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Engineering Robotics Competition 2025 Brings Sumo Bot Challenge Back to Ontario Tech
Ontario Tech University welcomed hundreds of students, educators, and supporters to campus on Saturday, November 15, 2025, for the 18th Annual Engineering Robotics Competition. Held at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, the 2025 competition brought together 74 teams—representing more than 400 students in Grades 7 through 12—from across Ontario to put their engineering design and programming skills to the test.
This year marked the return of a crowd favourite: the Sumo Bot competition. Using LEGO Mindstorms kits, teams designed and programmed autonomous robots with one clear objective—to outlast and eliminate their opponents in intense, head-to-head matches until only one robot remained standing. The arena buzzed with energy as students watched their designs compete, adjusting strategies and learning from each round.
New to the competition this year was a poster design component. In addition to building and programming their robots, every team was required to create a poster showcasing their robot’s design, engineering decisions, and the technical and transferable skills they developed throughout the process. The addition highlighted the importance of communication, reflection, and design thinking alongside technical problem-solving.
The competition was evaluated by a panel of judges from Ontario Tech University and partner institutions, including Dr. Eda Aydin, Assistant Teaching Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science; Dr. Varaprasad Oruqanti, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science; and Dr. Nasim Moallemi, Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering at Ontario Tech University. The judging panel also included Dr. Enas Altarawneh, Assistant Professor at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering.
Several teams were recognized for their outstanding performance and creativity. First place was awarded to Team 51 from St. Stephen’s Secondary School, followed by Team 60 from Brooklin High School in second place and Team 61 from W. Sherwood Fox Public School in London, Ontario, in third place. The Referees’ Award for Sportsmanship was presented to Team 47 from Albert Campbell and Team 74 from Nile Academy. The Women in Engineering Award recognized Team 68 from Trafalgar Castle School and Team 9 from R.S. McLaughlin CVI.
Additional awards celebrated innovation and design excellence. Team 60 from Brooklin High School and Team 72 from Nile Academy received the Most Novel Design award. Best Engineering Design honours went to Team 42 from Durham Christian High School and Team 32 from Summer’s Corners Public School. Best Poster Design was awarded to Team 66 from Trafalgar Castle School and Team 70 from Ajax High School. The Best Coach/Mentor Award recognized Mr. David Robinson and Mr. Bryce Zimny for their dedication and leadership.
The Engineering Robotics Competition is organized by Ontario Tech University Engineering Outreach, a unit within the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Engineering Outreach delivers a wide range of hands-on engineering programs for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students across Durham Region and surrounding communities, inspiring curiosity, confidence, and a passion for engineering from an early age.
Through events like the Engineering Robotics Competition, Ontario Tech continues to foster experiential learning opportunities that empower young students to explore engineering, develop critical skills, and imagine themselves as future innovators.
