Students excel at robotics competition in South Korea

(October 1, 2025) - Laurentian University students occasionally have the opportunity to present their projects publicly, and sometimes internationally, showcasing the high standard of their innovations. The most recent instance of this was made possible through the IAMGOLD President’s Innovation Fund for Strategic Investment.

Fresh off an impressive showing at last month’s FIRA Roboworld Cup 2025 held in Daegu, South Korea, Laurentian University's Snobots and Roboparks teams are already setting their sights on next year’s competition that will be hosted closer to home, in Markham (ON). Having competed this year in the HuroCup category, the team participated in the international competition that featured over forty teams from more than ten countries. The teams brought home multiple awards.
 

Snobots team awards (comprised of Laurentian University students): 

• Adult-size category: 3rd overall in the All-Round event, 3rd in Manipulation (archery and basketball), 5th in Hybrid (mini-DRC - DARPA Robotics Challenge), and 3rd in Mobility (sprint, marathon, and obstacle run);
• Kid-size category: 5th overall in the All-Round event, 2nd in soccer, 4th in archery, 5th in mini-DRC, and 6th in sprint.

Roboparks team awards (comprised of high school students trained in Laurentian labs):

• In Junior league: 1st overall in the All-Round event, 1st in weightlifting, 1st in spring, 1st in marathon, and 2nd in triple jump.
   

Laurentian Snotbots and Roboparks teams are trained by a multidisciplinary research group within the University’s Bharti School of Engineering and Computer Science’s Intelligent Mobile Robotics Lab (LIMRL). The LIMRL’s mission is to develop intelligent mobile robotic systems that can perceive, decide, and act in real-world environments. Through hands-on learning in programming, control systems, and robot design, students get valuable opportunities to engage in meaningful research, collaborating on projects that bridge theoretical development with real-world applications.

“The Snobots and Roboparks teams have worked incredibly hard, and I’m proud of the dedication shown by both the members who traveled to Daegu and those who stayed back in Sudbury to support and train,” said Dr. Meng Cheng Lau, Assistant Professor in the Bharti School of Engineering and Computer Science. “Moving forward, I’ll be focusing on pushing our general-purpose humanoid research while continuing to inspire the next generation of students and young innovators. These experiences not only shape our lab’s research goals but also create lasting impact by showing what’s possible when creativity and perseverance come together.”

Another highlight of the team’s success was their showing at the FIRA World Summit, an international conference held in conjunction with the FIRA World Cup to share research and ideas in artificial intelligence and robotics. Computer Science student, Austin Barrett (Noëlleville, ON), presented on the topic, “A Remote Graphical User Interface for Humanoid Robot Teleoperation,” whereas recent Computer Science graduate (Spring 2025), Nicolas Pottier (Val Thèrese, ON) presented his research, “A Modular Object Detection System for Humanoid Robots Using YOLO.” While both offered insightful contributions to the Summit, Pottier successfully earned the Summit’s award for Best Paper. This recognition underscores the high-calibre research taking place at Laurentian. 

“The trip to Korea was an incredible experience, both in terms of robotics and world travel”, said Austin Barrett. “Competing against so many strong international teams was a real challenge and a valuable learning opportunity. Even though we prepared extensively, many situations came up during the competition that required us to adapt and problem-solve on the spot. Those moments, I think, were both the most fun and the most rewarding. For me, the experience was an awesome opportunity to put the skills I’ve been developing throughout my studies to the test, while also gaining experience you simply can’t learn from a textbook.” 

“The FIRA Hurocup proved to be an amazing experience,” said Nicolas Pottier. “The competition proved to be much more challenging than last year's edition, but through hard work and perseverance, we managed to secure a result that we are proud of. My participation at the FIRA Summit was particularly valuable, as it was my first real experience with science communication. I was fortunate to discuss my research with students from various countries, such as Taiwan, Russia, and Iran, which was incredibly rewarding.” 

The Snobots and Roboparks team victories at the FIRA Roboworld Cup are a testament to the dedication of both students and faculty, and they lay the groundwork for a new phase of innovation at Laurentian’s Intelligent Mobile Robotics Laboratory. All of this would not be possible without the support of partners and sponsors. 

Supporters who helped facilitate the opportunity for students to participate in the FIRA World Summit and Cup 2025 include IAMGOLD, KOMRI Engineering, ANMAR, and KGHM. Dr. Brahim Chebbi, Full Professor, Bharti School of Engineering and Computer Science is equally appreciated for providing access to his 3D printer for the development of LIMRL projects. 
 

About the IAMGOLD President’s Innovation Fund for Strategic Investment
This $2.5 million initiative from IAMGOLD supports academic and research projects aligning with the University’s strategic priorities, driving innovation in mineral resources and mining education and research. This fund transforms ideas into reality, shaping industries through groundbreaking research and innovation.