Ritsumeikan Moriyama High School Robotics Team "AIR," Supported by DigiKey, to Represent Japan at RoboCup Junior 2026 World Championship

The robotics team "AIR," supported by DigiKey, will participate in the RoboCup Junior 2026 World Championship, to be held in Incheon, South Korea, from June 30 to July 6, 2026.

DigiKey, a global distributor of electronic components and automation-related products, announced that the Ritsumeikan Moriyama High School SciTech Robotics Club team "AIR," which it supports, will represent Japan at the RoboCup Junior 2026 World Championship in Incheon, South Korea, from June 30 to July 6, 2026. The "AIR" team placed third overall at last year's world championship and is aiming for the long-sought world title this year.

The RoboCup Junior Infrared League, in which team "AIR" will compete, is a soccer competition featuring autonomous mobile robots. The robots use sensors and cameras to detect the ball, goals, and opposing robots, making tactical decisions and playing without human intervention. Robot specifications require a maximum diameter of 22 cm and a weight of no more than 1.5 kg, demanding advanced technical capabilities to integrate high-performance sensors and control systems into compact bodies.

The soccer robots developed by team "AIR" incorporate numerous key robotics technologies, including high-performance MCUs and various sensors. For main control, the team adopted SparkFun's Teensy 4.1, achieving approximately 38 times the processing performance compared to their previous system. Additionally, by integrating Raspberry Pi's RP2350A and RP2350B as secondary MCUs, the team efficiently processes multiple sensor inputs, enabling sophisticated autonomous navigation.

During the national competition, the team faced challenges with the main MCU resetting due to insufficient current and switching noise from the DC-DC converter. With DigiKey's support, they implemented a two-stage step-down circuit using Diodes Incorporated's DC-DC converter (AP64500SP) and ROHM Semiconductor's linear regulator (BD50FD0). This solution significantly reduced noise interference and ensured stable power supply, greatly improving system reliability during competition.

Previously, component information was managed manually via individual notes. However, by using DigiKey's parts list management tool "myLists," the team streamlined component list management, inventory tracking, and alternative part identification. Furthermore, by utilizing DigiKey's free circuit symbols and footprints available in the KiCad library, the team reduced time spent on PCB design, allowing more focus on prototyping and performance improvements.

Asaaki Uchida, captain of team "AIR" and responsible for circuit design and programming, said, "Last year, we fell short of winning the world title, which was disappointing. But we've used that experience to improve our robot and strengthen our team over the past year." He added, "With the support of DigiKey and our other sponsors, we're more powerful than ever, and this year, we will claim the world championship."

Detailed case studies of team "AIR"'s robot development are available on DigiKey's engineering forum, TechForum. For more information on DigiKey's robotics and automation-related products, please visit the DigiKey website.

About DigiKey

Headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA, DigiKey is a leading global distributor of electronic components and automation products. Offering over 18 million products from nearly 3,000 premier manufacturers, DigiKey provides one of the industry's broadest product selections across a wide range of categories, with same-day shipping worldwide. DigiKey delivers innovative digital solutions, design tools, and a seamless purchasing experience, earning strong trust from engineers, designers, makers, and procurement professionals. For more information on DigiKey's electronics distribution, automation solutions, and design resources, please visit the links below.

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