Robofest® – Around the Globe and Back Again

A brilliant idea celebrates its 26^th anniversary on May 15, 16, and 17.

Founded in 1999 by Lawrence Technological University professor of computer science CJ Chung, Ph.D., Robofest® has hosted The Robofest® World Championship events are hosted on the LTU campus each May.

Robofest® is Lawrence Tech’s worldwide robotics program for students in 4th through 12th grade. Student teams design, construct, and program their autonomous robots to compete for trophies in a variety of competitions. Robofest’s mission is to generate excitement and interest among young people for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), AI, and computer science; to develop essential skills such as teamwork, creative thinking, communication, and problem solving; and to prepare them to excel in higher education and technological careers.

Small student teams can design, construct, and program the robots using any robotics kit and programming language. There are eight engaging competition categories, some with fixed rules and unknown factors and others in which students have complete freedom to show off any creative robotic R&D (research and development) project.

Recently, five Robofest® participants joined LTU as college students in the fall 2024 semester, with three more expected to enroll in the spring 2025 semester.

With worldwide interest in robotics and STEM education, Robofest® has grown apace. To further accelerate this growth while maintaining the program’s high standards, a leadership change and a formal structure have been put in place. While Chung remains chair of the Robofest® Executive Council and chair of the Robofest® Advisory Board, he is concentrating on his groundbreaking research in artificial intelligence. Christopher Cartwright, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics, has been appointed executive director, a newly created position. Cartwright has been affiliated with Robofest® since 2005, when he began working with Chung as a volunteer. Adjunct professor of computer science Elmer Santos serves as technical director, which means that he sets the rules for the competitions, conducts workshops, and programs the robots. Shannan Palonis, a full-time staff member in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department, has been named assistant director.

In each participating country, a director handles the administrative tasks and organizes their local events in given categories leading up to the qualifying event and a trip to LTU for the world competition. Nineteen countries are preparing to travel to campus. The two remaining countries have conducted their own local competitions. In all, some 600 students will participate in the Robofest® 2025 World Championship.

An exciting development, competitions will occur in five buildings across campus, including the Field House and the arts and sciences and engineering buildings, because of the number of students, coaches, and chaperones excitedly converging on LTU.

Eight types of competitions will be held: two on Thursday, May 15; three on Friday, May 16; and six on Saturday, May 17. There will be the “Unknown Mission Challenge,” for which students will use an unassembled kit with parts to create their working robot; “Bottle Sumo,” during which robots need to knock five 2-liter bottles off a table; and “Sumo Robot,” in the spirit of Sumo wrestling but with robots pushing each other to win. The game competition this year is titled “Autonomous Valet,” where each team’s robot must assist valet parking with no remote control from the team, that is, autonomously. For “RoboParade,” competitors must design a robot that floats on a parade route, but they have to obey the speed limit! Cartwright said, “During the “RoboParade,” we ask them to take a math test to see if the students know how to calculate speed and display the current speed on their robot.”

“Robofest® is a great way for students around the world to learn about robotics, engage and improve their math skills, and have fun at the same time.”
-Christopher Cartwright, Ph.D.

There’s “RoboMed,” an exhibit of medical applications using robots, and “RoboArt,” a display of robots playing music or painting a picture.

Fourth graders are not put to such rigorous paces, but they have participated in teams leading up to Robofest®. Competitors in the 5^th through 8^th grades comprise the junior levels, while 9^th through 12^th graders are matched on the senior level.

The Robofest® Advisory Board is composed of 12 veteran Robofest® educators, site hosts, and judges. They are responsible for evaluating how much Robofest participants are learning in STEM subjects through their semester-long Robofest® experience. “Our annual STEM assessment reports are available on the Robofest® homepage at www.robofest.net, and we are committed to inspiring students to explore STEM fields and preparing them to excel in higher education and technological careers,” Chung said.

“Robofest® is a great way for students around the world to learn about robotics, engage and improve their math skills, and have fun at the same time,” Cartwright explained.

Patrick Nelson, Ph.D., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, expressed pride in the continuing success of Robofest®. “Dr. Chung’s ingenious idea of teaching STEAM concepts through an autonomous robotics competition has put LTU at the forefront internationally in STEAM education overall and robotics and artificial intelligence specifically.”