Agrupamento de Escolas Raul Proença in the spotlight at BotOlympics 2025

Between 27 and 30 March, students from the Programming and Robotics Club at Escola Secundária Raul Proença took part, with great success, in the 10th edition of BotOlympics, one of the country's most prestigious educational robotics competitions. The event took place at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (DEEC), at the University of Coimbra's Polo II campus, and was organised by students on the Electrical and Computer Engineering degree course.

With four teams competing, two from basic education and two from secondary education, the students demonstrated excellent performance. In basic education, they achieved second and fourth place, while in secondary education they won first and third place, thus securing prominent positions in both trials.

Basic education students took part in the ISR trial, which simulated an autonomous car driving on a road with junctions and moving obstacles, such as animals crossing. The challenge consisted of programming a Makeblock mBot 2 robot to complete the track autonomously, recognising decision points and adjusting its trajectory with precision. The trial required experience in block-based programming and efficient use of sensors to ensure safe navigation along the course.

In secondary education, the students faced the demanding Bot'n Roll trial, a challenge that simulated a logistics scenario for transporting goods between a warehouse and several delivery locations. The objective was to program a Bot'n Roll ONE A robot to carry out the task with maximum efficiency and speed, ensuring collection and delivery of objects in the shortest possible time. The complexity of the challenge required knowledge of the C++ programming language for Arduino, as well as strategy and adaptability to make the robot's route faster and more efficient.

Beyond the competitive side, the students took part in parallel activities that enriched the experience. Basic education students visited Exploratório de Coimbra, where they carried out interactive scientific experiments, while secondary education students explored Factory Lab, a digital fabrication space dedicated to prototyping and technological innovation.

The university environment was also marked by moments of conviviality and sharing, enlivened by the traditional academic tunas of Coimbra, which provided an immersive experience of academic culture.

In addition to the achievements obtained, participation in BotOlympics 2025 allowed the students to develop fundamental skills in robotics and programming. Teamwork, problem-solving ability and adaptation to unexpected situations were essential aspects of success in the trials. Interaction with other teams from different schools across the country also provided an environment for sharing knowledge and good practices, encouraging cooperation and a healthy competitive spirit.

The teachers responsible for the Programming and Robotics Club highlighted the importance of this experience, noting that the students had contact with the university environment, innovation spaces and academic traditions. Participation in BotOlympics 2025 reinforces Agrupamento de Escolas Raul Proença's commitment to practical, innovative and multidisciplinary technological education, preparing students for the challenges of the future through experiences that combine learning, creativity and team spirit.

Luís Fernandes
Coordinator of the Programming and Robotics Club
Agrupamento de Escolas Raul Proença