Robotics Hackathon Challenge

Challenge Overview

The Robotics Hackathon Challenge at RAAIF NextGen Expo 2026 is an intense, hands-on robotics engineering competition held on Day 1 (23 Oct 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM) at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru. Competitors construct and configure custom autonomous rovers and tactical radio-controlled robots to tackle two high-speed tournament arenas.

Competition Tracks

Track 01 — High-Speed Line Follower Competition

Problem Statement:
Design, assemble, and program an autonomous wheeled mobile robot capable of tracking a high-complexity black-on-white circuit path with high precision, zero human intervention, and minimum lap completion time.

The course features intricate schematic obstacles modeled after electrical circuit topology, including dual synchronized start lines, 90-degree vector cuts, high-frequency zigzag tracks, circular bypass loops, diode bottleneck gates, and high-velocity curved finish lines.

Track 02 — Robo Football (Robo Soccer Clash)

Problem Statement:
Build a robust, agile, and maneuverable mobile robot designed for dynamic competitive football matches. Compete head-to-head in a miniature arena featuring synthetic turf, dedicated goal posts, and tactical defensive zones.

Teams battle to control possession of the ball, evade opponent tackles, execute strategic passes, and score goals within regulation match time. Both radio-frequency (RF), Bluetooth/Wi-Fi manual controllers, and autonomous drive mechanisms are eligible.

Technical Guidelines & Rules

• Open Eligibility: Open to school students, college teams, university researchers, tech startups, and independent hobbyists.
• Line Follower Specifications: Max robot footprint of 25cm × 25cm. Multi-sensor IR arrays, phototransistors, and custom PID control loops are permitted. No off-course assists allowed.
• Robo Football Specifications: Maximum robot weight of 3.5 kg. Active kicker mechanisms (solenoid, spring, or servo driven) must comply with safe voltage limits (max 18V battery pack).
• Scoring & Timing: Line Follower is evaluated on net circuit completion time plus gate crossing points. Robo Football is scored via goal differentials and clean sportsmanship.
• Jury Panel: RAAIF senior robotics engineers and industry practitioners evaluate chassis fabrication, controller stability, and real-time execution.

Submission Requirements

Competing teams will present:

• Operational physical robot ready for arena trials at 2:00 PM on 23 Oct 2026.
• Brief system architecture breakdown (microcontroller, motor drivers, sensor array, battery specs).
• Team registration verification pass from the official hackathon portal.