The robotics industry has entered a more dynamic phase of development in Kazakhstan. At the recent Alem Tech Fest held in Astana, teams from Estonia, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Hong Kong demonstrated their coolest robots. It's not just a competition - it's a global meetup where kids and students swap ideas and build the future.
The Heroes of Tomorrow team from Estonia, showed up with a tough metal robot designed for rough rides. It's got sealed tracks that grip the ground like glue and drills for the tough stuff. The whole build took them just 2-3 months. Led by 16-year-old Mikhail Sharayev, the team gathers guys of different ages.
They have a lucky charm, a bright orange chicken mascot that appears at every match.
It pops up in every match, so we made it our thing, says Michael. Now we all have plush ones at home.
Nigeria's crew, led by Abubula Ibrahim Sule, turned the fest into a practical class. With profs Dr. Umar and Dr. Anubola, as well as teammates from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, they tackled "Physical AI." Their robot spots bottles or boxes on its own, beeps when it's close (like 0.2 meters away), and grabs them even if you move stuff around.
We're all about smart detection, not just winning - says Abubulai.
It's their first time here, but he's been in Kazakhstan for three years.
Professors hooked us up to learn robotics the real way.
13-year-old Thien Nam from Vietnam brought Uro, a speedy rover for tunnels and wild terrain. Built in a crazy two weeks, it has tracks for any ground, a camera that scans artifacts, and color codes to map spots. Team URA consists of four kids and a mentor nailed the ML Challenge.
We scan, read colors, and mark the map, Nam explains.
It is their first time in Kazakhstan.
The snow is awesome! Back home in Hanoi, it's always hot.
Hong Kong's young team - Evelyn Chan (11), Sean (13), Lisa (9), and Josh (10). They built a full setup: satellite for the sky view, drone for flyovers, and a rover called Earth MRI.
The rover uses smart sensors to climb hills without tipping and scans the ground like a pro. No need for tons of diggers - we save time and money, says Evelyn.
It started as a robot arm for school contests and grew over two months. They met at a tech club and loved Kazakhstan.
People here are so kind and chill, the group shares.
This workshop brings together new young enthusiasts from four continents. Kazakhstan isn't just a playing host. It's becoming a global platform for emerging robotics talent for young robotics talent.