Frontline | The RoboMaster 2025 Super Robot Competition has concluded, promoting learning through competitions starting from universities.

Text | Zhang Ziyi

Editor | Peng Xiaoqiu

On August 3, 2025, the 24th National College Student Robot Contest - RoboMaster 2025 Mech Master Super Challenge National Tournament (RMUC 2025) officially came to an end.

The Jiaolong Team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University won the national championship; the RoboWalker Team from the University of Science and Technology of China, the South China Tiger Team from South China University of Technology, and the TDT Team from Northeastern University won the second, third, and fourth places respectively.

RoboMaster provides a practical platform for college students, allowing them to explore many cutting - edge technologies in the robotics industry through the competition. It also promotes the cultivation of talents in robotics and related technologies such as "machine vision", "embedded system design", "mechanical engineering", "autonomous navigation", and "human - machine interaction".

Taking the 2025 season as an example, the technological iteration of various types of robots has attracted the most attention this year. By upgrading the competition venue terrain (adding second - level steps, narrow tunnels, etc.), the participating teams are guided to develop chassis and control algorithms with high terrain adaptability, and focus on breaking through key technologies such as crossing height differences and self - resetting after falling. Currently, the balanced anti - joint wheel - leg technology is widely used on the competition field. Each team focuses on optimizing the structure and algorithm to improve the robot's load - carrying, mobility, and terrain adaptability, and accelerate the implementation of the technology. These related breakthroughs not only enhance the competitiveness of the event but also meet the needs of security inspections, disaster relief, etc., and promote the extension of the technology to practical applications.

The requirements for algorithm research and development have been upgraded synchronously. Therefore, the infantry robot of the Jiaolong Team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University is equipped with an edge computing module. It can identify the enemy's armor plates and the blades of the energy mechanism through neural networks, and simultaneously complete motion prediction and ballistic calculation to support long - distance and accurate strikes on dynamic targets. These related technologies not only improve the actual combat performance but also promote the exploration of the application of cutting - edge visual algorithms such as deep learning in complex dynamic environments.

The engineering robot of the TDT Team from Northeastern University uses a joint - type series mechanical arm and inverse kinematics calculation technology, combined with an intuitive form of human - machine interaction with a custom controller, to efficiently complete the exchange of ores at special three - dimensional angles, continuously accumulate an economic advantage in the competition, and provide support for high - intensity confrontation.

Based on lidar and advanced algorithms, the RoboWalker Team from the University of Science and Technology of China can achieve planning and navigation, obstacle avoidance, and multi - robot communication, and make intelligent decisions such as autonomous pursuit, attack, and base protection, flexibly meeting the "attack and defense" needs in the complex environment of the competition field. These related technologies can guide students to pay attention to cutting - edge AI decision - making algorithms and meet the needs of intelligent industries such as automated industrial production, assisted driving, and security inspections.

Aerial robots were introduced in the early stage of the Mech Master Competition. Aiming at lightweight and high - load, the requirement for the load - carrying rate has been continuously increased, which promotes the participating teams to innovate in the balance between lightweight and power load. In the 2025 season, the aerial robot of the RPS Team from China University of Petroleum (East China) performed outstandingly. The whole machine weighs only 12.4 kg and can carry 5 kg of official supplies, and can output efficiently within the 7 - minute competition time. It closely meets the actual needs of industries such as emergency rescue and intelligent agriculture for high - load drones and helps with the application of industry - level drone technology.

Thanks to the strong practicality of the event and its emphasis on engineering applications, RoboMaster has attracted the attention of many technology companies. According to incomplete statistics from universities, among the students participating in the RoboMaster competition, except for those who are recommended for postgraduate studies or start their own businesses, nearly 100% of them are employed. Even many technology companies clearly state that those with RM/RC competition experience are preferred when recruiting new members.

Meanwhile, the event encourages students to explore new technologies during the competition, which also makes many teams decide to transform their innovative ideas and products into business opportunities and establish start - up companies after the competition, converting the technologies and experiences gained in the competition into commercial value.

In addition to helping students with employment or entrepreneurship, the RoboMaster competition also promotes the innovation of the education model to a certain extent. In the process of exploring education reform, universities have gradually realized the supplementary and positive roles of the "learning through competition" education model for traditional education.