Feb 03, 2026

Student Team Wins Design Award at VEXU

A multidisciplinary student team from KFUPM secured first place in the Design Award at the VEXU Robotics Competition on February 2, 2026, a prestigious university-level robotics event held in Riyadh and organized by the Saudi Federation for Robotics and RC Sports. The competition brought together teams from various institutions to showcase excellence in robot design, programming, and engineering integration.

The team was led by Furkan Hussein Al-Salman, a Software Engineering student, and included students from a wide range of engineering and computing disciplines, reflecting strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Together, the team represented KFUPM with a project that emphasized innovation, technical rigor, and professional execution.

The achievement centered on the design, construction, and programming of a competitive robot developed specifically for the VEXU challenge. The team focused on delivering a highly integrated system that balanced mechanical efficiency, electrical reliability, and robust software control. Their approach to engineering design, documentation, and system integration earned them the Design Award, recognizing the project’s overall quality and engineering excellence.

The participation was driven by a desire to apply academic knowledge in a real-world engineering context, develop hands-on robotics and design skills, and gain practical experience beyond the classroom. The achievement also reflects KFUPM’s supportive academic environment, which encourages students to engage in scientific competitions and experiential learning.

Building on this success, the team plans to further enhance the robot’s design and performance and participate in future local and international robotics competitions, leveraging the experience gained to pursue higher levels of innovation and impact. The team encourages fellow students to take initiative and participate in such events, emphasizing that real growth comes from applying theory to practice and embracing engineering challenges.