Over 3,500 participants compete in VEX Robotics Asia Open in China

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More than 3,500 participants from nearly 30 countries and regions gathered in Beijing for the 2025-2026 VEX Robotics Asia Open Signature Event, a contest focused on integrated robotic skills such as robot programming, construction and control.

Held at the Shougang Park in the Chinese capital city's Shijingshan District from Thursday to Sunday, the event drew 600 teams across age groups from kindergarten to university.

Separate divisions allow students of different ages to demonstrate abilities from operating mini robots to designing complex competitive machines.

"We think they are very strong. We have never seen teams so strong, and their robots work so perfectly. We think we are going to learn from them, and we will try to do our best," said Pol Serra Carner, a participant from Spain.

The VEX Robotics competition has been hosted across many countries, attracting millions of young people each year. It has become an important platform connecting global youth in science, technology and innovation.

"The competition brings together top teams from all continents, including Europe, North America, South America and Africa. We will fully leverage our resource integration advantages to cultivate new talents for development of the artificial intelligence industry," said Jia Hao, secretary-general of the Beijing-based Zhongguancun Shuzhi Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance.

Organizers said the event not only features high-level technological contests but also promotes in‑depth cross‑cultural exchanges among young participants worldwide.

Over 3,500 participants compete in VEX Robotics Asia Open in China

China's first intelligent grain leveling robot has been put into use in the country's granaries, freeing workers from arduous tasks and significantly raising efficiency.

The robot has two unique wheels with spiral blades, enabling it to travel at two meters per second on grain piles and flatten peaks. Even while carrying an adult's weight, it can maintain high-speed movement without sinking into the grain.

"It takes three people three days to complete leveling grain in a 1,400-square-meter granary like this, but three leveling robots can finish the job within one day. They can free people from hard labor," said Guo Fengmin, a designer of the robot.

The robot has a dustproof surface to prevent short circuits while working in a dusty environment.

The intelligent system also features laser radars and sensors installed in the granary to help robots avoid obstacles and collect data for route planning.

During collective operations, the system would use intelligent algorithms to plan the robots' routes in a unified manner, so that they won't collide with one another.

Grain leveling robot frees workers from arduous granary tasks