mp4

Acopalices

Winners from RoboCup 2022: UOS Robotics (200 Points Scored)

UOS_WinningSolution.mp4

Winners from RoboCup 2021: CeimtunRAS