Engineering Future-Ready Autonomous Robots
Team Robocon NITK, founded in 2017, is the official undergraduate robotics team of NITK Surathkal, operating under the mentorship of the Centre for System Design (CSD). The team participates annually in ABU Robocon, an international robotics competition hosted by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Each season presents a new challenge, inspired by traditional games or themes from the host country, requiring teams to build two highly functional robots from scratch. Robocon NITK comprises 30 interdisciplinary undergraduate students from mechanical, electronics, and computer science backgrounds. The team designs, prototypes, fabricates, and programs industry-grade robots featuring advanced mechanical assemblies, pneumatics, embedded systems, and automation—built entirely within the NITK campus. In 2024, based on the "Harvest Day" theme by Vietnam, the team engineered fully functional robots capable of seedling picking, sorting, and automated navigation using vision and sensor fusion. With support from CSD for fabrication, workspace, mentoring, and technical infrastructure, the team cleared multiple national-level rounds and qualified for the DD Robocon nationals. Their work integrates high-precision CNC and 3D-printed components, innovative mechatronic mechanisms, and control systems—reflecting a blend of academic rigor and practical engineering. The team is also supported by generous alumni donations and stands as a symbol of student-led innovation, perseverance, and interdisciplinary collaboration at CSD.