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The MAGICian robotics team, formed as a collaboration between The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University and Flinders University with support from leading defence contractor Thales, has been shortlisted as one of only ten teams from an international field to take part in the MAGIC 2010 International Challenge .

Sponsored by the US and Australian Departments of Defence, the Multi Autonomous Ground-robotic International Challenge, or MAGIC 2010, aims to develop super-smart robots that can work together as a team to complete a task that involves accurate surveillance and reconnaissance of an urban environment.

The challenge will be held in South Australia in October 2010 - the first time an event of this kind has been held in the world.

The WA/SA team, MAGICian - or Multiple Autonomous Ground-vehicle International Challenge by Intelligent Autonomous Navigators - consists of researchers and students from The University of Western Australia, Edith Cowan University and Flinders University.

The international electronics and systems group Thales is the team's major sponsor and will be an active participant in MAGICian. Sensor manufacturer SICK and defence integrator Allied Data Systems are also providing valuable support.

The MAGICian WA team is being coordinated by Professor Thomas Bräunl and Mr Adrian Boeing from the Centre for Intelligent Information Processing Systems (CIIPS) in the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering at UWA.

Seven autonomous robots will be constructed, equipped with laser range finders, stereo vision, GPS&IMUs, all controlled by artificial intelligence algorithms developed by team members.The MAGICian team have been awarded $50,000 USD in funding from the Australian Defence Science & Technology Organisation, with the promise of another US$50,000 in June 2010, to develop and build their vehicle prototypes and human-robot interfaces.

The top three ranked teams will receive US$750,000, US$250,000 and US$100,000 respectively and opportunities for further research contracts.

Media references

Professor Thomas Bräunl / [email protected] / 6488 1763

Mr Adrian Boeing / [email protected] / 6488 3856