Bialystok University of Technology Students on the Podium at RobotChallenge 2025 in Beijing

The Polish Bison Team, operating within the Student Scientific Association of Automation and Robotics at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of Bialystok University of Technology, entered five robots in two categories: Mega Sumo and Mini Sumo. Their robot MK7 earned 3rd place in the Mini Sumo category!

– The competition was extremely tough – apart from the intense matches, we had to deal with a significant language barrier and rules that differed from what we’re used to in Poland. The fact that the judges spoke only Chinese didn’t help, said Katarzyna Rogalska, a student of Automation and Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology. – Despite these challenges, two of our robots advanced past the group stage, and MK7 made it to the podium, winning 3rd place in the Mini Sumo category! Participating in the competition was a great experience and a huge motivation for us to continue developing future designs.

The BUT students’ robot beat 64 competitors in its category, and the matches were as fierce as real sumo fights. The competition itself is inspired by this traditional Japanese combat sport, with teams placing their robotic creations against each other in a ring.

It was a major success for the team, debuting in a new line-up. The RobotChallenge 2025 in Beijing, held from 15 to 17 August 2025, saw participation from students of Automation and Robotics at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science at the Faculty of Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology: Adam Kołodko, Mikołaj Sujeta, Katarzyna Rogalska, and Maria Marta Kulesza.

The Polish Bison Team has been reactivated, continuing the robotics and programming passion of its founders, who have since graduated. The next generation has now taken over – and, as we can see, has already made its mark on the team’s legacy, proudly represented by its bison logo.

The students work within the Automation and Robotics Association, which has existed since 2012. The group designs and develops its own digital devices using microcontrollers, and builds mobile robots. Its members have achieved numerous successes – in 2024 and 2025 alone, they won over 15 trophies at robotics competitions. In 2025, they claimed 1st place:

• in the Line Follower category at the RobotExe competition in Łomża (a national event),
• in the RoboStrong, DeathMatch, and Best Team from Poland categories at Robotic Tournament XV in Rybnik (an international competition),
• in the MiniSumo Strong and MICROBOTIC MiniSumo Enhanced categories at Robotic Arena in Wrocław (also international).

The academic advisor of the Automation and Robotics Association is Rafał Kociszewski, PhD Eng. from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology.

The students’ trip was funded by the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and the Student Self-Government of Bialystok University of Technology, as part of its support for student scientific associations.

Want to develop your passion? Join our student scientific associations. More information available on our website – check it out!

(prepared by mz)

View the photo gallery from the competition in Beijing: