Students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC hereafter) achieved strong results at the 2026 China Robot Competition, held alongside the 1st Global Challenge for Innovation in Embodied AI Applications at the White Horse Lake International Convention and Exhibition Center in Hangzhou from October 16 to 18.
Beining Luo and Weifeng Yao, undergraduate students enrolled at GC in 2026, won the championship in the Standard Racing category of the Intelligent Vehicle Challenge. Xingjian Mao, an undergraduate student enrolled in 2025, won second place in the Innovation and Creativity category of the Spacecraft Design and Space Robotics competition.
Championship in the Intelligent Vehicle Challenge
The Standard Racing category tested teams’ real-time perception, control accuracy and ability to adapt to changing environments. Participating vehicles were required to perform continuous dynamic planning and maintain stable, reliable control under complex and changing conditions.
During the competition, Beining Luo was primarily responsible for the initial debugging and calibration of the vehicle, while Weifeng Yao focused on its design and adjustment.
Reflecting on the experience, Luo said: “Through debugging and calibration, I was able to apply what I had learned in class to practical work, strengthen my academic foundations and improve my engineering skills. I also came to appreciate the importance of teamwork. Every member’s dedication and collaboration helped move the team forward. I am grateful to the university and GC for providing an excellent platform for innovation and practice, as well as to our faculty mentors for their guidance and support. The experience encouraged us to challenge ourselves and grow through hands-on exploration.”
Yao added: “This competition showed me how important teamwork is when tackling complex projects. From developing design concepts to hands-on debugging, every team member needed to contribute their strengths and work together through discussion and continuous refinement. The competition also gave me an opportunity to turn theoretical knowledge into engineering practice. The electronic technologies and computer programming involved in robotics are closely connected to my academic studies, giving me a clearer understanding of my future learning and development. I am grateful to the university and GC for providing the resources, learning environment and guidance that enabled us to broaden our horizons, develop practical skills and grow through exploration.”
Runner-up in Spacecraft Design and Space Robotics
The Innovation and Creativity category of the Spacecraft Design and Space Robotics competition focused on space safety and traffic management in low Earth orbit, addressing challenges such as orbital congestion, space debris and collision risks.
Mao’s team presented a project titled “Orbital Planning and Relative Navigation for Active Removal of Failed Satellites in the Qianfan Constellation.” The project proposed a strategy in which a single servicing spacecraft consecutively removes two target satellites, exploring a cost-effective and reusable approach to clearing failed satellites from orbit.
The team integrated orbital planning, three-stage relative navigation and capture validation on a scaled experimental platform, covering key steps from target rendezvous to compliant capture. Mao was primarily responsible for data simulation and modeling during the competition.
Speaking about the experience, Mao said: “Throughout the competition, I worked closely with my teammates to overcome challenges together. GC’s extensive engineering courses have equipped me with theoretical knowledge and practical skills, while the college’s interdisciplinary approach has encouraged me to think creatively and turn ideas into workable plans. As a GC student, I will continue to strive forward, embrace new challenges and keep making progress.”
