UTRA is the face of robotics at the University of Toronto (U of T). We design and build robots to compete in international competitions like RoboGames and the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, among others. We have five different subteams that work independently and also host talks and workshops. Our mission is to foster interest in robotics and teach anybody who is interested all that they need to know to be able to contribute.
The U of T Robotics Association (UTRA) was created in the fall of 2004 by four engineering students passionate about building robots. Inspired by the spectacle of BattleBots—a thrilling show in which contestants build robots to engage in all-out battle—the founding group of UTRA students set their sights on Combat Robotics. After a few years of training and team development, UTRA battled at RoboGames for the first time in 2006. In the following years, they made many appearances and won several gold and bronze medals in the process.
With the momentum of success at RoboGames, UTRA expanded to new projects—the Autonomous Firefighter Robot and RoboSoccer—and it obtained space and partnerships with external organizations, such as TD and the U of T Engineering Society. UTRA joined with UTAIR, the U of T Artificial Intelligence and Robotics club, to work together on the Firefighter project, while Combat remained UTRA’s flagship team.
In 2008, under new leadership, UTRA established the Sumo program, fostering spirited in-house competition among teams and a strong learning experience for beginners. In a consolidation of the Firefighter and RoboSoccer teams, the Autonomous Rover Team (ART) was founded, and ART has since built a fully functional autonomous rover and participated in several international competitions.
In 2010, recognizing the rapid advances in 3D printing and their importance to manufacturing and other fields, UTRA created a fourth team dedicated to this technology. Initially coined the RepRap team, UTRA Fabrication built a Mini-Kossel 3D Printer and continues to keep up with the most recent developments in the field. Finally, in 2014, UTRA initiated the Top Secret Project, rounding out the five subteams that the club is comprised of today.
In 2011, the Autonomous Rover Team would shift gears and aim for a new competition: the International Autonomous Robot Racing Competition. Being the only team designing both the chassis and drive system, the team was able to bring home bronze at the International competition. With the new victory, the team would go on to aim for a new competition, the International Ground Vehicle Competition that boasts much larger robots and more difficult terrains.
In 2012, the combat team gained traction under new and improved leadership, leading to modular and sturdy robots that would go on to win gold in 2012 and bronze in 2014 at the International Robogames Competition.
In 2016, UTRA kicked off its first Robonars workshops, marking the beginning of a new team geared towards teaching a variety of robotic skills to interested members. The Robonars team would later organize our first hackathon, UtraHacks in fall 2018. Gaining well over 120 participants and very positive feedback, UtraHacks further expanded our presence in the U of T community and helped foster exciting new connections and sponsorships.
In 2018, having gained both a new surge of interest and new faculty support, the Robosoccer team would go on to be the only Canadian team that qualified for both humanoid leagues for Robocup 2018 at Montreal, and later for 2019 at Sydney. Also within 2018, UTRA would establish its newest subteam Pacbot, aiming to compete at Harvard to play the classic arcade game Pacman in a robotic real life setting, making the 7 subteams that we have to date.
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