RoboCup is one of the world's largest events dedicated to robotics and artificial intelligence. This year's championship brought together approximately 3,000 participants from 40 countries. Through competitions involving fully autonomous robots, RoboCup aims to advance research in robotics, AI, and multi-robot cooperation.
As the lead software developer in her four-member team, Diana Kunová was responsible for programming the robots' on-field behaviour, processing sensor data, and developing algorithms that enabled the robots to react autonomously during matches.
"Our goal was to combine high-quality hardware with intelligent software. For example, when a robot loses sight of the ball, it estimates its virtual position based on sensor data. Communication between the two robots is also essential, allowing them to dynamically switch between attacking and defending roles depending on the situation," explains Diana Kunová.
The robots competing in the 2:2 Infrared category play soccer entirely autonomously. Using infrared sensors, they detect a specially designed ball, navigate the field, and make independent strategic decisions. Success depends not only on mechanical design and electronics but also on sophisticated algorithms and control systems.
Although the team held seventh place for much of the tournament and came close to finishing in the top ten, a defeat in the final match dropped them to 11th place overall. However, in the SuperTeam competition, where international teams composed of robots from different countries compete together, they advanced to the semifinals and ultimately finished fourth.
Diana also highlights how she was able to apply the knowledge and experience she gained during her studies at FEE CTU while developing the robots.
"It's not only about the specific knowledge you gain in individual courses. My studies have taught me to approach problems from a different perspective and to solve them systematically. That mindset has helped me the most in developing our robots," says Diana Kunová.
Looking ahead, Diana hopes to contribute to the further development of RoboCup in the Czech Republic. Together with her teammates, she is considering establishing a university team that would represent Czech universities in the RoboCup Major category on the international stage.
