Students Liao I-en (Xinglong Primary, Hsinchu County); Fu I-sen (Liujia Elementary, Hsinchu County); Hsu I-en (Chenggong Junior High, Hsinchu County); Hsieh Feng-ting (Daohe Academy, Hsinchu County); and Hsu Yu-cheng (St. Peter Senior High, Hsinchu City) competed at the 2023 ROBOFEST world finals. ROBOFEST is a robotics competition, organized by Lawrence Technological University in Michigan, USA. The Hsinchu students out-smarted other competitors to win first prizes in four categories, second prize in one category, and fourth prizes in two categories. Upon hearing the good news of these students’ great achievements, Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke burst out, “Marvelous!”
An official from Hsinchu County Government's Education Bureau explained that ROBOFEST is an international robotics competition organized by Lawrence Technological University. The competition attracts thousands of contestants from all over the world to take part every year. This year’s competition was held between from 11th to May 13th. Over 300 teams from more than 20 countries and regions participated this year.
Students from Hsinchu County and Hsinchu City formed three teams. This past February, they had stood out in competitions in Taiwan, which qualified them to attend the finals. The three team showings in the US robotics competition were Legend and Mars Boy, in the BottleSumo Junior event, and Mars Boy in the RoboMed Senior event.
In the finals, students from Hsinchu County showed their brilliant abilities in mechanical design, coding, problem solving, and English expression to compete fiercely with contestants from other countries. In the end, Liao I-en (Xinglong Primary, Hsinchu County); Fu I-sen (Liujia Elementary, Hsinchu County); Hsu I-en (Chenggong Junior High, Hsinchu County); Hsieh Feng-ting (Daohe Academy, Hsinchu County); and Hsu Yu-cheng (St. Peter Senior High, Hsinchu City) won first prizes in four categories, second prize in one category, and fourth prizes in two categories.
An Education Bureau official explained that, in the RoboMed Senior competition, the Mars Boy senior team carried out the design and application of medical systems and equipment, then simulated and designed conceptual mechanics. Their English oral presentation received unanimous praise from judges and audience alike, and they won the first prize.
In the BottleSumo Junior, the Legend team built a robot with flexible sensors and strategies to successfully remove water bottles from a playing field or be the last robot standing. Their efforts won them fourth prize. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago also sent a congratulatory telegram from the President and Vice President of Taiwan to the award-winning students after the competition.
Magistrate Yang indicated that he was very proud of and joyful for these students' outstanding achievements in the ROBOFEST world robotics competition. In addition to showing their excellent technological strengths and creative thinking, these contestants presented their teamwork and international visions. He hopes that the contestants can continue to bring their talents into full play, becoming future leaders and innovators. Magistrate Yang also expressed gratitude to all teachers, parents and supporting organizations for their help and dedication, which gave the contestants the opportunity to participate in such an advanced international contest.
Hsinchu County Education Bureau Director Yang Chun-tzu stated that ROBOFEST is a very meaningful and fun platform for robotics competitions, which enables contestants to acquire knowledge and skills in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics). It also helps cultivate students’ creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, as well as cross-cultural exchange abilities. Director Yang said she hopes that more Taiwanese students will participate in ROBOFEST in the future, to demonstrate Taiwan’s strengths in the robotics field.