The World Robot Olympiad (WRO) is an internationally acclaimed robotics competition held annually in over 90 member countries. In India, this prestigious event is organized by the India STEM Foundation (ISF) in collaboration with the National Council of Science Museums, Government of India. Since 2006, ISF has been at the forefront of promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in India. In 2016, they made history by hosting the WRO International Championship in India, bringing together more than 2,500 students, mentors, and parents from all over the world. This remarkable initiative aligns perfectly with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which emphasizes the importance of a holistic education.
A Glimpse of WRO India Season 2023
WRO India Season 2023 was a resounding success. The theme for that season was “Innovate for a Sustainable Environment.” Students participated enthusiastically in various categories, showcasing their talent and innovation. The categories included Future Innovators, RoboMission, Future Engineers. The standout aspect of this season was how it encouraged students to think creatively and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
WRO India Season 2024: What to Expect
The anticipation is building for WRO India Season 2024, which is just around the corner. This year, there will be an exciting change in the format. The NET (National Entrance Test) exam will not be conducted. Instead, there will be qualifier rounds nationwide. This decision aims to make participation more accessible to a broader range of students.
The theme for WRO India Season 2024 will be announced in January 2024. To ensure maximum student participation, the registrations for the first round of qualifiers will open in November 2023. Additionally, an all-new Season 2024 website will be launched soon. This website will be a one-stop destination for all the information related to participation, criteria, themes, games, and daily updates. So, aspiring participants and enthusiasts, stay tuned for the launch.
Moreover, there’s great news for early birds. The first team to register for WRO India Season 2024 will enjoy a unique advantage – their registration fees will be waived.
Categories of the WRO India
WRO India features several categories to accommodate students of various age groups and skill levels. Here’s a brief overview:
1. Future Innovators
– Age Groups: Elementary (8-12), Junior (11-15), Senior (14-19)
– Team Size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
– Description: In this project-based competition, students create innovative intelligent robotics solutions related to the season’s theme. There’s no restriction on materials, allowing for creativity and freedom of choice.
2. RoboMission
– Age Groups: Elementary (8-12), Junior (11-15), Senior (14-19)
– Team Size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
– Description: In this challenge-based competition, students design, construct, and program autonomous robots to solve specific challenges on a field. All robot parts, including the controller, must be from LEGO®.
3. Future Engineers
– Age Group: 14-19
– Team Size: 2-3 students guided by a coach
– Description: This category introduces students to engineering challenges. Teams tackle real-world problems. The current game involves autonomous driving, challenging students to build a robot capable of autonomously navigating a track.
4. RoboSports
– Age: 11-19
– Team Size: 2-3 people guided by a coach
– Description: In this exciting game, two teams compete with two autonomous robots in a sports game. The robots are built using LEGO® materials, including controllers and sensors. The current game is Double Tennis.
Stages of the Competition
The WRO India Season 2024 has several stages:
1. Virtual Championship (Online Submission Only)
– Future Innovators Category
– Description: Teams collaborate to create a feasible solution related to the theme. The top teams progress to Regionals hosted in different cities in India.
2. Regional Championship
– Future Innovators | RoboMission Category
– Description: RoboMission Teams can also directly enter regionals, and the top teams from the Virtual Championship showcase their working robots in the regionals across India.
3. National Championship
– Future Innovators | RoboMission | Future Engineers and RoboSports Categories
– Description: Teams from all the regionals, along with RoboSports and Future Engineers teams, compete in the grand WRO India National Championship. The winners represent India in the WRO International Championship.
4. International Championship
– Description: Winning teams from the WRO India National Championship progress to represent India at the WRO International Championship, where they compete against teams from over 90 countries in different categories.
Registration & Fees
Teams can register online on the WRO India website or by filling the application form and posting it to the India STEM Foundation. The registration fees vary depending on the category and stage of the competition. For instance:
– For Future Innovators, schools or robotics institutes can participate in the WRO 2024 Virtual Championship Round 1 from 1st November onwards by paying a fee of Rs. 6,000 per team and 9000/per team in Virtual Championship Round 2. The first team from each school competes for free, while subsequent teams require a registration fee.
– For teams directly entering in-person regionals in the Future Innovators and RoboMission categories, as well as teams directly entering the Nationals under the Future Engineers and RoboSports categories the registration fee is Rs. 18,000.
The fee payment methods are flexible and can be completed through bank transfer, UPI, or online methods.
India STEM Foundation
India STEM Foundation (ISF) is India’s leading not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing easy and cost-effective access to research-based, hands-on STEM education programs for schools, educators, and students across India. Their mission is to bridge the gap and make STEM education accessible to students from all social and economic backgrounds.
