Build. Program. Compete.
The Shanghai Robot Challenge brings three competition programmes together on one floor — autonomous machines, remote-controlled arenas and pure code. Eighteen events. One championship.
The next generation of robotics competition
The Shanghai Robot Challenge is structured around three competition programmes, each with its own character and entry point — from a first autonomous line-follower in Grade 3 to advanced VEX EDR engineering and competitive C++.
Events span autonomous, remote-controlled, creative and programming disciplines, with divisions running from Grade 3 through Junior, Senior and Adult. Every event is governed by a published official rulebook.
Teacher and coach training is arranged for every event on the programme — covering rules, basic solutions, onsite demonstrations and curriculum frameworks — so schools can enter with confidence.
Country and participant figures describe the RC.CODE 2026 season as stated in the official planning document, not Shanghai event attendance.
Three programmes
Each programme has its own equipment expectations, age groups and technical demands. Choose the track that fits your students.
Signature challenges
A cross-section of the programme — from the classic sumo ring to the newest event on the 2026 roster.
Find your event
Filter the full register by programme, control type and difficulty.
Know before you build
Every event is governed by its own official rulebook. These are the constants across the programme — the rulebook is always the authority.
From discovery to the podium
A general guide to how participants move through the challenge. Event-specific procedures are set out in each official rulebook.
Discover
Explore the programmes and shortlist the events that suit your team.
Prepare
Study the requirements and read the official rules for your event.
Build
Design, construct and program your robot to the published specification.
Test
Iterate against the rulebook — dimensions, weight, sensors and scoring.
Compete
Pass inspection and execute your strategy on the competition floor.
Achieve
Compete for recognition across your division.
Announcements
Ring Master added for 2026
RC-009 Ring Master joins the traditional programme as a new remote-controlled event.
Official rulebooks published
Rulebooks for the traditional and ROBOBOOM programmes are available to view and download.
Further updates
Shanghai Robot Challenge
SRC exists to put robotics, engineering, programming and innovation in front of students as a competition — something to build for, test against and measure yourself by.
The programme is deliberately broad: an autonomous Lego line follower and a competitive C++ problem sit under the same banner, so a school can enter its first team and its most advanced students in the same season.
FAQ
Age groups are set per event. Across the programme, divisions run from Grade 3 and below (ROBOBOOM Junior) through Junior, Senior and Adult on the traditional events. Each challenge page lists the groups defined in its official rulebook.
Eighteen events across three programmes: twelve RobotChallenge Traditional Events (RC-001 to RC-012), three RC.CODE programming events (Scratch, Python and C++), and three ROBOBOOM Junior events (RB-001 to RB-003).
It varies by event. Many use official Lego series or VEX IQ kits; Puck Collect specifies VEX EDR for Senior, Push Shooting requires a micro:bit control core, and Drone Soccer requires three drones per team. Free Style has no equipment restrictions. Each challenge page states the requirement from the planning document.
Every challenge page has an Official rules & documentation panel where you can view the rulebook in your browser or download the PDF. All documents are also collected in the Resources library.
Yes. The planning document sets out teacher training arrangements for every event — typically rules training, basic solutions, onsite demonstrations and curriculum frameworks. Drone Soccer arranges senior drone instructors in Shanghai if selected. The arrangement for each event is listed on its challenge page.
Registration is handled on the official RobotChallenge website — use the Participate button in the navigation. For questions about the Shanghai event specifically, contact the organising team.
Ready to compete?
Choose your challenge. Study the rules. Build your robot.