Robofest India BottleSumo Junior Division: Autonomous Robotics Competition
$80,000 Scholarship Opportunity
Autonomous robotics competition for Classes 5-8, where robots battle in sumo matches. Winners qualify for the Robofest World Championship in the USA.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
$100
Participation format
Individual and team
Teams of 1 to 3
Duration
3 days (India Regional); 3 days (World Championship)
Eligibility
This competition is open to students in Classes 5-8 across India. Participants form teams of 1-3 students and should possess basic robotics building and programming skills. No specific financial criteria or reservations apply.
- Grade level
- Grade 5 to 8
- Age range
- 10 to 13 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Students in Classes 5-8 (Junior divisions).
- Prerequisites
- Basic robotics building and programming skills
- Access to a robotics platform (LEGO/VEX IQ for Classic divisions, any platform for Unlimited)
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
World Championship & Trophies
Winners qualify to represent India at the Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Technological University. Trophies and medals are awarded to top performers.
Certificate
Participation & Winner Certificates
All registered participants receive personalized medals and certificates. Winners of qualifying and championship rounds receive trophies.
Recognized by
Recognition
International Recognition (World Championship)
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Competition
- 17 Jan 2026
How to apply
- 1Register your team on the Robofest India website (robofestindia.org).
- 2Build and program your autonomous robot according to division rules.
- 3Attend the India Regional competition with your robot.
- 4Winners qualify for the Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Technological University, USA.
Rules and guidelines
- All robots must be fully autonomous — no remote control allowed
- All code must be written from scratch by student participants
- Classic divisions: only LEGO EV3/NXT/SPIKE Prime/Robot Inventor or VEX IQ allowed
- Unlimited divisions: any robotics platform and programming language permitted
- Junior robots: max 0.9 kg, 20x20x20 cm; Senior Classic: max 1.5 kg, 30x30x30 cm; Senior Unlimited: max 3 kg, 35x35x35 cm
- Ramps are not allowed; front/rear/sides of robot (outer envelope, 25mm or lower from ground) cannot be sloped or horizontal
- Maximum 2 minutes per match in the tournament
- Robots must be fully autonomous; no remote control is permitted.
- All programming code must be original and written by student participants.
- Classic division robots must use specified platforms like LEGO EV3/NXT/SPIKE Prime/Robot Inventor or VEX IQ.
Technology requirements
- Robotics platform (LEGO EV3/NXT/SPIKE Prime/Robot Inventor, VEX IQ for Classic; any platform for Unlimited)
- Programming environment compatible with chosen platform
- Laptop for programming (optional — pre-program at home)
Fees and financial support
Fee details
$100 per team for India Regional competition. Additional costs may include robot parts and travel to competition venues.
Refund policy
Details regarding refund policy are typically available on the official Robofest India website or during registration.
About this opportunity
Robofest India BottleSumo is an autonomous robotics competition designed for students to build and program robots that push bottles off a table and compete in head-to-head sumo matches. This event serves as a beginner-friendly introduction to competitive robotics, fostering innovation and technical skills.
The Junior Division specifically targets students in Classes 5-8, utilizing LEGO EV3/NXT/SPIKE Prime/Robot Inventor and VEX IQ platforms. Successful participants from Robofest India earn the opportunity to represent the nation at the prestigious Robofest World Championship held at Lawrence Technological University in the USA.
Rounds and format
Session 1 (Time Trial): Each robot pushes 5 bottles off the table, timed to seed tournament bracket. Top 20% receive awards. Session 2 (Single Elimination Tournament): Head-to-head sumo matches with no bottles, maximum 2 minutes per match. 1st and 2nd place trophies awarded.
How entries are judged
Robots score points by pushing opponent's bottles off the table. The robot with the most points wins the match. Penalties apply for pushing own bottles off the table.
Selection process
Top performing teams in the Robofest India BottleSumo Junior Division qualify to represent India at the Robofest World Championship in the USA.
How to prepare
- Official competition rulebook
- Robofest India website for updates and resources
Academic details
Difficulty: Beginner
What's covered
The competition aligns with STEM education principles, encouraging practical application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through robotics.
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