Maze Robot Challenge - Competition Rules
(Version 2026.05.05)
Participants must be students in Junior High Schools, Senior High Schools, or Vocational Schools.
Autonomy: Robots must operate independently and autonomously. Remote control or off-site remote computing assistance is prohibited.
Power: Robots must be powered exclusively by electricity.
Materials: * The robot must be constructed from plastic building blocks, though metal materials are permitted for connecting parts.
Robot height must be 20cm or less.
There is no limit on length or width, provided the robot fits within the field specifications.
Drive and Sensors:
The transmission wheels must be Mecanum wheels.
For distance measurement, only Lidar is permitted.
The use of ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, cameras, or similar components is strictly prohibited.
Mission: Each robot must start from the "Start Area" and navigate the maze autonomously to reach the "Goal".
Time and Attempts:
There is a 5-minute time limit.
Teams are allowed up to 5 attempts to start from the beginning within this time limit.
The organizers reserve the right to adjust time and attempts based on the number of participating teams.
Obstacles: Before the official start, referees may randomly place obstacles (25cm×25cm×20cm) within the field.
Collisions: If the robot touches any maze wall or obstacle during the run, the attempt is considered a failure, and the robot may restart from the beginning.
Restart Procedure: To restart, the participant must raise their hand to signal the referee once the robot is ready at the starting point. The robot may only depart after referee approval; otherwise, the attempt is failed.
Parts: Transferring robot parts to other teams during the competition is prohibited.
Timing: Timing is triggered by sensor switches at the start and finish lines. Referees will also use manual stopwatches as a backup; stopwatch times will prevail if the automatic system malfunctions.
Prohibitions:
Robots may not leave any items or markers in the maze.
Robots may not damage walls or bypass them (e.g., jumping over); they must follow the planned maze paths.
Damaging or staining the field or props is prohibited and may lead to disqualification.
Maze Structure:
The maze is a 9×9 grid.
Internal square size: 44cm×44cm.
External square size: 46cm (L)×46cm (W)×20cm (H).
Wall Height: 20cm.
Materials: Walls consist of 1cm square aluminum bars and metal connectors with white, opaque surfaces.
Path Map: The organizer will provide a scanned file of the map to the teams in advance.
Environment: The road surface will be the floor of the venue on the day of the competition. Factors like lighting, temperature, humidity, and floor levelness are considered part of the challenge and are not grounds for a rematch or protest.
Best Score: Rankings are based on the best performance among the 5 attempts.
Ranking Priority:
Completion: Teams that reach the finish line are ranked by their completion time (faster is better).
Distance: If the number of teams completing the maze is less than the number of available awards, rankings for the remaining spots are based on the shortest distance (number of grid squares) remaining to the goal.
Tie-breaking: If distances are equal, the time achieved during that specific attempt will be used to rank the teams.
Registration Limit: The competition is limited to a maximum of 20 teams.
Final Authority: Referees have the final say on all rulings. The organizer reserves the right to interpret rules for any unforeseen circumstances.
This image is Reference Map A, not the official competition map.
This image is Reference Map B, not the official competition map.
Registration Deadline: June 30, 2026
Registration extended to July 8, 2026
Competition Type: Online competition.
Age Divisions: Ages 6–8 / Ages 9–12 / Ages 13–16.
Team Size: A maximum of 5 participants per team.
Competition Theme: Smart Healthcare.
Competition Format: Video submission, up to 1 minute.
Robot Eligibility: All types of robots are welcome.
Presentation Language: English.
Create a robot that addresses a healthcare need or supports people’s well-being. Your project may explore ideas such as:
🔹 Patient Care & Assistance
Help patients with everyday tasks, deliver supplies, or support communication with caregivers.
🔹 Healthy Living & Prevention
Encourage healthy habits, provide reminders, or support hygiene and disease prevention.
🔹 Elder Care & Independent Living
Assist older adults with daily routines, improve safety, or support independent living.
🔹 Rehabilitation & Accessibility
Support rehabilitation activities or help people with disabilities participate more independently in everyday life.
🔹 Emotional Well-being & Companionship
Provide companionship, encourage social interaction, or support emotional well-being.
🔹 Healthcare Support & Safety
Help with tasks such as transporting materials, organizing supplies, or alerting caregivers when assistance is needed.
These examples are intended to inspire your project. Other creative robotic solutions related to Smart Healthcare are also welcome.
Each project will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Category
Evaluation Criteria
Weight
Relevance to Theme
How clearly the robot addresses a Smart Healthcare need.
10%
Creativity & Uniqueness
The originality of the idea and the creativity of the robot’s design or approach.
30%
Robot Functionality
How effectively the robot demonstrates its intended functions.
30%
Teamwork
Evidence of collaboration and meaningful contributions from team members.
10%
Presentation Skills
The clarity and organization of the English presentation and robot demonstration.
20%
Bonus: Autonomous Movement or Locomotion — Up to 5 Additional Points
Robots that demonstrate autonomous movement or locomotion may earn up to 5 bonus points.
1️⃣ Form a team of up to 5 participants.
2️⃣ Identify a healthcare problem and develop a robotic solution.
3️⃣ Complete registration through the registration link by July 8, 2026.
4️⃣ Record a video of up to 1 minute, presenting your project in English and demonstrating your robot in action.
5️⃣ Upload your video according to the competition submission instructions.
Your video should clearly explain the healthcare need, demonstrate your robot, and communicate its value.
Suggested structure for the 1-minute video:
1. Problem & Idea — Approximately 15 seconds
What healthcare problem did you identify?
Who could benefit from your robot?
What makes your idea creative or unique?
2. Robot Demonstration — Approximately 30 seconds
Show your robot performing its main functions.
Explain how those functions address the problem.
Include autonomous movement or locomotion, if applicable.
3. Teamwork & Impact — Approximately 15 seconds
Briefly describe how your team worked together.
Explain how your robot could improve people’s lives.
The timing above is a suggested guide. Teams may organize their presentation differently, provided the complete video does not exceed 1 minute.
✅ One video of up to 1 minute.
✅ Presentation delivered in English.
✅ A clear connection to the Smart Healthcare theme.
✅ A demonstration of the robot’s main functions.
✅ Evidence of teamwork.
Competition Tracks
Participants can submit AI-powered projects under the following inspiring themes:
🔹 AI for Community Service
Create AI solutions that strengthen civic engagement, improve local governance, assist in disaster response, and enhance public safety.
🔹 AI for Health Services
Develop AI applications that advance medical diagnostics, mental health support, disease prevention, and access to healthcare.
🔹 AI for Environment
Design AI-driven innovations to tackle environmental challenges such as climate change, conservation, clean energy, and sustainability.
🔹 AI for Global Education
Build AI tools that make education more accessible, equitable, and personalized for learners around the world.
🔹 AI for the Next Generation
Create AI solutions that empower young people with knowledge, leadership skills, and opportunities to shape a better future.
🔹 AI for Families
Develop AI innovations that strengthen family relationships, support parenting, promote household well-being, and enrich family life.
🔹 AI for Elders and Youth
Design AI tools that promote intergenerational mentorship, learning, care, and meaningful connections between seniors and young people.
🔹 AI for the Disadvantaged
Build AI projects focused on uplifting marginalized communities providing critical resources to those most in need.
🔹 AI Agent Application
Master the architecture of autonomous AI agents—moving beyond chat to build systems that plan, use tools, and collaborate to solve complex, real-world tasks.
Judging Criteria
Each project will be evaluated based on the following key criteria:
🔹 Category: Innovation & Creativity
Evaluation Criteria: Novelty, uniqueness, disruptiveness, and timeliness of the idea.
Max Points: 20
🔹 Category: Broader Impact
Evaluation Criteria: Potential to impact society, economy, and diverse communities.
Max Points: 20
🔹 Category: Clarity of Objective
Evaluation Criteria: Strength of the problem statement and relevance to the community.
Max Points: 20
🔹 Category: Technical Implementation
Evaluation Criteria: Quality of AI and computer science integration in the solution.
Max Points: 20
🔹 Category: Presentation & Communication
Evaluation Criteria: Clarity, delivery, and ability to answer judges' questions.
Max Points: 20
Event Timeline📢 Submission Deadline: July 6, 2026
All project proposals must be submitted by this date.
📢 Judging Period: July 10–12, 2026
Judges will review and score all submissions.
📢 Finalist Announcement: July 12, 2026
Finalist teams will be notified and invited to attend the Award Ceremony.
📢 Final Presentations & Awards Ceremony: July 18, 2026
How to Participate?
1️⃣ Form a team of up to 4 students or compete individually.
2️⃣ Select a competition category and develop an AI/APP prototype.
3️⃣ Submit a detailed project proposal before the deadline.
4️⃣ If selected, finalists will be invited to present their projects in the USA.
Detailed Project Proposal Requirements
Each participant (or team) must submit a complete project proposal consisting of the following components:
1. Project Introduction (3 minutes)
Observation: What real-world problem or opportunity did you identify?
Solution: What AI/APP solution did you create to address it?
Innovation: Why is your project considered innovative? Highlight its novelty, uniqueness, or disruption to existing solutions.
Submission: (See sample video)
Prepare a clear and professional PowerPoint presentation (PPT).
Record a 3-minute presentation video explaining the above points.
Submit both the PPT and the video file.
2. APP/AI Innovation Demonstration (3 minutes)
Demo: Showcase your AI or APP project in action.
Structure & Scope: Explain the architecture, features, and functions of your project.
Original Work: Your project must be developed by you or your team members. Use of third-party solutions without significant original contribution is not allowed.
Submission:
Record a 3-minute demo video demonstrating your project.
(Bonus Points) Share a live project URL if available, allowing judges to interact with your application.
3. Future Impact & Conclusion (3 minutes)
Future Potential: Explain how your project could scale, evolve, or make a greater impact in the future.
Conclusion: Summarize why your project matters and what it hopes to achieve.
Submission:
Record a 3-minute conclusion video.
Final Submission Requirements
✅ One complete video (up to 10 minutes) that combines:
Project Introduction (3 minutes)
Innovation Demonstration (3 minutes)
Future Impact & Conclusion (3 minutes)
✅ Project PowerPoint (PPT) file.
✅ Optional Bonus: Demo URL for judges to test your application.