Whether you love mechanical engineering, programming, speed, strategy or solving real-world problems, there's a track built around your strengths. The journey starts with an online submission and, for the robot tracks, moves through regional qualifiers before the Techfest Grand Finale at IIT Bombay.

What is the OLL Robotics Championship?

The OLL Robotics Championship is a national inter-school robotics competition organised by OLL in association with Techfest, IIT Bombay. It's built around three tracks that test different sides of engineering:

• RoboSumo: structural design, traction, weight distribution and strategy.

• RoboRacer: drivetrain design, speed, steering, control and driving skill.

• Robotics Innovation Challenge: creativity, technical execution, real-world relevance and presentation.

So the championship isn't limited to one definition of a "good robotics student". You can compete through mechanical engineering, robot control, or innovation and problem-solving.

Who can participate?

The competition is for school students. RoboSumo and RoboRacer are open to school students, and the Robotics Innovation Challenge has two categories:

•       Junior: Grades 4–7

•       Senior: Grades 8–12

Students take part in teams. Check the latest team-size requirement on the official championship page before registering, as documents may be updated. For the Innovation Challenge, teams also provide details of their school or RoboClub and their mentor.

Choose your track: RoboSumo vs RoboRacer vs Innovation Challenge

Not sure which competition to enter? Here's the simplest way to decide:

Track 1: RoboSumo competition

RoboSumo is a 1v1 robot battle. Two robots enter a circular arena, and each tries to push the other outside the boundary. It sounds simple. It isn't. A competitive RoboSumo robot needs careful decisions on traction, motor power, weight distribution, chassis design, ground clearance, control and strategy.

The objective: push the opponent out before they push you out.▶

RoboSumo rules: arena and robot specifications

A robot is out when any part of it crosses the arena boundary. If neither robot is eliminated in time, restart or sudden-death rounds may be held before the referee decides. RoboSumo is decided by match outcome, with no separate points system. Robots must be the team's own original design and construction.
What skills does RoboSumo test?

Mechanical engineering, motor selection, electronics, robot control, weight distribution, traction, chassis design, strategy, teamwork and problem-solving. If you love building things and seeing how physical systems behave, RoboSumo is a natural fit.

How to make a RoboSumo robot

OLL has published a detailed RoboSumo build guide covering the chassis, electronics, motors, motor drivers, ESP32 control and testing, plus a full step-by-step video tutorial. Use them to prepare, but always check your final design against the latest rulebook.▶

Get the parts: the RoboSumo Kit, made specially for Techfest IIT Bombay includes the metal body, high-grip wheels, high-torque motors, motor driver and a sumo arena mat for practice.

Track 2: RoboRacer competition

If RoboSumo is about pushing power, RoboRacer is about speed, control and precision. Two robots race in adjacent lanes on a straight track. Both start on the referee's signal, and the first robot to completely cross the finish line wins.

A fast robot isn't enough. You need one that accelerates, keeps traction, stays controllable and reaches the line first.▶

RoboRacer rules and specifications

In a dead heat or photo finish, the same two teams re-race immediately. Ready-made RC toy cars are not allowed. The chassis, drivetrain and control system must be the team's own build.

What skills does RoboRacer test?

Mechanical assembly, motors and gears, drivetrain design, steering, wireless control, vehicle stability, speed optimisation, driver reflexes and race strategy. It's a strong choice for students who enjoy both engineering and competition.

How to make a RoboRacer

Follow OLL's complete step-by-step tutorial to build a competition-ready RoboRacer.▶

Get the parts: the RoboRacer Kit, made specially for IIT Bombay includes an RC chassis, motors, wireless controller, batteries and a modular racing track.

RoboSumo vs RoboRacer: specs side by side 

Track 3: Robotics Innovation Challenge

The Robotics Innovation Challenge has no robot-versus-robot battle. Students identify a real-world problem and create an original robotic prototype, automation system or STEM solution to address it.

The key requirement isn't just presenting an idea. You need to show how your solution works.

▶

How is the Robotics Innovation Challenge judged?

Round 1 is only used to shortlist teams. Final rankings are based on the Grand Finale presentation.

How does the OLL Robotics Championship work?

The journey depends on your track.

Round 1: National Online Qualifier (RoboSumo & RoboRacer)

Teams register through the OLL Techfest championship page and submit a technical abstract plus a short video demonstration. The abstract covers team and bot name, design approach, chassis and mechanical design, dimensions and weight, motors and drivetrain, battery and voltage, control system, and match or race strategy.

Round 2: OLL Regional Qualifiers

Teams that clear the online round compete in an on-ground regional qualifier. The top teams from each region go to the Grand Finale.

Round 3: Grand Finale at IIT Bombay

Finalists meet at IIT Bombay during Techfest. RoboSumo teams battle in knockout matches, RoboRacer teams compete in knockout races, and the top teams are crowned on the Techfest stage.

Innovation Challenge pathway

The Innovation Challenge goes from the online qualifier straight to the Grand Finale, with no regional round. Shortlisted teams display their prototype at IIT Bombay, give a 10-minute live demonstration and face 5 minutes of judges' questions.

What do you need to submit?

 The Innovation Challenge video should show the working or partially working model and explain what it does. Team members' faces must be clearly visible in the video.

Do you need the official OLL Robotics Kit?

Not necessarily. The OLL Techfest kits make preparation easier with competition-oriented components and practice setups, but the competition rules, not the kit, decide what's allowed.

RoboRa

The kits are especially useful for schools, robotics clubs and students who want a dedicated setup to build and practise.

• Buy the RoboSumo Kit

• Buy the RoboRacer Kit

• Browse the OLL Robotics Shop

Building beyond the competition? See OLL's advanced robotics, coding and IoT kit for Grade 10 students:

Prizes, prize money and certificates

Prize money goes to the top three teams in each track. Winners submit bank details through the designated process after the final round. The rulebook states payments are made by NEFT, with payouts scheduled by May 2027.

But it isn't only about the prize. For many students, the bigger opportunity is taking an engineering project from idea to a national stage.

Why should students take part in a robotics competition?

A competition is fundamentally different from a classroom assignment. In class, the task is "build this robot". In a competition, it becomes "can you build something that performs better than the next team?" That changes how students learn. They have to:

•       Make engineering decisions

•       Test their assumptions

•       Debug failures

•       Work under constraints

•       Divide responsibilities and manage time

•       Improve their design

•       Explain technical decisions

•       Handle unexpected problems

•       Perform under pressure

In the Innovation Challenge, students also have to understand the problem they're solving and defend their solution before judges. These are skills that go well beyond robotics.

How to prepare for the OLL Robotics Championship

Don't wait until competition day to test your robot. Work backwards from the rules.

Step 1: Choose the right track

•       Love mechanical building and robot battles? RoboSumo.

•       Love speed, RC control and racing? RoboRacer.

•       Have a problem you genuinely want to solve? Robotics Innovation Challenge.

Step 2: Read the rulebook before building

A technically impressive robot can still be disqualified for breaking a basic rule. Get the latest rulebook from oll.co/techfest and watch the rules videos for your track above. Check maximum dimensions, maximum weight, control requirements, prohibited mechanisms, submission requirements, originality rules and match format.

Step 3: Build a prototype, then iterate

Your first build doesn't need to be perfect.

Step 4: Test under competition conditions

Don't only check that the robot moves. Test how it performs when:

•       The battery is partly discharged

•       The robot takes an impact

•       The wheels lose traction

•       The controller signal changes

•       It starts from a different position

•       The opponent behaves unpredictably

•       You have limited time

Step 5: Record your demo video properly

Your video should make five things obvious: what you built, what problem it solves, how it works, what makes your design different, and whether it actually works. Don't spend the whole video explaining the idea while barely showing the prototype. Show the engineering.

Important competition rules every team should know

Key dates: OLL Robotics Championship 2026–27

 The OLL competition page currently highlights 17 December 2026 for the IIT Bombay finale. Dates and venues may be updated, so always check oll.co/techfest for the latest.

Where will the Grand Finale take place?

At IIT Bombay as part of Techfest 2026–27. It's not just an online leaderboard. The final stage brings teams together in person to compete, demonstrate their work and meet other students and people from India's STEM ecosyste

OLL Robotics Championship video library

Every official OLL x Techfest video in one place, in English and Hindi on https://www.youtube.com/@ollco.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the OLL Robotics Championship only for robotics experts?

No. The three-track structure lets students with different strengths take part. Choose the track that matches your current skills and prepare according to its rules.

Can beginners participate?

Yes, but beginners should start preparing early. Building, testing and troubleshooting a competition robot takes time.

Do I need to buy an OLL kit?

No. OLL kits are recommended competition-oriented practice kits, but the official competition rules decide what can be used in the actual competition.

Can I use a ready-made robot?

No. Ready-made commercial robots or RC toy cars can't simply be submitted. The rules require original design and construction, or meaningful original engineering work where applicable.

How long is a RoboSumo match?

A RoboSumo match lasts up to two minutes.

How does a RoboSumo team win?

The robot that pushes its opponent outside the arena wins. If neither robot is eliminated in time, tie-breaking rounds and the referee's decision may apply.

How long is a RoboRacer race?

Each RoboRacer heat lasts up to two minutes.

How is Robo Racer won?

The first robot to completely cross the finish line wins the heat.

Is there a points-based scoring system for RoboSumo and RoboRacer?

No. Both are knockout competitions decided by match and race outcomes.

What is the Robotics Innovation Challenge?

A problem-solving competition where students identify a real-world problem and build an original robotic, automation or STEM-based solution.

What grades can participate in the Innovation Challenge?

Junior is for Grades 4–7 and Senior is for Grades 8–12.

Does the Innovation Challenge have regional qualifiers?

No. It has its own online qualifier, and shortlisted teams go straight to the Grand Finale at IIT Bombay.

What happens at the Innovation Challenge Grand Finale?

Teams present their physical prototype, give a 10-minute live demonstration and answer judges' questions for 5 minutes.

What is the prize pool?

Up to ₹1,50,000 in total, awarded to the top three teams of each track.

Do participants receive certificates?

Yes. Accepted participants get a Certificate of Participation, and Grand Finale competitors get a Certificate of Finalist Recognition.

Where is the Grand Finale held?

At IIT Bombay as part of Techfest 2026–27. The detailed competition document lists 16–18 December 2026.

What is the last date to register?

Registration and Round 1 submissions close on 10 October 2026. Register at oll.co/techfest.

Where can I buy the RoboSumo or RoboRacer kit?

Both Techfest kits are available on the OLL Robotics Shop at oll.co/shop.

edy to build?

Register your team at oll.co/techfest  → https://oll.co/techfest

Buy the RoboSumo Kit  →  https://oll.co/shop/product/robo-sumo-kit-specially-for-techfest-iit-bombay-22b5228a

Buy the RoboRacer Kit  → https://oll.co/shop/product/robo-racer-kit-specially-made-for-iit-bombay-8bf545dc