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Call for Participation: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Empowered Technology Innovation in Human-Machine Interaction

🏆 Prizes

  • đŸ„‡ 1st Prize: AUD 20,000
  • đŸ„ˆ 2nd Prize: AUD 10,000
  • đŸ„‰ 3rd Prize: AUD 5,000

The IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics Society (SMCS) and Swinburne University of Technology invite young researchers (postgraduate research students and early-career researchers who have graduated within the past five years) worldwide to participate in the IEEE SMCS Open Source AI-Empowered Human–Machine Teaming (HMT) Competition. This exciting two-phase challenge is designed to advance innovation in autonomy, artificial intelligence, robotics, and human–machine interaction.

This competition offers a unique opportunity to design, build, and test intelligent human–machine teaming solutions—from simulation to real-world implementation.

Submissions have closed!

Awards and Recognition

The overall winners will be determined at the end of the Phase 2 competition

đŸ„‡First Prize: AUD 20,000

đŸ„ˆSecond Prize: AUD 10,000

đŸ„‰Third Place: AUD 5,000

Up to five teams from Phase 1 will be selected, and each team will receive up to AUD10,000 in funding support to compete in Phase 2 of the competition in Melbourne, Australia.

Competition Structure

Phase 1: Multi-UGV Search-and-Rescue (Simulation)

Teams will design autonomous agents to control a fleet of uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs) in a Webots-based simulated search and rescue (SAR) environment.

Agents must:

  • Explore the environment, locate victims and generate a mission report.
  • Provide human-readable justifications for proposed actions.
  • Handle human supervisor overrides and re-plan accordingly.

Deliverables: Software solution, simulation logs, mission report, and an online pitch explaining coordination strategies, justification methods, and scalability.

Goto Instructions

Phase 2: Real-World Disaster Mission (Robot Implementation)

Teams will deploy a fleet of UGVs provided by the organisers in a physical mock-up “disaster scene” featuring hazards and obstacles.

Tasks include:

  • Victim Localisation & Condition Reporting.
  • Hazard-Aware Navigation.
  • Rescue Supply Retrieval.
  • Explainable Decision-Making & Evacuation/Containment Protocol.

Who Can Participate?

Each team must consist of 2–4 postgraduate research students and/or early-career researchers (e.g., Faculty Members, Research Fellows, Research Assistants, Research Scientists, Research Engineers, etc., in universities or research institutions) who have graduated within the past five years from their most recent degree, supported by an Advisor.

Key Dates

Now Open

Registration Opens

Oct 15, 2025

Phase 1 Submission Deadline

Oct 20, 2025

Online Pitch

Nov 11 – 14, 2025

Phase 2 Challenge