Central NJ Students Advance to AI-oriented Robotics World Championship

Students from Storming Robots, a premier Robotics Engineering and Advanced Computer Science Learning Lab based in Branchburg, have earned the distinguished opportunity to compete at the 2025 Robotics World Championship in Salvador, Brazil, from July 15th to 20th.

The team’s journey to the world stage began at the inaugural America’s Super Regional (ASR), held at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania from April 26th to 28th, 2025. The ASR is an international competition featuring teams from across the Americas, Europe, and China, as part of RoboCupJunior (RCJ)—a renowned AI-oriented robotics competition. The event challenges participants with fully autonomous robot missions across various leagues, including Rescue Line and Rescue Maze. All involve sophisticated computer vision, mapping, and navigation skills beyond their years.

Team Executioner.exe, first time Rescue Maze participants, won the Second Place in the RoboRescue Maze League, behind a veteran team from Croatia. The team consists of Arav Kewalia, Rohit Mudduluru, Vedaang Verma (all 10 to 11th graders from the Bridgewater High School), and Christopher Sperry (11th grade) from Watchung Township.

Team MAJic, won 1st Place of Resue Line League among USA teams. The team consists of Arusha Bhargava (from Hillsborough township), Julia Chan (10th grader from Bridgewater Township), and Maya Baireddy (from Holmdel).

RoboCupJunior is the pre-college division of the globally recognized RoboCup event. Each year, top teams from over 40 countries compete, exhibit, and share their innovative projects, alongside leading scientists and engineers in the field.

What sets this robot competition apart from many others is the 100% automation required to adapt to dynamic changes in variables presented in the competition field. It requires students to delve deeply into robotics programming, algorithmic thinking skills, and their devotion to exploring the future of artificial intelligence.

In addition, throughout three 6-hour days at the competition, teams must continuously make strategic and technical decisions to improve themselves without a mentor’s presence.
All robot designs are unique. Teams used OpenSource Platforms, such as Arduino, Raspberry PI, along with various electronic devices from various vendors. Many also even designed and 3D-printed their own parts. Students from Storming Robots showcased exceptional talent and dedication in collaboration and continuously optimize their designs.

“These impressive youngsters have learned to be effective problem solvers and possess technical skills in order to automate robots are uncommon among such young ages,” said Mabrey, the director of Storming Robots. “Winning or not, ‘Hats Off’ to all teams who have demonstrated self-initiative and perseverance in challenging themselves. Last but not least, they had a great time doing it.” added Mabrey.

Storming Robots, located in Branchburg, is an institution dedicated to building students’ computational thinking skills – indispensable in science, technology, engineering, and math for the AI Era. Visit Storming Robots online at www.stormingrobots.com.