The Robotics for Good Challenge focuses on leveraging the power of robotics and AI to address global issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants are tasked with designing and building innovative robotic solutions that can contribute to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate action, healthcare, and clean energy.

Mission for the Teams

The National Seismological Institute has reported a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Kampala capital city. Your rescue team, renowned for its expertise and innovative technology in rescue operations, has been summoned by the municipal emergency coordinator to assist with rescue and evacuation efforts. Without a second's hesitation, you spring into action, preparing to intervene. En route, you receive the situation report:

The city is located near a geological fault, and it has already experienced earthquakes of lesser magnitude. Due to this, most of the buildings have been constructed using techniques that make them resilient to earthquakes and have not suffered significant damage.
The foundations of one of the apartment blocks closest to the epicenter have suffered severe damage. The building could not withstand it and has collapsed. Most of the residents have been able to escape, but some have been trapped. First response teams estimate that there are 9 people under the rubble and potentially injured.
Due to the earthquake, several communication routes have been damaged. Engineers and workers are already on their way to repair them, but it will take some time, and therefore, you cannot count on external help.
Some buildings have suffered minor damage. Firefighters will inspect the buildings to ensure they are safe, but until then, the inhabitants must be evacuated to the designated shelter.
Some pipes have broken and caused holes in the roads. Between this and the rubble, some streets have become impassable. Evacuees cannot reach shelters, and ambulances have difficulty picking up the injured. Engineers and workers are already on their way to repair them, but it will take time, and time is pressing.

Your team is tasked with rescuing the individuals with critical injuries, both within and outside the affected building, and transporting them to the hospital. Simultaneously, you are responsible for evacuating the remaining unharmed individuals to the designated shelter. While executing this mission, it is imperative to exercise utmost caution, as several structures have suffered significant structural damage and may collapse. Therefore, meticulous maneuvering is crucial to prevent further damage that could pose additional risks to the affected individuals.

Download & understand Rulebook

Please find a detailed rulebook for the challenge here:
View Challenge Rulebook

Rules for Robots

R1. Each team must present at least one robot. There is no maximum number of robots that can be put into play, but the limitations on the initial position of the robots in "Operation of the Game" must be taken into account.
R2. Robots can be built with any kind of material and can be programmed with any desired platform.
R3. Robots must be entirely built and programmed by the team members. Participants can count on the occasional help of coaches or outside people, but they are the ultimate responsible for the robots. Referees may ask about the operation and decisions made during the competition and participants are expected to know how to answer.
R4. The robot must be decorated around the topic “disaster response” to pass the homologation. The homologation will consist of a visual inspection and, if necessary, the team's justification for the reasons for the decoration.
a. If multiple robots are presented, all of them must be decorated.
R5. Robots must be completely autonomous, that is, during the game the team can only interact with the robots to start and stop them.

a. A robot can use an external support (laptop, tablet, remote, etc.) for activation and deactivation. Communication with the external support must be wireless (Bluetooth, RFID, infrared...) and the device must be operated by one of the team members present at the “Competition Area”. Once the robot or robots are turned on, the device must remain out of the reach of the participants until they decide to stop it. Taking the device for any other purpose will be considered illicit manipulation of the robot.
R6. A maximum size is not defined for a robot, but the limitations on the initial position and valid movements of the robots in "Operation of the Game" must be taken into account.
R7. Robots must not pose a risk to people, competition facilities, or the integrity of competition materials. In case of non-compliance, the team will be required to repair deficiencies immediately. If they are not repaired, or if it represents a serious danger, the robot would be removed from the facilities and the team, expelled.

Operation of the round

Before starting the Game, a preparation time will be established. During this time, the team must:
1. Place the robots turned off on the Competition Field.
2. Review the condition of the Competition Field.
3. If they find that the Competition Field does not meet the specifications of the Rulebook, they must report the discrepancies to the referee so that they can be corrected. Once the Game has started, the Competition Field cannot be altered.
Robots must be placed completely within the “Start Zone”, and the set of robots, in the initial position, must fit within a 54 x 30 cm rectangle. Note: the “Start Zone” is larger than this rectangle by three millimeters (54.3 cm x 30 cm). Therefore, placing a robot in the lower right corner and one in the lower left is not a valid starting position.
All robots must always remain completely within the Competition Field limits.
At the start of the Game, the team must activate all the robots. If the team decides not to activate a robot, or if it cannot be activated, the robot must remain off and in the same position it was left until the end of the Game.
1. A robot is active when it starts processing its orders and no longer requires human intervention. It is not necessary for a robot to start moving immediately.
The start of the Game must be after the stopwatch starts counting, and before time runs out. The team is not obliged to start the game just when the stopwatch starts. This rule is designed to allow a later start in case of technical problems and false starts, we do not recommend using it for other reasons.
If during the activation of the robots, one of them moves while the team is handling the robots, it will be considered a “False Start”. If the team presents multiple robots and one of them fails to activate, a false start can also be declared. During a false start:
1. All robots that have already been activated must be deactivated and returned to their initial position. It is not possible to change the initial position of the robots during a false start.
2. The condition of the Competition Field that has been modified must be restored to its initial state.
3. When the previous steps are completed, the team can try to start again.
4. The stopwatch will not stop or restart during a “False Start”.
5. If both teams make a “False Start”, the organization may, at its discretion, restart the stopwatch.
The Game will end when the team decides it, when the time marked by the stopwatch runs out, or when it is forced as a penalty for non-compliance with the Rulebook, as detailed in the "Penalties during the Game" section.
1. Once the Game is over, it cannot be resumed.
2. When the Game ends, all robots must be stopped without any delay. Once stopped, the robots must remain in the same place where they were at the end of the game until the scoring is finished.
3. The different elements modified after the end of the Game must be reversed before a new Game starts.
4. The team can implicitly end the Game by stopping a robot. In this case, it will be considered that the Game ends when a team member touches the robot, or the associated wireless control device. In this case, the team must also stop the rest of the robots, as stated in paragraph (b).
During the Game, any communication with the robots that does not result in immediate shutdown is prohibited. This includes, for example, manipulating the field conditions to trigger another robot sensors.
Neither the team nor the robot can damage the Competition Field or its objects. In case of non-compliance, it will proceed as detailed in the "Penalties during the Game" section.

Why Participate?

National Championship: Compete at the Uganda National Championship and showcase your ideas to a panel of judges from the fields of robotics, AI, and technology.
Global Finals: Winning teams will earn the opportunity to represent Uganda at the global finals in Geneva during the AI for Good Summit, where the world's top minds in AI and robotics gather to shape a better future.
Inspire Change: Use your creativity and technical skills to develop solutions that can have a real, measurable impact on communities and the environment.

Who Can Participate?

Junior category: Teams of young innovators aged 9-13.
Senior category: Teams of young innovators aged 12-18.
Advanced category: Teams of young innovators aged 19-25.

NOTE: Participants must be passionate about robotics, AI, and creating solutions that can contribute to achieving the SDGs.

Key Dates:

Application Deadline: 31/01/2025
Eastern Uganda semifinals: 05/04/2025
Central Uganda semifinals: 05/04/2025
Western Uganda semifinals: 05/04/2025
Northern Uganda semifinals: 05/04/2025
WestNile semifinals: 05/04/2025
Uganda National Championship: 11/04/2025
AI for Good Summit, Geneva: 8-11/07/2025

“Innovation is the passport to the future, for tomorrow looks like what we define today.” “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn …and change.”

Are you a young innovator passionate about robotics and making a positive impact on the world? This is your opportunity to showcase your skills, solve real-world challenges, and compete on a global stage!

The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge invites teams of young people from Uganda to participate in a national competition that could lead to a life-changing experience at the global finals in Geneva during the AI for Good Summit.