Ultimate Robotics Championship (URC) 2026 – PCCOER

Overview The Ultimate Robotics Championship (URC) 2026, organized by Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering & Research (PCCOER), Ravet, Pune, is a robotics competition designed to challenge participants in autonomous navigation, line following, maze solving, obstacle navigation, object manipulation, precision, and reliability. URC 2026 provides students with a platform to design, develop, and operate multifunctional robotic systems while competing against other robotics enthusiasts in a series of practical challenges. Competition Format URC 2026 will be conducted in two stages: Day 1 – Qualification Round All eligible teams will compete in four challenges: Line Follower Maze Solver Obstacle Course Pick and Place Each challenge carries a maximum of 50 points, giving a maximum Day 1 score of 200 points. The top 10 teams based on their cumulative Day 1 score will qualify for the Final Round. Day 2 – Final Round The top 10 qualifying teams will compete in advanced versions of the challenges. Day 2 evaluates higher levels of speed, precision, autonomous decision-making, sensor integration, mechanical reliability, obstacle handling, navigation efficiency, and object manipulation. Day 1 Challenges Line Follower Participants must build a robot capable of autonomously following a black line (#000000) through a track that may include straight sections, curves, varying widths, sharp turns, and intersections. The robot must use a line-following sensor and complete the course as efficiently and accurately as possible. Maze Solver The robot must autonomously navigate a grid or maze containing elements such as junctions, dead ends, and loops. Teams may use cameras, proximity sensors, colour sensors, or other suitable sensing methods to navigate the maze without human intervention. Obstacle Course Teams must manually control their robot through a marked obstacle course that may contain ramps, cones, gates, narrow passages, tight turns, and elevation changes. The challenge tests manoeuvrability, control, obstacle handling, and collision avoidance. Pick and Place The robot must pick up and arrange six uniform blocks according to a pattern assigned to the team at the beginning of the task. The blocks are initially placed randomly within the arena, and the robot must arrange them accurately according to the specified pattern. Day 2 Final Challenges Qualified teams will compete in: Advanced

Line Follower: Complex tracks with sharp turns, zig-zag sections, dotted/interrupted lines, complex junctions, multiple paths, rapid direction changes, and checkpoints.

Advanced Maze: A more complex maze featuring multiple junctions, dead ends, false paths, narrow passages, and route-selection challenges.

Advanced Hurdle Race: A demanding obstacle course involving inclined surfaces, uneven terrain, raised obstacles, narrow passages, direction changes, and multiple consecutive obstacles.

Advanced Pick and Place: A more precise manipulation challenge involving object identification/location, pickup, navigation, and accurate placement. Each Day 2 challenge carries 50 points, for a maximum Day 2 score of 200 points. Eligibility Participation is open to students currently pursuing an undergraduate programme. Students must belong to a recognised educational institution. Each team must consist of 2 to 5 registered members. Each team must have one Team Captain. A participant can be registered with only one team. Only officially registered team members can represent and operate the team's robot during the competition. What Participants Will Gain Hands-on robotics experience Practical application of engineering concepts Exposure to autonomous systems and robot control Problem-solving and logical thinking skills Teamwork and technical collaboration Opportunity to compete with robotics enthusiasts from different institutions Certificates and exciting prizes for outstanding performers Competition Format The competition consists of multiple robotics challenges conducted in an offline/on-campus format. Participants will be required to bring, build, and operate their robots according to the technical specifications and rules provided by the organizers. Each challenge will have its own task requirements, arena specifications, scoring criteria, and time limits. General Rules Participants must follow the technical specifications provided by the organizers. Teams must report to the venue within the specified reporting time. Robots must comply with the prescribed size, weight, power, and safety requirements. Any form of unfair practice or violation of competition rules may result in disqualification. Organizers reserve the right to modify the competition format or rules if required. The decision of the judges/organizing committee will be final and binding. Detailed challenge-specific rules and specifications will be shared with registered participants.