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Draft:National Engineering Robotics Contest

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National Engineering Robotics Contest (NERC)

The National Engineering Robotics Contest (NERC) is an annual robotics competition held in Pakistan, organized by the Department of Mechatronics Engineering at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). In collaboration with the Society of Mechatronics Engineers, the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the STEM Careers Program, NERC has become a significant event in promoting STEM education and robotics innovation in Pakistan since its inception in 2003.

History:

NERC was initiated in 2003 as a firefighting engineering contest and has since evolved, featuring various robotics challenges over the years:

  • 2003-2004: Firefighting engineering contest.
  • 2005-2008: Image recognition sensor slam dunks.
  • 2009-2010: Precision placement tasks.
  • 2011-2012: Mechanical brains phase.
  • 2013: Maze-solving competitions.
  • 2014-2015: Path planning challenges.
  • 2016-2017: Disaster planning simulations.
  • 2019: Kitchen recycling tasks.
  • 2022: Fruit harvesting.
  • 2023: Fruit plucking.

The 2024 theme focuses on environmental conservation through autonomous tree plantation robotics, marking the 20th edition of the contest.

Host Institution:

The NERC is hosted by the NUST College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (CEME), a prestigious institution known for its contributions to engineering education and research in Pakistan. CEME provides an ideal setting for nurturing the talents of aspiring engineers and robotics enthusiasts.

Categories:

Modular Category: Participants use modular kits like LEGO Mindstorms and VEX Robotics to build robots that can complete specific tasks, promoting hands-on learning and creativity. The tasks typically involve simple navigation and object manipulation, reflecting the central theme.

Ready to Race: Teams design high-speed robots capable of navigating complex tracks, testing their speed, control, and stability. Robots must complete laps on a designated track, with obstacles and sharp turns challenging their performance.

Lego: This category focuses on precision agriculture, where participants use LEGO Mindstorms kits to design robots that can perform tasks such as planting, harvesting, and sorting crops efficiently, promoting sustainable farming practices.

Indigenous: Participants build custom robots from scratch, pushing the boundaries of innovation and integrating various engineering disciplines to solve real-world problems. The tasks are often complex and require robots to perform intricate operations.

Robowars: Features robotic combat challenges where participants build robots to compete in an arena, testing durability, strategy, and mechanical design. Robots must disable or outmanoeuvre their opponents to win matches.

Sumowars: Involves sumo-style robotic matches, where robots attempt to push each other out of a ring, showcasing strength, strategy, and control. The robots compete in rounds, with the last robot remaining in the ring declared the winner.

Aero: Includes flying exhibitions and quadcopter competitions, exploring the potential of aerial robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through various challenges. Participants demonstrate flight dynamics, stability, and control.

Participation:

NERC attracts participants from schools, colleges, and universities across Pakistan. Institutions such as Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Headstart School, and Lahore Grammar School have actively participated in the event, highlighting its national significance.

Five-Day Event Plan:

  • Day One: The Grand Arrival:

Teams arrive and register, with the administrative body ensuring smooth facilitation. This day is dedicated to welcoming outstation teams and setting up their workspaces. Participants receive a welcome briefing, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement.

  • Day Two: Inspection and Opening Ceremony:

The second day begins with meticulous inspection of robots by expert judges to verify compliance with technical specifications. Interviews are conducted to gauge participants’ understanding and preparation. Once approved, the robots are deemed ready for the forthcoming competitions. The grand opening ceremony takes place in the evening, including a draw for heats and sharing the contest schedule with the teams. The arena remains open 24/7, allowing participants to practice and fine-tune their creations throughout the five-day event.

  • Day Three: A Day of Fierce Battles:

The third day marks the beginning of the actual contests, with events like Ready to Race, Lego, and Indigenous categories taking place in the auditorium, while Aero, Sumo Wars, and Robowars unfold on the ground. Participants engage in intense matches, showcasing their robots' capabilities and competing for top positions.

  • Day Four: Intense Qualifying Rounds:

Day four is dedicated to intense qualifying rounds, particularly for the Indigenous category, as teams demonstrate exceptional skills and engineering prowess to secure a place in the finals. The level of competition soars as teams strive to earn their spot in the ultimate round, showcasing innovative solutions and technical expertise.

  • Day Five: The Grand Finale:

The final day of NERC is the grand finale, featuring the finals of the Lego, Ready to Race, and Indigenous categories. Spectators are left at the edge of their seats with intense and nail-biting competitions. The event culminates in a closing ceremony with awards and recognitions, celebrating the achievements and innovative contributions of the participants.

Sponsors:

The success of NERC is supported by various sponsors, including:

  • CEME NUST
  • NUST (National University of Sciences and Technology)
  • Higher Education Commission (HEC)
  • STEM Careers Program
  • PIEAS
  • Graana
  • Zaroon Media & PR Events
  • Ranchers
  • Technology Links
  • Robotics World
  • National Centre of Robotics and Automation (NCRA)
  • Headstart School
  • MRS Technologies
  • National Centre of Physics (NCP)
  • Questlab

References

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  • [NERC | National Engineering Robotics Contest - NUST](https://nust.edu.pk)
  • [Youth pitch robotic creations in 4-day contest (tribune.com.pk)](https://tribune.com.pk)
  • [NUST holds annual national engineering robotics contest (thenews.com.pk)](https://thenews.com.pk)
  • [NUST holds 19th annual National Engineering Robotics contest - Business Recorder (brecorder.com)](https://brecorder.com)
  • [Madrassa Students Triumph in National Robotics Contest (propakistani.pk)](https://propakistani.pk)
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