More than 20 students in seven teams faced off in a robotics competition at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, putting months of preparation to the test as their autonomous robots attempted to navigate a complex obstacle course.
The competition, the final project for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering’s Fundamentals of Robotics and Cyberphysical Systems course, challenged students to design and program robots capable of independently following a black line through a winding track.
“We’re pushing the students right to the edge, but keeping it positive at the same time,” said Assistant Professor Daniel Drew, who oversees the course.
Students spent weeks mastering mobility, perception and intelligent systems, with many facing repeated setbacks before achieving success. The competition showcased a range of results, with some robots smoothly tracking the line while others struggled to maintain course.
For computer science major Kai Garcia, the course offered rare hands-on experience with hardware components.
“This class was a great introduction to something I’ve never done before,” Garcia said.
Teams added personal touches to their robots through creative decorations, bringing personality to their technical projects. The competition represented more than just technical achievement, highlighting the students’ growth in problem-solving and engineering skills throughout the semester.
