From August 17 to 19, the national finals of the 18th National 3D Competition "Huazhong CNC Cup" — Special Contest on Innovative Application of Industrial Collaborative Robots and Digital Twin Technology — were held at Xiamen University of Technology. The SCMU representative team achieved first prize, and the university was recognized as an Outstanding Organizing Unit.

After intense competition among 195 elite teams from 104 universities and institutions, including top-tier opponents such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology, SCMU’s team — composed of Li Shengxu, Wei Yuan, and Meng Bixuan from the School of Computer Science (School of Artificial Intelligence) — stood out with their outstanding innovative design, superb technical execution, and steady on-site performance. This accomplishment marks the best result our university has ever attained in this competition.

Group photo of the participating teachers and students. Photo Source: The Organizing Committee

In the finals, teams were required to design and manufacture multi-functional robotic grippers, install and debug them, and complete tasks such as transporting, uncapping, and dispensing various types of liquid bottles and cans, while achieving virtual-real integration. During the design phase, the SCMU team innovatively proposed a modular gripper concept, integrating three modules into a single unit via a unified flange, which facilitated precise positioning and rapid installation. Additionally, the grippers were made from biodegradable PLA material using low-density infill printing, ensuring strength while successfully balancing high performance, environmental sustainability, and low cost. Throughout debugging and competition, the team overcame numerous technical challenges through clear task division and highly coordinated collaboration, fully achieving the contest objectives. The innovation, stability, and efficiency of their work were thoroughly validated.

SCMU students at the competition venue. Photo Source: The Organizing Committee

According to relevant department representatives, this honor reflects months of hard work by the competing students and the dedicated guidance of instructors Yu Zhuma and Luo Zhengyu from the Engineering Training Center. It also exemplifies the outcomes of the university’s efforts to deepen teaching reform and emphasize innovation and practical education. In recent years, the College of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the School of Undergraduate Education, and the Engineering Training Center have placed high importance on cultivating students’ technological innovation capabilities, establishing a practice-oriented education system driven by high-level disciplinary competitions and supported by innovation laboratories and project-based courses. These initiatives have yielded substantial results in nurturing outstanding engineers for the new era.