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Our very own students from UL’s Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch, claimed first place at the prestigious Tunisian RAS Student and Young Professional Congress (TRSYP)—an international robotics competition that brings together top engineering talent from across IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).

TRSYP is an annual event celebrating robotics innovation. This year’s theme, Embodied AI, explored the integration of artificial intelligence with physical systems to enhance autonomy and interaction. 

The IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional society, hosts more than 300 major conferences annually and sets global standards in engineering and technology.

The UL team, supported by the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems (CRIS), Department of ECE and EI Electronics, competed against eight shortlisted teams from across the region. Their winning entry, ‘SWERVY’, a swerve-drive robot designed for precision and agility, impressed judges with its innovative engineering and flawless performance.

The UL team began work on SWERVY in mid-September, completing the build in just over six weeks. Featuring a full swerve-drive system, the robot can rotate, reposition, and move sideways without changing orientation—giving it unmatched control during close engagements. 

The robot was piloted by PhD student Marco Moreno, who said: “This was our first time competing in Tunisia, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Our swerve-drive robot performed reliably throughout the matches, and it was really satisfying to see the work pay off. We are very grateful to our sponsors and delighted to bring home the win.” 

Commenting on the students’ achievement, Associate Professor Gerard Dooley, Co-Director of CRIS said: “Supporting our students as they engage with international robotics and AI communities strengthens UL’s role as a leader in engineering education. Opportunities like this help students grow their technical skills and bring valuable experience back to their studies.”

This is the second IEEE award UL has received for excellence in robotics, winning the 2024 IEEE Robot Championship in Malta.