Recruitment
Unleash Your Potential with HKUST Robotics Team!
As a member, you'll be part of an innovative and collaborative community, working on cutting-edge robotics projects. Gain hands-on experience, enhance your technical skills, and compete in prestigious competitions. Seize this opportunity to bring your passion for robotics to life and make lasting connections with like-minded individuals. Join us in shaping the future of robotics!
Timeline
Our recruitment mainly include four phases:
Apply and Attend the Robotics Team Recruitment Interview
Complete the Internal Training
Participate the Robot Design Contest
Final Interview and Team Formation
As part of the HKUST Robotics Team selection process, the initial step is an exploratory interview. The
interview aims to assess a candidate's personality, passion for robotics, and teamwork skills.
During the interview, the interviewee will participate in both individual and group tasks. The interview
serves the purpose of allowing the interviewers to become acquainted with the interviewees and better
prepare for the next tutorial stage. It also provides the interviewee with a deeper understanding of our
team.
Department
We have 3 departments in our team.
Click to know more
Movement | Functionality | Design
Our role in the mechanical department of the robotics team is at the forefront of the entire team's
operations. Our decisions directly impact the fundamental capabilities of our final product. Our primary
responsibility is to design and build acompetition robot that can participate in our competitions. To
meet the challenges of these competitions, we approach robotics design with innovation and creativity.
Our journey begins with the inception of an idea, where we apply our accumulated knowledge to create a
blueprint that defines the form and function of the robot. We delve into the intricacies of mechanical
design, focusing on aspects such as structural integrity, weight distribution, and efficiency. With our
familiarity with various manufacturing techniques, we can bring these designs to life using methods like
3D printing or CNC machining.
Our toolkit goes beyond mere blueprints and materials. We masterfully employ a wide array of power tools,
from digital milling machines to handheld power drills. Actuators, the vital components of our creation,
are carefully selected and integrated to transform our machine into a responsive and agile marvel. As
members of the mechanical department, we are both artisans, engineers, and problem solvers, diligently
working to craft robots that deliver the strongest performance.
Microcontrollers | PCB | Integrated Circuits
Our responsibilities encompass programming microcontrollers, designing PCBs, integrating sensors and
actuators, and developing the hardware architecture for the robots. We gain a strong understanding
of
programming concepts and have experience working with hardware systems.
We primarily write code in languages such as C, utilizing tools like CubeIDE and debuggers to
troubleshoot
issues and optimize performance. Additionally, we engage in circuit design, component selection, and
the
creation of efficient PCB layouts.
Our work plays a vital role in the design and development of the robot's hardware system. We work in
close
collaboration with the software team to ensure seamless integration between the hardware and
software
components. Joining the HKUST Robotics hardware team would provide you with an opportunity to
enhance
your
programming and hardware design skills alongside a dedicated group of individuals working towards a
shared
goal.
Control | Programming | Algorithms
We are the division responsible for implementing the behavior and functionality of our robots. Our
primary
role is to make the various mechanisms of our robots usable and combine them creatively by applying
clever
algorithms and logical thinking.
Our strengths lie in our ability to skillfully write code using various languages in
specialized IDEs. We also utilize tools like Git and CMake to support us in large-scale projects.
Moreover,
we leverage open-source libraries and packages across various operating systems to assist us in
implementing
advanced features like computer vision.
Ultimately, our main objective is to unleash the true potential of our robots' mechanical and
hardware
components. Simultaneously, we act as the bridge between the robot and the driver by creating a
simple
and
effective interface that is easy to control. Joining the HKUST Robotics Software Team would not only
allow
you to familiarize yourself with various programming languages and applications but also provide you
with
valuable experience in collaborative settings.
Track
2023 Recruitment includes two types of track: Regular Track and Fast Track.
Regular Track
Regular track is for those who are interested in joining the team but have no/limited experience in robotics. The regular track has three divisions corresponding to three different departments (Mechanical, Hardware, and Software). You will be able to learn the basics of robotics and the technologies we use through our tutorials. After the tutorials, you will be able to apply your knowledge to the Robot Design Contest.
Fast Track
Fast track is a special track for software members. It is for those who have experience in robotics and
are confident in their skills. You will be able to skip part or all of the tutorials and go straight to
the Robot Design Contest.
For students who apply for the fast track, they should have experience in embedded system or Linux kernel
programming and programming experience in C/C++/Python. Check this
for detailed requirements.
If we find that you are not suitable for the Fast Track during the first-round interview, you may join our
Regular Track.
Competition
We have participated in different competitions.
MATE ROV Competition
- ROV Team
MATE ROV is a international competition that revolves around remotely-operated vehicles, and aims to raise awareness about ocean health global warming. Participants are required to build ROVs to complete various tasks underwater, and winning teams are allowed to participate in international competitions.
ABU ROBOCON
- Robocon Team
ABU Robocon is a competition targeted at Asian-Oceanic colleges, and countries take turns hosting the competition each year. The game rules are decided by the host country, and differ every year, usually based on a game/sport of some kind from the host country. Teams build two robots, and compete with opposing teams to score more points. Teams that achieve victory in the regional competitions usually get to go overseas to the host country for the international competition.
RoboGames
- Intelligent Racing Team
RoboGames was founded as the ROBOlympics in 2004 as an exercise in cross-pollination and has grown into the world's largest open robot competition to complete in over 50 different events: combat robots, fire-fighters, LEGO bots, hockey bots, walking humanoids, soccer bots, sumo bots, and even androids that do kung-fu. Some robots are autonomous, some are remote controlled.
FPV Drone Racing
- UAV Team
FPV drone racing, originating from the world of First Person View (FPV) flying, is an exhilarating sport that combines high-speed drone piloting and immersive video technology. Recognized by the FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale), FPV drone racing competitions showcase skilled pilots navigating intricate courses with agility and precision, pushing the boundaries of aerial racing. Additionally, drone soccer, a captivating offshoot, introduces an exciting blend of robotics and sportsmanship as teams compete in dynamic matches, maneuvering drones to score goals and showcase their technical prowess.
About
Challenge Yourself
Why HKUST Robotics Team
At HKUST Robotics Team, members are presented with the opportunity to participate in various robotics competitions, and put their engineering skills and knowledge to the test. New members first go through a rigorous training phase to learn about robotics and the specific technologies we use, making it possible for anyone to join us, even those with little-to-no engineering experience.
After training, members then apply their skills into preparing for one of three competitions, each with their own unique game rules and requirements. It is a good chance for students to apply the theoretical knowledge learnt in training and at school into a real project.
Through training and preparing for the competitions, you also get to meet many like-minded people from various backgrounds. Many of our members form strong friendships here that persist even after the competition.
If you are even slightly interested, don't hesitate to join our information session, and consider joining the tutorial sessions as well to form a deeper understanding of what we do here.