Mekathlon

Robo Soccer

Description

Robo Soccer at Mekathlon is a fast-paced 2 vs 2 robot showdown where bots compete to outscore their rivals. Combining design, control, and strategy, it’s a game of speed, skill, and innovation—where technology takes the field.

Teams must design, build, and program their bots to not only move fast but also dribble, defend, and score against their opponents. Success depends on clever engineering, precise control, and effective teamwork. With the crowd cheering and the clock ticking, Robo Soccer is more than just a game—it’s a showcase of skill, collaboration, and the future of technology in motion.

Get ready for an electrifying face-off where machines play, and makers win!

Eligibility Criteria

Participants from the given category can participate in the ROBO SOCCER competition:

  • Developers - The participants of Grades 3 to 7. In the Developers category,only 60 teams are eligible to participate in the semi-final round from each city.
  • Innovators - The participants of Grade 8 to 12 age should be from 13 to 17 years of age (as of 1st June 2025). In the Innovators category, only 60 teams are eligible to participate in the semi-final round from each city.
  • Team size: Minimum 2 and Maximum 5 (for both category)

How to Participate in the Robo Soccer Competition?

In the Robo soccer competition, two teams will fight with each other, with each team consisting of 2 Wireless remote Bot.

  1. Register yourself and your team members as a user on the official Mekathlon website.
  2. Once your team members are registered, you may select the Robo Soccer competition from the competition list in your login panel, and apply. You will also be needed to select members from your team who will participate in the competition. A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 members in each team can participate. Also, select your city for participating in the event
  3. Only wireless remote controlled bots are allowed. Ready-made bots will not be allowed to compete. Only self-made bots will be allowed to participate.

Bot Specifications

Specifications for the Developer Category:

  • The maximum weight of the bot can not exceed 3kg, (Tolerance +/- 5% at any given point in time.)
  • The electric voltage anywhere inside the machine cannot exceed 12V at any given point in time.
  • Bot Size: length - 30 cm, width-30 cm, height-30cm and has to fit inside a size verification cube. The bot can be in any shape.

Specifications for the Innovator Category:

  • The maximum weight of the bot can not exceed 5kg, (Tolerance +/- 5% at any given point in time.)
  • The electric voltage anywhere inside the machine cannot exceed 18.5V at any given point in time.
  • Bot Size: length - 30 cm, width-30 cm, height-30cm and has to fit inside a size verification cube. The bot can be in any shape.

General specifications

  • Each team can present only two Robo Soccer bots for the competition.
  • Bots cannot be autonomous. They should involve wireless communication between an operator and the bot, wired bots are straight away disqualified (Attacker + Defender).
  • The robot must be constructed and programmed in a way that their movement is not limited to only one direction and must move in all directions.
  • Batteries must be sealed and immobilized electrolyte type (gel cell, lithium, NiCad, or dry cells) batteries are only allowed.
  • Bots can use RF Modules but must ensure that the RF Module has the function to change different frequencies/channels and not affect other bots.
  • The robot can be wheeled, tracked, belt/chain driven, but legged, flying or projectile based mechanisms are not allowed.
  • If a team claims that their robot is affected by the other team's robot in any way they must show proof/evidence of the interference. Any interference must be confirmed by a Referee if a claim is placed by the other team
  • Any robotic parts/building material can be used until the robot meets the above specifications and the design and construction should primarily be the original work of the team as ready-made robots are not allowed to compete in the competition.

Kicking / dribbling

  • Mechanical kickers are allowed but must not damage the ball or the arena field
  • Ball capture zone in dribbler must not enclose the entire ball
  • Dribbling device must not elevate the ball from the ground surface
  • Another robot must be able to remove the ball from a bot
  • A bot must not take full control of the ball by removing all of its degrees of freedom
  • The dribbler/kicker must not cover the ball completely, at least 50% of the ball to be visible at any point.
  • A bot must not have any adhesive/sticky surface to grab hold of the ball, gripper and other closing mechanisms are not allowed. Padding surfaces are allowed (should not be made out of materials that stick to the ball)

Soccer Arena Design

  • Total arena size would be 20feet x 12feet and playing area would be 18feet x 10feet and will be marked in white line.d
  • The field playing surface is a plain wood surface and the outer border will have a wall made of metal and wooden planks of height 15cm.
  • The figure below shows the dimension of the field, the goals and special area measures in centimeters.
Sample Racing Track
  • The goal post will be of size length 75cm and height of 40cm, as shown in figure below
Sample Racing Track

The Soccer Ball:

  • The ball is a standard white Golf ball which weighs approximately 46g ± 1g and with a diameter of 42mm ± 2mm.

Competition Information

Venue: Bengaluru (India)

Registration Fee:

  • For Indian residents: INR 999/- (Inclusive GST) per team.
  • For non-India residents: USD 50 per team.

Prize Bifurcation

Zonal Round:

Each competition will announce a 1st, 2nd and 3rd position winner. Each winning team will receive a certificate.

The top 6 teams will be invited to participate in the Grand Finale, scheduled in Bengaluru.

International Grand Finale

Each winning team will receive a certificate and trophy.

WinnerFirst PlaceSecond PlaceThird Place
Developers₹ 30,000/-₹ 20,000/-₹ 10,000/-
Innovators₹ 40,000/-₹ 25,000/-₹ 15,000/-

Safety

The design and build of robots should not pose any kind of danger to any person at the competition scene. All robots must be designed and built to cause no damage to any robots of the opposing team or the field. Given below are some safety measures to be followed:

  • Team members must wear running shoes during the games and test runs.
  • The use of explosives, fire, or dangerous chemicals is prohibited.
  • Accumulators, and lead-acid batteries are not allowed.
  • When using radio for signal transmission, teams must design systems, circuits, and mechanisms to ensure they do not go out of control and/or move dangerously even if a short circuit occurs or a connection is broken.
  • Use wires, connectors, terminals, etc., with a rated current equal to or higher than the assumed maximum current.