NAO Challenge, a programming competition for robotics

Paris/Bordeaux – February 27, 2024 – Together with the Ligue de l’Enseignement de Nouvelle Aquitaine, United Robotics Group is launching the first “pilot” edition of the NAO Challenge in France. Around ten teachers from 4 secondary schools, 2 upper secondary schools and 1 association in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region have been trained in programming and in running seven challenges that they will be able to offer their pupils this year. The teams will compete in the final at RoboCup Junior in Bordeaux on May 25 and 26, in the form of a cooperative presentation.

The NAO Challenge is a cooperative, educational competition organized by secondary and upper secondary school teachers for their pupils, designed to deepen their understanding of humanoid robotics and raise their awareness of the possible interactions with service robotics. The competition has existed in Italy since 2015, where more than 400 pupils take part every year. The challenges are built around real-world topics such as sustainability or the Olympic and Paralympic Games. As part of the pilot NAO Challenge in France, United Robotics Group is providing its NAO6 robot to every participating school. NAO6 is the reference robot for the RoboCup Soccer Standard Major League competitions and is used in a great many schools and universities around the world in learning programs for S.T.E.M. subjects, engineering and research.

In July 2023, the Nouvelle Aquitaine region hosted the international RoboCup, the world’s largest competition for robotics and artificial intelligence. Committed to introducing young people to robotics, the Nouvelle Aquitaine region will therefore host RoboCup Junior Open France in 2024 (a competition for secondary and upper secondary schools). The aim of United Robotics Group and the Ligue de l’Enseignement is to inspire further teachers and further regions to join the adventure in 2025 and to take part in a growing momentum for learning new technological applications.

Stéphane Brunel, Maitre de conférences des Universités – Université de Bordeaux, Vice-président au numérique de la Ligue de l’enseignement de Nouvelle Aquitaine says: “ This opportunity offered by United Robotics Group is a real chance for our young people. Robotics gives meaning to code by using a cooperative method that is highly encouraging for their learning. Programming a NAO6 means entering a project-based pedagogy built on trial and error. While error is often seen as something final, robotics and programming open up a reality made of small steps toward success. A true challenge for young minds.”

“ It is inspiring to see the enthusiasm of the participants in this first edition of the NAO Challenge in France,” says Jean-Marc Bollmann, Directeur Général d’Aldebaran (United Robotics Group). “ We are proud to support this launch and to offer training and support to the teams of teachers who will run it this year. As a company, we continue to develop new robots and service robotics solutions that will have a positive impact on the quality of working life of tomorrow, and it is our responsibility to support and train the new talents who will enter the labor market and face these changes ”.

Understanding and advancing the place of robotics in education

At the end of 2023, United Robotics Group produced a barometer in partnership with Toluna Harris Interactive, on perceptions of robotics in society across 5 countries – France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the United States – and on perceptions of learning robotics at school. According to the barometer, the development of robotics in schools is perceived positively overall.

From secondary school onward, pupils can explore subjects such as language learning or motor skills through a specific teaching approach, and thereby see for themselves the place robots hold at school. This goes beyond research and coding. It is also a way of awakening their curiosity and testing their interest, their appetite for technology. Young people who face the challenges posed by robotic technology within a comprehensive educational pathway become familiar with it and with the idea that a robot can become a support, make part of the work pleasant or easier, and even inspire new solutions or applications.

This usefulness beyond the learning of mathematical and scientific subjects is still little explored and recognized in the majority of countries, according to the barometer. While on average 8 out of 10 respondents recognize that robotics is useful for learning engineering, only 64% consider that robotics can contribute to creativity (60% in France) and more than half (53% in France) consider that robotics can contribute to developing critical thinking.

“ These gaps show us that there is still awareness-raising work to do with teachers, public authorities, parents and pupils,” says Jean-Marc Bollmann, Directeur Général d’Aldébaran (United Robotics Group). “ Taking Italy as an example, 67% of respondents recognize the role that robotics can play in acquiring skills such as project management or teamwork. We can assume that this closeness is linked to the implementation of projects such as the NAO Challenge, which reaches hundreds of pupils every year. Our wish with this first edition of the Challenge in France is to contribute favorably to the understanding of the impact of robotics on the learning pathway ”.

To follow the stages of the NAO Challenge in France or to find out more, contact Emile Kroeger: e.kroeger@unitedrobotics.group.

Methodology : Online surveys conducted simultaneously in 5 countries by Toluna Harris Interactive from October 24 to November 2, 2023. Total sample of 7,779 people, representative of the national population of each country aged 15 and over: France (1,568 people), Germany (1,561 people), Italy (1,566 people), United States (1,536 people), Canada (1,548 people). Quota method and weighting applied to the following variables: gender, age, region of residence and income level of respondents in each country (except France, where the socio-professional category criterion replaces income).

About United Robotics Group

Founded by Thomas Hähn in 2019, United Robotics Group brings together nine service robotics companies in a unique ecosystem by combining hardware and software expertise under one roof. More than 450 employees and 28 nationalities work at United Robotics Group. Based in Bochum, Germany, United Robotics Group unites cutting-edge technologies and robotics experts from the socio-economic and industrial worlds. United Robotics Group shares the common ambition of strengthening humanity through technology and easing processes for people, helping them to focus on social interactions in a safe and secure environment.

As the CobiotX company behind this new generation of robotics – robots for humans – United Robotics Group is committed to developing standardized and customized solutions to meet social and business challenges in the fields of life science, health and care, hospitality, education, intralogistics, maintenance and monitoring, with quality, data protection and sustainability as the main driving forces. Putting people at the center of everything.

RSBG SE, the investment arm of RAG-Stiftung focused on technology and engineering companies, is the majority shareholder of United Robotics Group. SoftBank Robotics Group is the minority shareholder of United Robotics Group.

To find out more about United Robotics Group: www.unitedrobotics.group | LinkedIn Press contacts

Sunny Chen | United Robotics Group
+33 6 31 18 18 60 / s.chen@unitedrobotics.group

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