About RoboPlanet
Built for the long game.
A K-12 STEM nonprofit in Richmond, BC — teaching robotics and engineering since 2016.
Our Story
Founded 2016. Still building.
RoboPlanet was founded in 2016 in Richmond, BC, as a K-12 STEM nonprofit education organization. From the first class to today’s competition teams, the method hasn’t changed: students learn engineering by building, testing, and competing for real.
What started in one classroom now runs as a complete pathway — weekly programs, competition teams on the world stage, summer camps, and community events across Greater Vancouver.
Richmond, BC
K-12
Nonprofit
Not a hobby class — an engineering growth system.
Students don’t just attend sessions. They move through stages with visible milestones, real deadlines, real teammates, and a real scoreboard. The goal isn’t to fill an afternoon — it’s to grow an engineer over years.
Credentials
Verifiable, not vague.
Certifications, affiliations, and registrations parents can check — each one confirmed with the issuing organization.
Carnegie Mellon CS2N
Affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University’s CS2N (Computer Science Student Network) — cs2n.org.
VEX Robotics
Official VEX event partner — VEX IQ (VIQRC) and VEX V5 (V5RC) competitions.
FIRST
Official FIRST event partner — FIRST LEGO League (FLL).
The Coaching Team
The people at the front of the room.
World-class coaches, proven competition records, and a shared passion for developing the next generation of engineers.
Oxford Zhuo
Head Coach · VEX IQ & VEX V5 Programs
BEng Computer Engineering, McGill University · 8+ years STEM teaching
Oxford specializes in competition strategy, engineering design, and rapid skill development. With a track record of training provincial champions and world-level teams, Oxford brings elite-level coaching to every student — from first-time builders to championship contenders.
VEX IQ
4 consecutive Worlds qualifications
U.S. Open Champion
2× U.S. Open Excellence Award
World Champ Division 2ndES Division, 2024–25
World Champ Design AwardMS Division, 2024–25
4× BC Provincial ChampionES + MS, 2024–25 & 2025–26
2× Excellence AwardBC Provincials ES + MS
VEX V5
Provincial Champion2024–25
Excellence + Skills Champion
World Champ Design Award
John Zhang
Head Coach · FIRST LEGO League
10 years of competitive robotics coaching
John has dedicated a career to competitive robotics education for youth, building a world-class record in the FIRST LEGO League — leading teams to the World Championship for eight straight years and winning every Vancouver regional qualifier for seven years running. John’s students consistently excel against top global competition.
FIRST LEGO League
15 international events
7 straight yearsVancouver regional champion
3× Provincial Champion
4× Provincial Finalist2nd place
4 World Championship trophies
Dayong
VEX V5 Instructor
BSc Computer Science, Syracuse University · MSc Cybersecurity
6 years of STEM teaching experience. Specializes in VEX V5 Robotics over the past 2 years, guiding students through mechanical design, coding, and competitive strategy.
Albert
FRC & CAD Instructor
Materials Engineering, University of British Columbia
2 years of competitive FRC experience with two championship-qualified robots. Proficient in Autodesk Inventor, Onshape, SolidWorks, and 3D printing.
Matthew Lai
Robotics Instructor
Chemistry & Statistics, Simon Fraser University
Matthew specializes in SPIKE Essential, SPIKE Prime, FLL Challenge, and Python, drawing on a background in Python and R to create a fun, analytical, and supportive environment that helps students build confidence and logical thinking.
Jingze Wang
VEX IQ Instructor
Engineering, BCIT
Jingze specializes in breaking down complex mechanical and programming concepts into simple, clear explanations, adapting to each student’s level, encouraging independence and reducing screen-time while building strong focus and interest in robotics.
Gina Choi
CAD & Robotics Instructor
Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia
Gina specializes in mechanical CAD design and robot building, with hands-on programming experience alongside. A three-time FIRST LEGO League Hong Kong champion, Gina has represented Hong Kong internationally and earned 3rd Place for Robot Design at the FLL World Championship in Houston.
Carina Li
Beginner Robotics Instructor
Computer Science, University of British Columbia
Carina has spent 3 years at RoboPlanet specializing in ages 5–8, guiding young learners step by step and encouraging curiosity, patience, creativity, and foundational problem-solving through hands-on activities.
Bowen Yang
VEX IQ Instructor
BA, University of British Columbia
With 2 years of teaching experience, Bowen instructs VEX IQ courses and has served as a team coach at major competitions, including the 2026 VEX IQ World Championship and the U.S. Open. Bowen builds warm rapport with students, helping them learn and grow in a joyful environment.
Vivian Liu
Event Director
Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Human Resource Management, Simon Fraser University
Vivian leads RoboPlanet’s operations and events — not a coaching role. With 10+ years in STEM education and youth development, she has run 20+ large-scale events and community initiatives, specializing in partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector collaboration with schools, corporations, and nonprofits.
Partners
Who we work with.
Schools
Partner schools including Brockton School and Southpointe Academy.
Competitions
Official events across FLL Challenge, VIQRC, V5RC, and the RoboBattle Cup Series.
Community
Robotics sessions and showcases with Richmond Public Library and Vancouver Public Library.
Community Impact
Beyond our own classrooms.
STEAM Cup
Supporting community STEAM competition events for local students.
Library Events
Robotics sessions and showcases at local libraries.
School Partnerships
In-school robotics programs built with partner schools.
Public Programs
Open community programs and demo days through the year.
Come see it in person.
Book a trial class and meet the coaches, the lab, and the builds up close.