Event Cover Image
Event Image
Come test your computer programming skills and compete with other Alabama students for cool prizes! A fun day is planned with educational experiences, food and social activities. The Alabama Robotics Competition is an event where students write programs that navigate their robot across a series of obstacle courses. Awards will be given out in several categories across multiple grade levels (elementary school, middle school, and high school).
 

Next Competition Date: April 1, 2023

Come test your computer programming skills and compete with other Alabama students for cool prizes! A fun day is planned with educational experiences, food and social activities. The Alabama Robotics Competition is an event where students write programs that navigate their robot across a series of obstacle courses. Awards will be given out in several categories across multiple grade levels (elementary school, middle school, and high school).

A flyer for the 2023 contest is available here.

Coaches may apply for their teams here.

Visit the Past Events page to view photos, contest problems, and other results from previous competitions.

Please use the navigation bar above for additional information.

WHY ANOTHER ROBOTICS COMPETITION?

There are several excellent robotics competitions that already exist, such as the popular BEST Robotics events in Alabama and the world-wide FIRST Lego League competitions. Our contest complements these other events by filling in missing gaps of participation. After hearing from various K-12 teachers, it has been observed that a competition is needed in Alabama that met the following goals:

  • A competition that is open to all grades in K-12.
  • An event in the Spring that offers students studying robotics additional activities to pursue throughout the entire school year (rather than just a Fall focus).
  • An emphasis on programming skills, resulting in autonomous robot control, rather than a robot that is maneuvered by a remote control. Points are scored in this new competition based on the clever solutions of student programs, rather than the skill of a teammate with a remote control.
  • A registration fee that is affordable - only $25 per participant (several Lego competitions have registration, fees, and kit costs over $1,000).

ESSENTIAL DETAILS

  • The competition is open to all Alabama students (public, private, or home schools) across all grade levels (elementary, middle, high schools).
  • Teams consist of 2-5 participants. We have space for approximately 60 teams. The registration fee is $25 per participant.
  • The contest will feature several obstacle courses that must be navigated over a three-hour period by an autonomous robot that is programmed by each team.
  • Robot programs to navigate the obstacle course may be written in any language (e.g., Mindstorms LabView, Java/Lejos, RobotC, C#, etc). It is assumed that participants already know how to program in their selected language prior to the contest.
  • Students will use their own robots and their own computers to compete in the contest. Robots should be assembled in a base configuration prior to the competition.
  • Each registered student will receive a pizza lunch, snack break, contest bag, T-shirt, and a certificate of participation.
  • Prizes and awards will be given to the top-four teams in each division (Elementary School, Middle School, High School).
  • Teachers, parents and family are encouraged to attend (please let us know on the registration form).

APPLICATION DETAILS

  • Each school may submit up to three team applications - a Primary team and two Alternate teams. Each team will have its own application (i.e., both Primary and Alternate teams must be registered separately).
  • We will invite all Primary teams to the contest on a first-come first-served basis, up to the 60-team limit (if we have more Primary teams than availability, we will invite Primary teams on a First Come/First Serve basis until we are full).
  • After pre-registering, participants will be sent instructions on how to pay their registration fee.
  • When entering information in the Team Name box, please enter EACH TEAM MEMBER ON A SINGLE ROW and provide the following information: information for each member in the form as <Full Name>, <Grade Level>, <Shirt Size>. For example:
    Joe Smith, 6, M
    Sally Smith, 5, S
    Suzy Smith, 6, S
  • All shirts are in Adult Sizes

IMPORTANT DATES

  • Week of February 28th, 2023: We will begin sending out invitations on a rolling basis until all team tables are full.
  • April 1, 2023: Alabama Robotics Competition

SPONSORS

We are very grateful to zyBooks as our main corproate sponsors, and several campus collaborators for their help (UA Department of Computer Science)!

Where
Bryant Conference Center - The University of Alabama
240 Paul William Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL
United States of America