On April 2, 2023, the 11th Tianjin University Students' Discipline Competition - "Qicheng Cup" Artificial Intelligence Micromouse Competition in 2022, hosted by the Tianjin Education Commission, undertaken by Nankai University, and titled sponsored by Tianjin Qicheng Science & Technology Co., Ltd., kicked off at Nankai University. 

There were 294 competing teams from 16 universities including Nankai University, Tianjin University, Tianjin Polytechnic University, and Tianjin University of Technology. Over 900 teachers and students, participated in the competitions in the two tracks of "Classical Micromouse" and "Virtual Micromouse". Director Xu Zhen from the Higher Education Department of Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, Minister Li Yuelin from the Academic Affairs Department of Nankai University, Secretary Wang Jian from the College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering of Nankai University, General Manager Song Lihong from Tianjin Qicheng Science & Technology Co., Ltd., and other relevant experts and leaders attended the opening ceremony. 

  The competing contestants carried out precise maze search during the competition, sprinted rapidly and reached the finish line, eliciting rounds of applause and cheers from the teachers and students in the audience. Song Lihong, the general manager of the sponsoring enterprise, Tianjin Qicheng Science & Technology Co., Ltd., introduced that this competition has a history of nearly 50 years internationally. It integrates related intelligent technologies such as adaptive motion control algorithms, multi-sensor fusion, intelligent image recognition, and Internet of Things communication. It is fully benchmarked against the development of modern intelligent technology industries and is an important carrier to showcase the achievements of industry-university-research cooperation and promote the transformation of competition results. 

  The chief judge of the competition, Sun Guiling, the vice dean of the College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering at Nankai University, said that in order to promote the digital transformation and development of popularizing discipline competitions, a 3D virtual simulation micromouse track was newly added to this year's competition. Tianjin Qicheng Science& Technology Co., Ltd. sponsored the competition with TQD-OCv1.0 digital micromouse competition platforms worth ￥200,000 yuan for the use of the competition contestants. A hybrid competition mode combining online and offline, virtual simulation and real interaction was constructed to innovate the competition form in terms of the content and methods of discipline competitions and stimulate the innovation vitality of college students, enabling the high-quality development of higher education through digital transformation. 

  Xu Zhen, the director of the Higher Education Division of the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission, said that higher education has entered the "fast lane" of intelligent development. Colleges and universities have increasingly applied cutting-edge technologies such as the new generation of information technology, artificial intelligence, 3D virtual simulation, and digital twins to education and competitions. Thus, achieving promoting innovative development through discipline competitions, and further enhancing the efficiency, quality, and accuracy of students' knowledge acquisition. Thoroughly exploring the new model of "promoting teaching through competitions, promoting learning through competitions, and integrating learning and competitions", and supported by the integration of industry and education and school-enterprise cooperation, Tianjin is contributing its solutions for the digital transformation of education.