WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Autonomous Mobile Robotics Competition

The WorldSkills 2024 Lyon Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) competition was held in Lyon, France in September of 2024. This year's theme showcased the growing importance of robotics for agriculture. Participants were tasked with designing and constructing mobile robots capable of autonomously navigating and interacting with their environment. By fostering innovation and technical expertise, WorldSkills is driving the development of advanced robotic solutions that will enhance efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture. This competition was the most realistic and visually stunning event of its kind. The competition highlighted the significance of autonomous mobile robotics in agriculture as well as showcasing the valuable skills students acquired through this program.

Lyon 2024 AMR Competition Objectives:

To showcase the vital roles autonomous mobile robotics play in agriculture. The competitors were required to create robots capable of a variety of tasks including;

• Data Collection: Robots had to gather essential information about their surroundings to inform their movement and object handling.
• Autonomous Navigation: Competitors demonstrated their ability to guide robots through unfamiliar terrains and obstacles.
• Object Manipulation: Robots were required to handle and transport items of varying sizes and weights with precision.
• Adaptability: The competition emphasized the importance of robots adapting to unpredictable and dynamic environments.

Technical Challenges:

The focus areas of this competition included:

• Prototyping: Participants built innovative robotic solutions tailored to specific agricultural tasks.
• Navigation and Localization: Robots needed to accurately determine their position and navigate efficiently.
• Vision: Competitors developed algorithms to enable robots to identify and interact with objects.
• Interaction: Robots were evaluated on their ability to perform delicate tasks with precision, similar to human touch.
• Fault-Finding and Troubleshooting: Participants demonstrated their problem-solving skills by diagnosing and repairing robotic malfunctions.

The competition culminated in a final challenge where robots were required to autonomously complete a predefined course. The equipment provided for the competition included the WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Mobile Robotics Collection, a comprehensive kit containing over 1,600 robotic components. View complete competition details.

Competition Details

1. The competition was based on the occupation description and the WorldSkills Occupational Standards for autonomous mobile robotics, skill 23.
2.  Here is the Pre-TP that was released on C-9 Click to download, and the Testing & Fault-Finding Inspection Checklist
3. The official kit was supplied at no charge to all teams competing in Lyon 2024. See WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Autonomous Mobile Robotics Collection.
4. For practice on their home school courts, teams used the Lyon Challenge Elements and the Lyon Fruit & Vegetable Kit

The Future of Farming: Agriculture and Robotics

Farming operations often encounter significant challenges. These challenges include:

• Labor Shortages: Finding and retaining skilled workers can be difficult and costly.
• Repetitive Tasks: Many farming activities involve repetitive and physically demanding tasks that can lead to fatigue and injuries.
• Data Management: Collecting and analyzing data on crop health, soil conditions, and weather patterns is crucial for effective farming but can be time-consuming.

Benefits of Using AMRs in Agriculture

• Increasing Productivity: By automating tasks like planting, harvesting, and packaging, AMRs can significantly increase productivity and output.
• Reducing Labor Costs: By taking over repetitive tasks, AMRs can reduce the need for human labor, leading to lower labor costs.
• Improving Efficiency: AMRs can work efficiently and accurately, reducing waste and improving overall farming efficiency.
• Enhancing Data Management: AMRs equipped with sensors can collect valuable data on crop health, soil conditions, and weather patterns, enabling farmers to make informed decisions.

AMRs can contribute to precision agriculture by performing tasks such as planting seeds at optimal depths and spacing, harvesting produce with minimal damage, and packaging products accurately. Furthermore, their ability to collect and analyze data on soil conditions, weather patterns, and crop health empowers farmers to make informed decisions and optimize their farming practices.

WorldSkills Lyon 2024 Autonomous Mobile Robotics Competition Results

Congratulations to all teams on their exceptional performances! The level of skill demonstrated at this competition was significantly higher than what we witnessed in Bourdeau and Kazan. The countries who participated in the competition include Brazil, China, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Croatia, France, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Macau, China, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Competitors hailed from continents as geographically diverse as Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. 

Gold Medal Winners: This competition resulted in tie for the gold medal! Congratulations to Team Korea and Team China for such an incredible performance!

• Korea: Gyeomon Gim and Yonghyeon Kim 
• China: Canhao Fang and Jiajun Jiang

Bronze Medal Winner: Ming-Che Wu and Yuan-Chen Chiang from Chinese Taipei came in third.

Medallion for Excellence Recipients:
Teams who did not receive a medal but scored above 700, showcasing an exceptional level of excellence were awarded with a Medallion for Excellence:

• • Macao, China: Ka Wai Tou and Kin Hang Lai
  • Japan: Saya Sugimoto and Kentaro Toribami 
  • Austria: Simon Stoisser and Jan Trummer
  • Indonesia: Ahmad Yogi Fernanda and Denny Syahrul Arfiansyah
  • Kazakhstan: Timur Babenko and Elnar Zhuasbayev
  • Singapore: Gan Kah Kheng and Genisa Gabrielle Lee
  • United Arab Emirates: Bader Bin Rabaa and Yahya Alzaabi
  • Brazil: Matheus Eichherr and Matheus Maus Gassen
  • Colombia: Miguel Angel Quiza Neuto and Juan Sebastian Ospina Manrique