Agrupamento de Escolas Raúl Proença in the spotlight at RoboParty 2025
The programming and robotics club Robotics Code Raul, from Agrupamento de Escolas Raúl Proença, was present at the RoboParty 2025 competition, one of the country's largest robotics events. RoboParty is a pedagogical event that brings together four-person teams over three days and two nights, providing training and hands-on experience in building autonomous mobile robots. During the event, participants receive brief training in electronics, programming and mechanics before assembling a robotic kit developed by Botnroll and the University of Minho. In addition to the competitions, RoboParty also includes various recreational activities, such as sport, music and games.
In this edition, among the 96 participating teams, two teams from Agrupamento de Escolas Raúl Proença stood out with excellent results: an honourable performance in the Fun Challenge by reaching the second round of the competition, 6th place in the demanding Crazy Race trial and an excellent 3rd place in the Robô Show dance trial.
In the Crazy Race trial, the robots faced a challenging course that combined two essential trials: line following, where it was necessary to complete a marked route on the floor with precision and speed, and obstacle avoidance, where they had to identify and avoid barriers autonomously. To overcome the challenge, the students had to use sensors and control efficiently, ensuring that the robots made quick and effective decisions.
In the Fun Challenge, the students took part in a one-on-one game that required coordination between the student and the robot. The objective was to push ping-pong balls into the opposing field, bearing in mind that different colours awarded different scores. In addition, participants could activate side flags, triggering a fan that allowed them to push the balls into the opponent's field. This challenge encouraged creativity in developing a structure to push the balls and innovation in the use of sensors and actuators, always respecting the dimensions and rules of the event.
In Robô Show, where the robots' creativity and programming were essential, our teams stood out, securing an outstanding 3rd place. This challenge encouraged innovation and teamwork, requiring the robots to perform autonomous choreographies synchronised with music. The students developed creative movement sequences, including displacement patterns, rotations and interactions with the environment. The robots were customised with figures developed in collaboration with a Year 11 Visual Arts class, resulting in an innovative fusion of technology and art. The robots were equipped with 3D-printed bases, designed to support the figures safely and effectively. Participation in this trial also benefited from collaboration with the robotics clubs of Agrupamento de Escolas da Maia and Instituto do Maranhão in Brazil, who contributed to programming the robots, highlighting a spirit of sharing and teamwork.
The participation of the Robotics Code Raul club in RoboParty 2025 was, without doubt, an enriching and inspiring experience, not only because of the excellent results achieved, but also because of the strengthening of bonds of collaboration and creativity among the participants. The victories and challenges faced in the competitions reflect the commitment and dedication of the students, who were able to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the year in a practical and innovative way. This event once again revealed the potential of robotics as a tool for learning and developing valuable skills, preparing students for the technological challenges of the future. Agrupamento de Escolas Raúl Proença continues to stand out as a centre of innovation and excellence in science and technology education.
