Mekathlon Fastest Line Follower Robot Competition
Cash prizes up to ₹25,000
Design and build an autonomous line-follower robot to navigate a track at top speed. Open to Grades 3-12. Compete in teams to win medals and trophies.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
₹999
Participation format
Individual and team
Teams of 1 to 5
Duration
The event typically spans one day, including calibration, qualifying rounds, and finals.
Eligibility
Age/Grade: Open to students in Grades 3-7 (Developers) and Grades 8-12 (Innovators). Requirements: Teams must consist of 1 to 5 members and build their own robot. Location: The competition is held in select Indian cities including Sonipat, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Pune.
- Grade level
- Grade 3 to 12
- Age range
- 8 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Students must be enrolled in grades 3 to 12.
- Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of robotics concepts is beneficial but not mandatory.
- Participants must build their own robots; ready-made bots are not allowed.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Prizes up to ₹25,000
Cash prizes are awarded to the top three teams in each category. For Innovators (Grades 8-12), the prizes are ₹25,000, ₹16,000, and ₹10,000. For Developers (Grades 3-7), the prizes are ₹20,000, ₹14,000, and ₹8,000.
Prizes
Trophy & Medals
Winners of the grand finale are awarded trophies, while winners of the semi-final rounds receive medals.
Certificate
Certificate of Participation
All participants receive a Certificate of Participation to acknowledge their involvement and effort in the competition.
Recognition
National-level recognition
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Register all team members on the official Mekathlon website.
- 2Create a unique team name and select the 'Fastest Line Follower' competition.
- 3Add registered members to your team within the user dashboard.
- 4Choose your preferred city for the competition during registration.
Rules and guidelines
- The robot must be autonomous and self-made; ready-made bots are disqualified.
- The robot's dimensions must not exceed 20cm in length, 20cm in width, and 20cm in height.
- The maximum voltage used in the robot must not exceed 16.8V.
- Only one robot per team is allowed for the competition.
Technology requirements
- A personal computer or laptop with programming software (e.g., Arduino IDE).
- Robotics components such as a microcontroller (e.g., Arduino), sensors, motors, and chassis.
- Basic electronics tools for assembly, such as a soldering iron and multimeter.
Fees and financial support
Fee details
The registration fee for Indian residents is ₹999 per team. For non-India residents, the fee is USD 30 per team.
Refund policy
Refer to the cancellation policy on the official Mekathlon website for details on refunds.
About this opportunity
The Fastest Line Follower Robot competition challenges students to design, build, and program an autonomous robot to navigate a specified black-line track in the shortest time possible. This event tests both engineering precision and programming logic, offering a practical application of STEM concepts.
Open to students from Grades 3 to 12, the competition is split into 'Developers' (Grades 3-7) and 'Innovators' (Grades 8-12) categories to ensure fair competition. Participants gain hands-on experience in robotics and electronics, with winners receiving medals and trophies for their achievements.
Rounds and format
The competition consists of multiple rounds. The initial stage is a Calibration Round where teams have 2 minutes to complete the track and can make repairs. This is followed by qualifying rounds at the zonal level where each team attempts to record their fastest time. The top teams from the zonals advance to the Grand Finale.
How entries are judged
The primary judging criterion is the time taken by the robot to complete the designated track. The robot that follows the line and finishes the course in the shortest duration is declared the winner. The time is measured using an automatic timing system.
Selection process
Teams with the fastest completion times in the zonal qualifying rounds will be selected to advance to the Grand Finale.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
No specific Curriculum.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most critical factor for success in a line follower competition?
The key is balancing speed with accuracy. A robust sensor calibration to handle different lighting conditions and track variations, combined with an efficient motor control algorithm, is crucial for achieving the fastest, error-free run.
How can participants prepare for the technical challenges of building the robot?
Begin with the fundamentals of electronics and programming. Focus on understanding how IR sensors function and practice coding simple motor controls. Iterative testing is vital; build, test, identify flaws, and continuously refine the design and code.
What common mistakes should teams avoid?
A frequent error is poor weight distribution, which affects stability at high speeds. Another is insufficient testing on varied track patterns. Teams should test their robot on curves, intersections, and discontinuous lines to ensure the code is versatile.
How is the final time measured to ensure fairness?
The competition uses an automatic timing system with sensors at the start and finish lines to ensure precision and eliminate human error. This guarantees that every team's performance is measured accurately and consistently.
What are the main skills participants develop beyond winning?
Participants gain practical experience in robotics, programming, and electronics. They also develop critical problem-solving skills, learn to work collaboratively in a team, and manage a project from concept to execution under a deadline.
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