From July 9 to 17, the 25th China University Robot Competition (CURC ROBOCON) was held at the Jiangyin Campus of Nanjing University of Science and Technology. Launched in September 2025, the competition this year attracted nearly 5,000 contestants from 297 teams representing 133 universities, including Beihang University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Tongji University, Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. After four days of intense competition, the Beihang Robotics Team demonstrated solid technical expertise and seamless teamwork, maintaining stable system performance throughout and making decisive moves in critical moments. Ultimately, they claimed the national third-place title, fully showcasing the pioneering spirit of Beihang's young students.

Initiated by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), CURC ROBOCON is an international university-level robotics event held annually since 2002, aiming to promote engineering education reform in higher education and cultivate innovative engineering talent. The competition has grown into one of the most technically challenging and influential college robotics events in China, serving as a vital platform for talent development in the country's robotics field. This year's competition, themed "Martial Arts Quest," drew inspiration from traditional Chinese martial arts. Each team integrated knowledge from mechanics, electronics, control systems, and computer science. After nearly ten months of preparation and fabrication, teams operated two robots on the competition field to complete tasks such as assembling cold weapons and collecting martial arts manuals, while also engaging in strategic confrontations. This rigorous training and mental discipline—essential for becoming a "martial arts master" in robotics engineering—represented a perfect fusion of traditional culture and cutting-edge technology.

Under the overall coordination of the university's Youth League Committee and the guidance and support of the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, the Beihang Robotics Team kicked off its competition preparation in August 2025, forming a group of more than 50 students from various majors including mechanical engineering, automation, and software. The team continuously tackled technical challenges with goals of high reliability, high precision, and strong coordination. During the preparation period, team members often stayed up late in the lab, resolving technical bottlenecks and refining every robotic movement to perfection.

When faced with the pressure of scrapping and redesigning entire solutions, they reviewed their work systematically and calmly. From every assembly and disassembly of mechanical structures to every fine-tuning of code logic, every detail reflected their pursuit of excellence. Through nearly ten months of hard work, the team completed the overall design of two robots, R1 and R2, witnessing their growth and transformation.

Reflecting on the competition, team captain Shuai Zhexin said: "During the preparation period in Jiangyin, the team endured tremendous pressure, yet not a single member gave up. Through days of high-intensity debugging, we continuously identified and resolved issues with the robots, steadily improving system stability, and ultimately achieved a flawless performance." From conceptual validation and prototype manufacturing to full-system integration and testing, the team refined their robotic systems through repeated testing and review, while also enhancing their hands-on engineering capabilities and sense of responsibility.

Established in 1995, the Beihang Robotics Teamis a student scientific innovation team affiliated with the Beihang University Youth League Committee and specifically organized under the School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation. The team has won national first prizes for seven consecutive years in the China University Robot Competition, during which it has twice achieved national third place and has represented China in international competitions, receiving the Mabuchi Award. For over thirty years, the team has upheld Beihang's pioneering spirit of exploring the unknown and blazing new trails. It has been selected as one of Beihang's first batch of "High-Level Student Science and Technology Innovation Teams" and has received the national "Model 100" Outstanding University Student Club award. The team has consistently ranked among the top in national robotics competitions, and has been featured multiple times in official media outlets such as CCTV News, exemplifying Beihang's commitment to nurturing top-tier innovative scientific and technological talent.

Editor: Liu Tingting