Lublin – the capital of youth robotics

Only one university from a given country can be a member of the organisation. However, similarly to the USA, two Polish universities (The Lublin University of Technology and The Lodz University of Technology) are the part of FGHEN. At the same time, Poland is the first country in the European Union belonging to the organisation.

The Lublin University of Technology will cooperate with Spice Gears Team 5883 from Kraśnik. This is the first and the only robotics team in Poland participating in a championship organised by an American organisation FIRST. Members of the team represent Poland in the championship FIRST Global. The team itself was established in 2015 and its members are secondary school students from Kraśnik District who express an interest in robotics. Although they have been working together only for three years, they have already been awarded as the best team in Europe of the international robotics championship.

– Our youth is extremely talented in the field of technical and scientific studies. Students from Kraśnik have already experienced how fascinating the usage of up-to-date knowledge in patenting new inventions can be. They only must be given a chance to use their talents and willingness to work. As a technical university, we offer the team our technological and organisational support in designing, construction and a robot’s software. It is essential to provide the students with access to the latest technological developments and their initiators – says prof. Paweł Droździel, Deputy Rector for Student Affairs at the Lublin University of Technology.

This year, the Lublin university opens up a new field of study – Robotics of Manufacturing Processes. Students will learn the programming of robots, drivers, industrial PCs (including PLC and microcontrollers), the basics of designing the mechanisms and manufacturing processes as well as industrial security. – This field of study perfectly fits into the interests of our youth. I hope they will choose our university in the future as their next career stage – emphasises the Deputy Rector.

– Being a vice-champion of FIRST Global 2017 and this year’s successes in China and Detroit are only the very beginning of our path. We have demonstrated that we are able to achieve a lot on our own, and under the patronage of the Lublin University of Technology we will be provided with technical expertise. Cooperation with the Lublin university enhances an access to well-educated engineers and their technical knowledge ready to be used while carrying out projects by the team. So far unavailable measures, solutions and publications will eventually be on our doorstep – deems Dariusz Głuchowski, mentor of the team and the prize winner of one of the FIRST founders.

In July this year, Spice Gears Team 5883 will visit China once again to take part in the biggest in Asia counter-seasonal FRC tournament, so called invitational, as one of the four teams from outside China. On 16^th-18^th August they will represent Poland again at Robotics Championship FIRST Global in Mexico City, Mexico.