Hung Vuong Robotics Challenge 2025: Fostering technological innovation for a sustainable future

In the context of climate change becoming an urgent global challenge, inspiring and equipping the young generation to act for a sustainable future is critically important. With this in mind, the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI), in coordination with Hung Vuong High School for Gifted Students (Phu Tho Province), organized the "Hung Vuong Robotics Challenge 2025" under the meaningful theme "Sowing Green Seeds."

Held as part of the Hung Vuong Summer Camp, the competition served as a creative science and technology playground where students from high schools for the gifted could showcase their talents and collectively promote environmental awareness.

When Technology Nurtures Life

The competition was established with the objective of sparking a passion for science and engineering, while also developing logical thinking and teamwork skills for high school students. The theme "Sowing Green Seeds" transformed the robotic matches into a profoundly symbolic journey. On the playing field, robots assembled and programmed by the teams themselves performed the task of collecting "seeds" which were Pickleball balls and "planting" model "green trees." Every movement and action of the robots vividly recreated the process of sowing life, conveying the message of technology's role in restoring and protecting the planet.

Dr. Phung Hoang Hai, Vice Principal of Hung Vuong High School for Gifted Students, delivered a speech at the event

Dr. Quach Duc Cuong, Vice Headmaster of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at HaUI, delivered remarks at the competition

To bring this idea to fruition, Hanoi University of Industry sponsored all 24 KIT Robot sets for the participating teams. Additionally, HaUI organized online and in-person training sessions and dispatched a team of experienced academic advisors from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering to support the students throughout the process, from installation and programming to robot operation.

Competition Highlights

The "Hung Vuong Robotics Challenge 2025" convened 24 teams from high schools for the gifted in the Northern region and several invited guest schools. Each team consisted of 5 members, with 2 members directly controlling the robot on the field. The teams were divided into 8 groups, competing in a round-robin format to select the 16 best teams (the top two from each group) to advance to the round of 16. From this point, the matches proceeded in a single-elimination format, leading to thrilling contests to determine the champion.

Each match lasted for 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which teams scored points by delivering "seeds" to the "Unlock Zone" (10 points per seed) and successfully planting "trees" in the "Planting Zone" (30 points per tree). Notably, a team could achieve an "absolute victory" by successfully planting 3 green trees, demonstrating outstanding superiority in technique and strategy.

The competition's main activities were methodically organized, with the registration period from June 1 to June 10, 2025, followed by an online training phase lasting until the end of July. The main event, which included an in-person instructional session and the competition rounds, took place on August 7, 2025, at Hung Vuong High School for Gifted Students in Phu Tho Province.

The First and Second Place awards were presented by Dr. Quach Duc Cuong, Vice Headmaster of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI, and Dr. Phung Hoang Hai, Vice Principal of Hung Vuong High School for Gifted Students

The Third Place and Honorable Mention awards were presented by Mr. Tran Viet Khoa, Vice Principal of Nguyen Tat Thanh High School for Gifted Students; Mr. Nguyen Binh Long, Vice Principal of Son La High School for Gifted Students; and Dr. Nguyen Vu Linh, Vice Dean of the Energy Engineering Faculty, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI

Hung Vuong Robotics Challenge 2025 was not merely a competitive event; it functioned as a structured platform for fostering innovation, instilling a sense of responsibility, and facilitating the exchange of transformative ideas. Through strategic allocation of resources, provision of expert mentorship, and implementation of targeted skills-development initiatives, HaUI has systematically cultivated a cohort of problem-solvers equipped to translate theoretical concepts into tangible, impactful outcomes.

The intellectual and practical foundations established through this initiative are expected to generate sustained influence, contributing to a developmental trajectory in which Vietnam’s progress is characterized not only by advancements in science and technology, but also by the preservation and expansion of green spaces as enduring symbols of hope and environmental sustainability.

Dr. Quach Duc Cuong, Vice Headmaster of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI, presented the First Prize of the “Hello Robot – Impressive Debut” competition.

Dr. Hoang Mai Quyen, Deputy Head of the General Affairs Office, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI, awarded the Second Prize in the “Hello Robot – Impressive Debut” competition.

Dr. Nguyen Vu Linh, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Energy Engineering, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI, awarded the Third Prize in the “Hello Robot – Impressive Debut” competition

Dr. Bui Van Huy, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Automation, and Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Deputy Head of the General Affairs Office, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, HaUI, awarded the Consolation Prize in the “Hello Robot – Impressive Debut” competition