Bristol Teens Build Empire Robot, Conquer Global Robotics Stage!

Adil and Kacper, two students from St Mary Redcliffe and Temple sixth form centre in Bristol, have achieved something incredible. They spent over 1,000 hours designing and building a robot named Empire, which they entered into the VEX Robotics World Championships in the United States. Competing against thousands of students from more than 50 countries, Adil and Kacper finished sixth overall, making them the top team from the UK. They were also the only state school team from the UK to qualify for this global event.

The competition required teams to build robots that could complete a series of tasks, such as picking up and moving objects around an arena as quickly as possible. Adil explained that the biggest challenge was making sure the robot's mechanisms were fast enough to compete with the best teams. Adil's interest in robotics began when he was a child playing with Lego, and he has since moved on to more complex projects. The team started building their robot in November 2025, which put them six months behind other teams. To catch up, they worked during every break, free period, and weekend, and they managed to secure £20,000 in funding to complete their project.

In just four months, Adil and Kacper won nine regional competitions across the UK, earning them a place at the World Championships. At the event in St. Louis, Missouri, they won an award for having the most consistent and durable robot. The Empire robot was designed using computer-aided design software, which helped them plan and measure everything before building. Their teacher, Rob Shaw, praised their determination and resilience, calling them an inspiration to the school community. Now, Adil and Kacper hope to mentor younger students and keep the robotics project going for future years.