The AON Robotics team from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus (RUM) earned first place at the VEX Robotics competition, where it also received the Excellence Award, the highest distinction granted by the organization to teams that demonstrate overall excellence in design, execution, professionalism, and documentation. This result secured the team a direct qualification to the VEX Robotics World Championship, which will take place in April 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri.
The competition requires participants to develop robots from scratch through processes involving design, manufacturing, programming, and strategy. It also demands effective collaboration among students from different disciplines, who must analyze the annual game proposed by VEX and create innovative solutions capable of competing in high-precision and demanding scenarios.
Another RUM team also participated in the local VEX competition, along with teams from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico and the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.
“We’re happy because, although the team is relatively new, we managed to achieve a high-level performance. Along the way, some people with extensive experience were unable to continue with us, but we kept moving forward with steady steps. It makes us proud to know that the new members were able to learn quickly and contribute so much,” said Ian, a mechanical engineering student and team captain.
That sentiment was shared by Kevin, a software engineering student and co-captain, who highlighted the team’s perseverance.
“It’s a testament to our perseverance and our desire to do what we’re passionate about. The majority of the team is made up of first-year or newly integrated students, and even so they played key roles in this victory. There were many long nights, but it’s something we can feel good about and be proud of,” he said.
Since its creation in 2015, AON Robotics has maintained a strong trajectory characterized by the integration of students from diverse disciplines such as electrical engineering, software engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, business administration, and industrial engineering.
“It’s a very enriching experience because it allows you to learn a bit about all the areas that influence what we do. By working with representatives from different majors, you not only learn about the technical aspects of each field, but you also learn more about people and how they think. Everyone brings a different perspective, yet we all contribute toward the same goal. That collaboration is what makes this process so interesting and valuable,” Kevin explained.
“My role is to help everyone understand the goal we want to achieve, even if I don’t master some areas, such as programming. That’s why we have captains from different concentrations, so we can guide the team from different angles,” Ian added.
They explained that the challenge required designing robots capable of collecting spherical elements, storing them, and scoring them in horizontal tubes within a 12-by-12-foot field, all while competing directly against another team attempting to achieve the same objectives. To address this challenge, the RUM team developed a strategy based on two robots: one offensive and one defensive.
“We wanted one robot focused on scoring the balls and another that would prevent opponents from taking points away from us,” Ian said.
They also explained that the manufacturing process combined VEX-provided parts with components designed and fabricated by the students themselves using 3D printing and CNC machines, allowing them to create specialized mechanisms tailored to their strategy.
Kevin also noted that programming—particularly the autonomous segment during the first 30 seconds of the match—represented a significant challenge.
“In the software area we faced two types of challenges. On one hand, there’s the entire mathematical component, because a robot’s movement and its autonomous operation require a great deal of theory, training, and research. At the same time, there are moments when we have to stop and wait until the robots are fully built before beginning physical tests. That part is perhaps the most tedious, because you have to repeat nearly perfect actions over and over again, and any small collision or deviation changes the robot’s behavior. Maintaining that level of precision is difficult, but it’s also what makes the process so challenging and satisfying,” he said.
With their sights now set on the World Championship, the team is analyzing every detail of its performance and reviewing its designs based on lessons learned.
For Dr. Zayira Jordán Conde, president of the University of Puerto Rico, the achievement reaffirms the excellence of the university’s students.
“The capacity, discipline, and creativity demonstrated by the AON Robotics team are a source of great pride for our entire university community. This victory confirms the talent that distinguishes RUM and the high quality of education within the UPR system. It is inspiring to see these young students representing Puerto Rico with such passion and commitment,” she said.
Similarly, Dr. Agustín Rullán Toro, Chancellor of RUM, emphasized the institutional significance of the accomplishment.
“The collaborative work, technical rigor, and dedication demonstrated by the team throughout the season are admirable. This result highlights the extraordinary potential of our students. We celebrate this victory with great satisfaction and offer them our full support as they prepare for the World Championship,” he concluded.