The teams Sapientia and Virtus of the HKU Robocon group from the Faculty of Engineering clinched multiple awards at the ‘Robocon Hong Kong Contest 2026’, winning the Championship, Second Runner-up respectively, and Best Team Spirit Award and Best Performance Award. As the champion, Team Sapientia will represent Hong Kong as the home team at the upcoming ‘ABU Robocon 2026’ in August, competing against 15 countries and regions.
The annual Robocon competition project allows HKU engineering students from different specialisations to design and fabricate innovative robots with an integration of various advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, computer vision, and real-time embedded control. It also provides hands-on experience in areas such as product design, prototyping, computer numerical control machining, design and fabrication of electric circuit and printed circuit board, control program development, just to name a few. Furthermore, it enables HKU students to exchange their knowledge and skills with other students from local and international universities.
This year’s Hong Kong contest was organised by the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, the Hong Kong Computer Society, and Radio Television Hong Kong, and featured 15 teams of over 300 students from nine local higher education institutions. Centred on the theme ‘Kung Fu Quest’, the competition celebrated the timeless art of Chinese traditional Kung Fu and the pursuit of excellence.
Each participating team was required to deploy two robots to complete three tasks: first assembling ‘weapons’, then collecting ‘martial arts secrets’, and finally using the secrets to challenge a ‘giant Tic-Tac-Toe’ game. The final round put the teams’ real-time strategic capabilities to the test, requiring them to swiftly read their opponents, flexibly adjust their tactics, and react with precision within the time limit, embodying the wisdom and strategy of martial arts.
The two HKU teams adopted complementary tactical approaches in the arena. Team Sapientia deployed an offensive strategy, with its robot capable of collecting one weapon and seven manuals to build a substantial supply for active engagement. Meanwhile, Team Virtus focussed on a defensive approach, equipping its robot to secure two weapons and five manuals, allowing it to switch effectively between offensive and defensive roles. The impressive performance of both teams during the fierce competition gave them a clean sweep of the Championship and Second Runner-up positions, marking another year of outstanding performances following HKU Robocon’s victory last year.
Team captain Randolph Wendi Zhong, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student, was delighted to see the team taking a second consecutive championship. “Last year’s victory was a tremendous encouragement, motivating us to stay united and dedicate an entire year to rigorous preparation for this year’s competition. Robocon challenges us not only in innovative mechanical design and the practical application of engineering knowledge, but also in teamwork and communication. I believe our success was driven by the robots’ stable performance and quick on-site responsiveness, which were made possible through extensive simulated matches and our ability to adjust strategies flexibly. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the HKU Faculty of Engineering and the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing for their continuous support, providing us with the venue and resources needed to test on a simulated competition field and steadily enhance our robots’ capabilities.”
Established in 2004, the HKU Robocon Team has represented HKU in a wide range of robotics competitions. “The Robocon Team has equipped us with more than just the hard skills of design and coding, but also the soft skills needed to work alongside a team and solve complex problems,” Randolph noted.
The HKU Robocon team has engaged in continuous testing, refinement, and redesign of their robotic systems since they received the competition rules in August last year. “Team Sapientia’s R1 robot has now evolved into its third generation, while the R2 robot has reached its fourth generation. This year’s competition presented heightened complexity, requiring close coordination between robots,” Randolph explains. “It is an honour to represent HKU on the global stage. We are motivated to build on our success and strive for another victory,” he added.
As a student interest group of the Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing of the Faculty of Engineering, HKU Robocon’s Virtus and Sapientia teams comprise 55 students from engineering and science backgrounds; the teams are hosted by the Department of Data and Systems Engineering. Supervised by Dr HH Cheung, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Data and Systems Engineering and Dr Match Ko, Senior Lecturer of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the two HKU Robocon teams showcased exceptional talent and innovation. The HKU Robocon team is also supported by a number of faculty members and staff, including Professor Leslie George Tham, Professor Kit Chui and Mr Derek KC Tong.
Dr Cheung praised the teams’ extraordinary achievements, noting: “We are so proud of the HKU Robocon team, for their dedication, creativity, and teamwork. We look forward to their continued success at ABU Robocon 2026, inspiring more students to excel in technology and engineering.”
ABU Robocon 2026 – the largest international university robotics competition in the Asia-Pacific – returns to Hong Kong after 14 years. On August 23, a total of 16 elite robotics teams from 15 countries and regions will gather at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium for a showdown combining cutting-edge technology with traditional martial arts, centred around the theme ‘Kung Fu Quest’. The HKU team, together with the team from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, will represent Hong Kong to compete on the international stage. Let’s cheer on the HKU Robocon Team!
