Emirates Robotics Competition
Shaping the future of service robotics as students take on the challenge of building intelligent, autonomous solutions for real-world library environments.
Overview
Emirates Robotics Competition
The Emirates Robotics Competition returns for its fourth edition, bringing together university students from across the UAE to tackle a real-world robotics challenge. This year’s theme focuses on service robotics in library environments, specifically designing a robot capable of locating and retrieving books autonomously.
Objectives
- Foster the next generation of roboticists in the UAE
- Address real-world challenges through applied robotics
- Bridge simulation and real-world deployment
- Promote learning of ROS and global best practices in robotics
- Encourage collaboration between academia and industry
The Challenge
Student teams will be tasked with designing and developing an innovative robotic system capable of operating effectively within a library environment. The system should be able to navigate the space efficiently, interact with its surroundings, and perform tasks that enhance the overall functionality and user experience of the library.
Navigate the environment
autonomously
Identify and locate
specific books
Retrieve and deliver
them efficiently
Timeline
The competition follows a structured timeline designed to guide teams from initial announcement through to the final evaluation stage. Each milestone marks a key phase in the journey, ensuring sufficient time for development, testing, selection, and deployment of innovative robotic solutions. Participants are encouraged to carefully track each deadline and prepare accordingly as they progress through both simulation and physical implementation stages.
Registration Deadline
June 30, 2026
Simulation Phase Deadline
September 15, 2026
TIAGo Pro Trial Sessions
October 2026 (Day TBA)
Competition Day
November 2026 (Day TBA)
Competition Documents
Challenge Overview
Learn more about the competition, objectives, and challenge requirements.
Phase 1: Simulation Phase
Review the guidelines, requirements, and details for the simulation phase.
Competition
Before diving into the competition structure, it’s important for participants to understand how their ideas will be evaluated and brought to life.
This competition is open exclusively to undergraduate students.
Click here to register your team
It is designed to assess both the conceptual strength and practical implementation of each team’s solution, progressing from a controlled virtual environment to a real-world application setting. The competition will be conducted in two phases:
Phase 1: Simulation
Teams will develop and test their solutions in a simulated environment, demonstrating their approach, algorithms, and system design.
More information about Phase 1 will be announced by June 1, 2026. In the meantime, students are advised to form groups and register for the competition.
Phase 2: Physical Deployment
Selected teams will advance to implement and demonstrate their solution on a physical robot platform at Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.
Prizes
Compete for exciting cash prizes awarded to the top-performing teams who demonstrate innovation, efficiency, and technical excellence. Beyond the rewards, this is an opportunity to showcase your skills on a prestigious platform and gain recognition among peers and industry experts.
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First Place 40% scholarship for the following MS programs
35% scholarship for the following MS programs
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Second Place 30% scholarship for the following MS programs
25% scholarship for the following MS programs
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Third Place 20% scholarship for the following MS programs
15% scholarship for the following MS programs
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Helpful Resources
These resources provide participants with an overview of the robot’s functionality, highlighting how it navigates its surroundings, performs assigned tasks, and adapts to different scenarios within a dynamic environment. They also offer valuable insight into the robot’s operational behavior and overall capabilities, helping participants better understand the design and performance.