Introducing 'Empanadita', the Mexican Robot Sumo Champion.

Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.

Period of the project: 2017 - 2020 (4 years)

Project Description.

Crafted specifically for the prestigious All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament, 'Empanadita' made a remarkable debut in 2019, successfully advancing to the second stage of the competition. The project entailed meticulous work on the mechanical design, transmission system, power electronics, and magnetism. The result is a high-performance robot capable of achieving speeds up to 5 m/s when engaged with the metal dohyo. Notably, despite its 3kg weight outside the dohyo, the robot demonstrates formidable strength within the dohyo, which has a weight capacity exceeding 100 kg.

Contributions.

  • Robot Design V1

    I contributed to the design of various parts and the general assembly of the first version of the robot, including material selection based on the team's expected budget.

  • Robot Design V2

    I contributed to the design and assembly of the second version of the robot, following our updated budget from successful sponsorships. I helped secure $1,000 USD in sponsorships from Volkswagen and Hospital Ángeles.

  • Robot Design V3

    I was responsible for designing the third version of the robot, focusing on a more compact structure that enhanced magnetic force and stability over speed. This version competed in the tournament in Japan.

  • Manufacturing

    I learned to operate the CNC machine in the university’s laboratory and utilized RhinoCAM to generate CNC milling codes for manufacturing robot parts in aluminum 7075.

  • Robot Assembly

    I participated in robot assembly and maintenance before and after competitions to ensure proper functionality.

  • Competitions

    I served as both driver and co-driver in multiple competitions in Mexico and Colombia, achieving 3rd and 2nd place finishes, with Empanadita ultimately securing 1st place at Talentland 2019.

  • Multidisciplinary Approach

    I delivered multiple presentations of the team’s robots and assisted with organizing the university’s Robolympics event.

Project Results.

Qualification Competitions

National Participation

TRyTA (Pachuca) - 4th Place

Guerra de Robots (CDMX) - 2nd Place

Robolympics (Leon) - Second Stage

Talentland (Guadalajara) - 1st Place

International Participation

UDENAR (Pasto, Colombia) - 3rd Place

Robotic People Fest (Virtual, Colombia) - 2nd Place

Tournament Competitions

Preliminary Tourment

First Match: We secured victory as the opposing team was disqualified.

Second Match: We achieved a 2–1 win against the reigning champion of Mongolia.

Final Tourment

Third Match: We faced Japan's champion hybrid robot, RACE, in a highly competitive match and narrowly lost with a score of 1–2.

Acknowledgements.

Azimov University Robotics Team: For fostering a collaborative environment that promotes shared knowledge, advances in sumo robotics, and science outreach.

Alejandro Elias and Jardiel Hernandez: For mentoring the team and contributing to the design and implementation of the robot.

Carlos Hernandez: For designing the team’s PCB, optimizing space, and ensuring a professional approach for the competition in Japan.

Ernesto Aranda: For securing a key sponsorship with Shift 3D, significantly contributing to the development of a robust robot for the final competition.

Fernanda Perez: For her exceptional contributions to the design, manufacturing, and assembly of the first and second versions of the robot.

Adriana Herrera: For her role as the robot driver and her involvement in the robot's assembly.

And finally, to our project sponsors: Volkswagen, Honda, ROCA Country, DESPERORETE (cementos), and Centro Especializado en Cancer (Hospital Angeles).

Some facts.

  • Empanadita was the first robot fully designed and built by women to compete in the All Japan Robot Sumo Tournament.

  • The project began in 2017 under the team name Axioma. After securing key sponsorships, Axioma gained the attention of Azimov Team in 2018, leading to the development of the second, more robust version of the robot—the first fully manufactured iteration.

  • At the world championship, Japanese participants practiced pronouncing the robot’s name, eventually mastering it as "E-MU-PA-NA-DI-TA."

  • The robot was named Empanadita because the team’s initial funding came from selling empanadas made by my uncle, who is a baker.

  • Empanadita is now part of Artemis, the current robotics team at Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education.