Robo Mission
3 Age groups
Age: Elementary: 8-12 years | Junior: 11-15 years | Senior: 14-19 years
Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
Hardware: LEGO® based
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 25 x 25 x 25 cm
Characteristics: Build and program a robot that solves challenges on a game mat and table.
RoboMission is a challenge-based competition. Students must design, construct and program an autonomous robot that can solve specific challenges on a field. Because the field is set up randomly each round, the robot needs to be able to make its own decisions during the run.
All parts of the robot, including controller, motors and sensors must be from LEGO® (MINDSTORMS® NXT or EV3, SPIKE PRIME or Robot Inventor).
Future Innovators
3 Age groups
Age: Elementary: 8-12 years | Junior: 11-15 years | Senior: 14-19 years
Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
Hardware: Free choice*
Software: Free choice
Maximum size: Must fit in a 2m x 2m x 2m booth
Characteristics: Develop a robot project that helps solve real world problems.
(*) Teams at WRO International Final have the option to win the LEGO Education creativity award if they mainly LEGO branded controllers.
The Future Innovators category is a project-based competition. Students create their own innovative intelligent robotics solution relating to the current theme of the season. There is no restriction on the use of materials. This includes free choice of controllers, motors, sensors, etc.
Teams will present their project and their robot model to a group of judges on the competition day. The judges will not only grade the robot solution but will also look at aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Robo Sports
Age: 11-19
Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
Hardware: LEGO® based
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 20 x 20 x 20 cm
Characteristics: Teams design 2 robots that compete with robots of another team.
Current Theme: Doubles Tennis
The WRO® RoboSports category is a fun and exciting game where two teams each have two autonomous robots on the field playing a sports game. The robot needs to be built from LEGO® materials, including controller, motors and sensors (MINDSTORMS® NXT or EV3, SPIKE PRIME or Robot Inventor). In addition, teams use a camera of their choice.
The game changes every 3 or 4 years and the current game is Doubles Tennis. Each year little changes are introduced to motivate the students to keep on developing their robots.
Future Engineers
Age: 14-19
Team size: 2-3 students guided by a coach
Hardware: Free choice
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 30 x 20 x 30 cm
Characteristics: Advanced robotics following current research trends.
WRO® Future Engineers is an exciting category for older students. Designed to bring the current research challenge into schools and teach students an engineering workflow by solving real-world-problems. Teams can use any robot, controller and materials that are in line with the regulations.
The game changes every 3 or 4 years and the current game is all about autonomous driving. The challenge is to build a robot with a steering drive that can drive around a track autonomously. Each year little changes are introduced to motivate the students to keep on developing their robots.
Explorer Challenge
2 Age Groups
Age: Lite 8-12 years | Prime 11-16 years
Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
Hardware: LEGO® based
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 25 x 25 x 25 cm
Characteristics: Entry level challenge. Teams design a robot to complete basic challenges on the Robo Misson Elementary mat.
The Explorer Category is a South African designed challenge with no international final component. The challenge is designed for teams new to Robotics or the WRO competition. Teams build and program a robot to complete tasks on a game field. Teams arrive at the competition with a prebuilt LEGO robot and need to reprogram their robot on the day of the competition.
Rovers In-House
Age: 6-10 years
Team size: 2-3 students guided by a coach
Hardware: Free choice
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 25 x 25 x 25 cm
Characteristics: The Rover Challenge requires teams to complete basic tasks on the game mat using their LEGO WeDo / LEGO Spike Essential or any other robot.
The Rover Challenge is an in-house only challenge without a national or international component. Teams compete in their own school / learning environment and submit only their team scores to the wrosa website. Teams then receive a certificate of achievement based on their highest score achieved during the competition time.
In-House Challenge
Three different challenges, Three different difficulty levels
Age: 6 -19 years
Team size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
Hardware: Free choice
Software: Free choice
Maximum robot size: 25 x 25 cm
Characteristics: Three different challenges, 3 different difficulty levels all using the Robo Mission Elementary game mat. Teams attempt one or more challenges, coaches upload their scores to the WRO SA website and receive certificates of achievement for each team. One registration
Entry Cost: R300 registration fee for your school/club. Upload an unlimited amount of teams during the competition week to receive certificates.
The In-House Challenge is a South African designed challenge with no international final component. The challenge is run by coaches in their own labs, schools or homes. The challenge is designed for any teams beginner or veteran to continue to enjoy the wonderful world of robotics and coding. Teams build and program a robot to complete tasks on a game field. Coaches follow the general and game rules to run their own competition. Teams have 3 hours to program their robot and score as many points as possible for upload to the WRO SA website to receive certificates.