In This Story
George Mason University’s Ciao Lab, led by Assistant Professor Ningshi Yao from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, successfully launched the Airborne Robotics Cup (ARCup) in Gaithersburg, Maryland on August 17, 2025.
ARCup is a hands-on robotics and AI competition featuring miniature robotic blimps designed and piloted by middle and high
school students. It takes the form of a 3D aerial “soccer” match, in which teams fly fleets of soft, lightweight robotic blimps to capture and score game balls through hoops. The platform emphasizes safety, affordability, and accessibility: each kit costs less than $200 and many parts can be built from everyday materials such as trash bags and foam board.
The event was co-organized by Ciao Lab in partnership with two US-based nonprofit organizations, the Capital Youth Outreach Club and the Zhejiang University Alumni Association, Greater Washington, D.C. Chapter. ARCup 2025 brought together more than 50 students from six states, supported by over 150 parents, educators, and community leaders. The all-day competition ran from noon until nearly 11 p.m. and concluded with a thrilling finale.
Graduate student leadership was also key. George Mason PhD student Yojan Gautam designed and built the competition’s basic blimp kits and mentored teams throughout the eight-week preparation period, ensuring that even first-time participants could succeed. “Having faced my own failed attempts while designing the kits, it was incredibly rewarding to watch the students work through their setbacks and realize that true success comes from persevering through failure.”
Public officials and academic leaders attended to recognize student achievements and the event’s educational mission, including Maryland Secretary of State Susan C. Lee, Maryland State Senator Dr. Clarence Lam, and Professor Alex Sprintson, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at George Mason.
While ARCup crowned winners, organizers emphasized that the competition is about more than trophies. “ARCup isn’t just about medals,” Yao said. “It’s about engineering thinking, resilience, leadership, and collaboration. And learning how to overcome setbacks is just as important as learning how to win.”