Robofest India Building Bridges Senior Division: Autonomous Robotics Competition
Up to $80,000 LTU Scholarship
Autonomous robotics competition for Grades 9-12 to design robots that build bridges with wood blocks and test the span by sending a tennis ball across.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
Registration fee applies
Participation format
Team
Teams of 1 to 5
Duration
Single day at India regional qualifier; 3-day Robofest World Championship in May
Eligibility
Open to students in Grades 9-12 (typically ages 14-17) across India. Teams of up to 5 members from any school, home school, club, or civic group. Participants must be able to design, build, and program autonomous robots. India regional qualifiers are held in select cities, with nationwide eligibility for qualification.
- Grade level
- Grade 9 to 12
- Age range
- 14 to 17 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Students in Grades 9-12 (Senior Division).
- Prerequisites
- Working knowledge of robotics building and programming
- Familiarity with sensors, motors, and autonomous control
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Up to $80,000
World Championship winners are eligible for Lawrence Technological University scholarships. First place receives $20,000/year ($80,000 over 4 years), second place $16,000/year ($64,000 over 4 years), third place $14,000/year ($56,000 over 4 years). All high school senior participants receive a base $3,000/year scholarship ($12,000 over 4 years) to attend LTU.
Prizes
Trophies & Medals
Trophies are awarded to qualifying and championship-round winners. All registered participants receive personalized medals.
Certificate
Robofest Participation Certificate
All registered participants receive personalized certificates of participation from Robofest. Lawrence Technological University recognises Robofest competition results in its scholarship review process.
Opens doors to
Participation and winning at the World Championship provides direct scholarship opportunities at Lawrence Technological University, Michigan, USA. Senior Division participants are particularly well positioned for LTU's scholarship structure.
Recognition
International Recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 8 Sept 2025
- Registration closed
- 13 Apr 2026
- Competition
- 14 May 2026 to 16 May 2026
How to apply
- 1Coach or mentor obtains a Coach ID from robofest.net
- 2Register the team at www.robofest.net/rms and select Game (Building Bridges) — Senior Division
- 3Upload team member photos within 3 weeks of registration
- 4Build and program an autonomous robot per the Game 2026 rules
- 5Compete at an India regional qualifier or submit a Video Qualifier
- 6Top teams advance to the Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Technological University
Rules and guidelines
- Robots must be completely autonomous with no remote control allowed
- All program code must be written from scratch by the student team
- Any type of robot kit, materials, actuators, sensors, and programming language may be used
- All team members must bring signed Robofest Consent and Release Forms
- Students make all decisions during competition; adult mentors guide but do not build or program
- Each match consists of 2 rounds with a 30-minute work-time per round; UTF are revealed just before each round
- Late submissions or failure to follow the Unknown Tasks and Factors rules will result in penalties
Technology requirements
- Robot kit with programmable controller
- Programming environment (any language supported)
- Laptop for programming and debugging
- Sensors and actuators for autonomous navigation
Fees and financial support
Fee details
World Championship team registration fee is USD 100 per team. The India regional qualifier fee is set by Novatech Robo and is not published on the official India site at the time of research. The sibling Junior Division charged INR 3,500 per team in the as a reference. Contact Novatech Robo via robofestindia.org for the current Senior Division INR fee.
Financial support
All Robofest competitors qualify for an LTU scholarship of $3,000 per year. Senior Division World Championship winners receive an LTU scholarship certificate worth up to $20,000 per year for four years (USD 80,000 total).
About this opportunity
Robofest India Building Bridges Senior Division is an autonomous robotics competition for high school students in Grades 9-12, organised by Novatech Robo as the official India partner of the Robofest program at Lawrence Technological University. Teams design, construct, and program robots that move bridge footings and beams (one-inch by two-inch wood blocks) to build a span across a river, then send a tennis ball as a test load to a target bin in a second bridge footing.
Teams of up to five students compete at India regional events, where each match consists of two rounds with a 30-minute work-time. Unknown Tasks and Factors (UTF) are revealed just before each round, requiring real-time adaptation of code and strategy. Robots must operate fully autonomously with no remote control, and all program code must be written from scratch by the student team. Any robot platform and any programming language are permitted.
Top performing Indian teams qualify to represent India at the Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA. World Championship winners across divisions are eligible for substantial LTU scholarships. The Senior Division strengthens engineering design, autonomous programming, sensor integration, and team problem-solving skills aligned with university-level robotics curricula.
Rounds and format
Each match consists of 2 rounds. Unknown Tasks and Factors (UTF) are revealed just before a 30-minute work-time for each round. UTFs include Target Bridge Location, Robot Starting Orientation, Start Line Location, Bridge Beam 2 Location, Test Load Location, and Game Ending Robot Location/Task.
How entries are judged
Scoring via the official Robofest Game scorecard based on precision of bridge construction, successful positioning of bridge footings and beams, and successful delivery of the test load (tennis ball) across the bridge span to the target bin.
Selection process
Top performing teams from India regional qualifiers advance to the Robofest World Championship at Lawrence Technological University.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
Frequently asked questions
How can students effectively manage competitive pressure during the event?
Students can manage competitive pressure by focusing on teamwork, practicing stress-reduction techniques, and remembering that the primary goal is learning and skill development. Emphasizing preparation and a positive mindset can significantly help in high-pressure situations.
What are common preparation mistakes participants should avoid?
Common mistakes include neglecting thorough testing of the robot in various scenarios, not fully understanding the rulebook, and failing to practice adapting to unexpected challenges. Teams should also avoid last-minute programming changes that haven't been rigorously tested.
How do judges evaluate robot performance and design?
Judges evaluate robot performance based on precision in completing tasks, efficiency, and adherence to competition rules, as outlined in the official scorecard. Design is assessed on innovation, robustness, and the team's ability to explain their engineering choices and programming logic.
What strategies can teams employ to adapt to Unknown Tasks and Factors (UTFs)?
Teams should develop modular code and a flexible robot design that allows for quick modifications. Practicing problem-solving under time constraints and having a clear communication strategy within the team are crucial for effective adaptation to UTFs.
Beyond winning, what are the key long-term benefits for participants?
Participants gain invaluable experience in robotics, programming, and engineering design. The competition fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, which are highly beneficial for future academic pursuits and careers in STEM fields.
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