Mini Robot Competition 2026: Bridging theory and practice for HaUI students

On the morning of April 4, 2026, at Hanoi University of Industry, the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering organized the Mini Robot Competition under the theme “Pick and Place Robot.” Although this was the first time the competition was held, it quickly attracted significant interest from students and emerged as a meaningful highlight in connecting academic learning with practical application.

Unlike conventional classroom exercises, the competition presented students with a comprehensive engineering challenge that required them to integrate mechanical design, control programming, and motion optimization. Each robot embodied a distinct technical solution, demanding a high level of precision, operational stability, and strategic execution, closely resembling real-world automated manufacturing systems.

In the opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Tien Dung, Principal of School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, emphasized that robotics is gradually transforming the operation of modern production systems. He noted that the competition not only provides students with opportunities to engage with practical technological problems but also contributes to the development of logical thinking, as well as design and fabrication capabilities, which are essential competencies for mechanical engineers in the contemporary industrial context.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Tien Dung, Principal of the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, delivered the opening remarks

The competition rounds were conducted in a dynamic and competitive atmosphere, where teams were evaluated not only on their design solutions but also on their ability to respond effectively to operational challenges. At the conclusion of the competition, the Organizing Committee awarded the First Prize to the team SMAE_XEN01 in recognition of its optimized design and precise, stable performance. The Second Prize was presented to the team Strength makes An Empire for its effective technical approach and well-executed strategy. Two Third Prizes were awarded to the teams SMAE_XEN02 and Robot-T, acknowledging their notable achievements in both design and operation.

In addition, several special awards were presented to recognize distinctive strengths among the participating teams. The Smart Strategy Award was granted to the team Smart3DX-1, while the Potential Award was presented to the team Hextech. The Performance Award was awarded to the team Smart 3D Xsmax in recognition of its impressive presentation and execution.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tu, Vice Principal of the School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, and Dr. Nguyen Van Canh, Director of the Center for Research in Technology and Smart Manufacturing, presented the First Prize to team SMAE_XEN01.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Tien Dat, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mechatronics, School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, presented the Second Prize to team Strength makes An Empire.

The Organizing Committee presented the Third Prizes to the teams

The Organizing Committee presented the special awards to team Smart3DX-1, team Hextech, and team Smart 3D Xsmax.

In its inaugural edition, the Mini Robot Competition demonstrated a clear and forward-looking approach to education, emphasizing that learning should extend beyond the acquisition of knowledge to its practical application. Through hands-on experience and real-time challenges, students’ systems thinking and technical competencies are developed in a direct, substantive, and industry-oriented manner.