Robotics:Comparing Programs
No matter how old you are, or what type of robotics you like, there is a competitive robotics program for everyone. These are a few of the best-known robotics programs currently active around the world. If you know of another organization, please feel free to add it to the list!
ACE (Aerospace Robotics Competition)
A program where autonomous and semi-autonomous flying robots compete in 3 different event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-18 | USA | 2015 | https://www.aeroroboticscomp.com/ |
BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science & Technology)
A 6-week robotics competition where teams must use a kit of parts provided at the season kickoff.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-18 | USA | 1993 | https://www.bestrobotics.org/site/ |
Botbol
A 7-week competition to build autonomous robots using any robotics kit on the market.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-18 | International | 1997 | https://www.kipr.org/botball |
FIRLA RoboWorld Cup
A robot competition combined with a research conference. The youth division has 5 separate event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Adult | International | 1996 | https://firaworldcup.org/ |
FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)
This program has 5 age/event categories (Pre K-Grade 1, Grades 2-4, Grades 5-9, Grades 7-12, Grades 9-12). Teams build autonomous or driver-controlled robots depending on the category.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-18 | International | 1992 | https://firstinspires.org |
International Aerial Robotics Competition
Competition teams create flying robots. This is the oldest college-level robotics competition in the world.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-26 | International | 1991 | http://www.aerialroboticscompetition.org/ |
MATE ROV Competition
Teams build underwater robots and compete in 5 different event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-18 | International | 2002 | https://materovcompetition.org/ |
Micromouse
Robotic "mice" compete to solve a maze as quickly as possible.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Adult | International | 1985 | http://micromouseusa.com/ |
MIT Zero Robotics
Teams program virtual robotic spheres housed aboard the International Space Station.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-18 | International | 2009 | https://zerorobotics.mit.edu/ |
National Robotics Challenge
Teams build robots to compete in 12 different event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-26 | USA | 1986 | https://www.thenrc.org/ |
National Underwater Robotics Competition
Underwater robot competition.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-Adult | USA | 2007 | https://coachfredi.wixsite.com/nurc |
Robo-One
Bipedal humanoid robots compete in 6 different event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-Adult | Asia | 2002 | https://www.robo-one.com/en/ |
RoboBoat
Robots are built to perform tasks on the surface of the water.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-18 | International | 2007 | https://robonation.org/programs/roboboat/ |
Robocup
Autonomous robot competition with 6 different event categories.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-18 | International | 1997 | https://www.robocup.org/ |
Robofest
3 age categories (Grades 5-8, Grades 9-12, College). Part of the competition includes giving teams 30 minutes to solve a challenge.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-24 | International | 1999 | https://www.robofest.net/ |
SAUVC
Underwater vehicle competition for college students.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | International | 2015 | https://sauvc.org/ |
Seaperch
Underwater vehicle curriculum and competition. Intended as a school district-wide event culminating in a 1-day competition.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-18 | International | 2003 | https://seaperch.org/ |
SUMO Robot League
Sumo robot competition using robots built with a base kit. Competitions are organized in small, local groups.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-18 | International | 2016 | https://www.sumorobotleague.com/ |
VEX Robotics Competition
3 age/event categories (Ages 8-13, Ages 12-18, Ages 14-24) using driver-controlled robots built from a VEX kit. Largest robotics competition in the world.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-24 | International | 2009 | https://www.vexrobotics.com/competition |
Wonder League Robotics Competition
3 age categories (Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, Ages 13+). Competition uses Dot and Dash robots and is offered virually.
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-18 | International | 2015 | https://www.makewonder.com/classroom/robotics-competition/ |
World Robot Olympiad
4 event categories (Regular, College, Open, Soccer) and 3 age categories (Under 13, Ages 13-15, Ages 16-19).
| Ages | Reach | Founded | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-18 | International | 2004 | https://wro-association.org/ |
Additional Resources
- https://www.aeroroboticscomp.com/
- https://www.bestrobotics.org/site/
- https://www.kipr.org/botball
- https://firaworldcup.org/
- https://firstinspires.org
- http://www.aerialroboticscompetition.org/
- https://materovcompetition.org/
- http://micromouseusa.com/
- https://zerorobotics.mit.edu/
- https://www.thenrc.org/
- https://coachfredi.wixsite.com/nurc
- https://www.robo-one.com/en/
- https://robonation.org/programs/roboboat/
- https://www.robocup.org/
- https://www.robofest.net/
- https://sauvc.org/
- https://seaperch.org/
- https://www.sumorobotleague.com/
- https://www.vexrobotics.com/competition
- https://www.makewonder.com/classroom/robotics-competition/
- https://wro-association.org/
