Tasks and rules for the 2024 season
No questions yet. We will publish all questions asked by teams or coaches here.
Registration
It is our wish that at least 6 teams per location in each category register for a competition. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out, and then we work with our regional partner to figure out how to deal with it.
Age groups or competitions under 4 teams do not usually take place. Here we try to transfer teams to other competitions in the vicinity. If a team is unable to re-register (e.g. due to scheduling problems or long travel distances), it can cancel its registration and receive a refund of the registration fee.
The situation directly after the registration deadline is always decisive for these considerations. The following therefore always applies during the registration phase: If in doubt, always register first!
The WRO is open to all children and young people – boys and girls – between the ages of 6 and 19 who come together in teams of 2 or 3. It does not have to be a school team.
No, when registering, the team is guaranteed a starting place in the respective category. All you have to do is specify at which location and in which age group the team should compete.
The exact names and dates of birth of the participants must be entered by the end of the registration period on March 15. Our online system automatically reminds you of this.
If a competition in a category is already fully booked, try to switch to another competition nearby first.
If this is not possible, please contact Markus from our organization team. They can discuss with our regional partner whether a space can still be created. As a rule, you will receive a response within 48 hours.
No, a participant can only take part in one team in one category.
This allows participants to focus on one task and achieve the best results.
A registration fee of CHF 100 per team must be paid at the time of registration. This fee includes the playing field mat (worth approx. CHF 68) and, for teams taking part for the first time, the Lego sets for the playing field objects.
As we want to keep the barriers to participation in our competitions as low as possible, the registration fee will be refunded after participation in a regional competition. We have decided to go down this route instead of simply waiving participation fees because we want to avoid teams simply registering but then not taking part. After all, our regional partners have a lot of organizational and financial work to do to stage the competitions, and the number of places is limited. We believe that this variant leads to greater commitment and still keeps the hurdles low.
In addition to the registration fee, there are further costs for the teams:
In particular, a Lego robotics set is required. This can be purchased in retail outlets, e.g. from our partner Educatec. And WRO Switzerland offers inexpensive sets for rent in its web store.
Each team is responsible for its own travel costs to and from the competitions. However, there is a hardship fund that can be used to provide a subsidy for travel and accommodation costs in justified individual cases.
Every now and then a coach or team asks whether people can take part in an age group for which they are still too young. This may be because the desired team colleagues are older, or a participant thinks that the task of the higher age group is easier.
However, the age limits make sense, as the teams should compete with people of the same age as far as possible. It is therefore not possible for a team to participate in an age group if none of the team members have reached the lower limit. If an individual team member is too young, exceptions are possible, but such a team cannot then qualify for the international competitions, as the age limits are strictly adhered to there.
Competitions
Information on the qualification of the teams can be found on the Swiss finals page. The qualification can change from year to year.
These are the qualification rules for 2024:
Yes, we are happy to welcome visitors! All our competitions can be attended free of charge.
The venue, including travel information, will be published on the information page of the respective competition.
The number of teams allowed to participate in the WRO World Final is determined by the qualification tables of the international WRO organization. This depends on how many teams have registered with us in the respective competition categories.
The winners and runners-up of the Swiss final in the RoboMission category in the Elementary, Junior and Senior age groups can currently qualify for the world final.
The best team in the Future Innovators category can now also qualify for the world final, provided at least 5 teams take part in this category.
There is no world final for the starter category.
Based on the international qualification table, we were allowed to send 3 teams (2 per age group) to the World Final at the WRO 2023.
We always qualify the maximum possible number of teams available to us in our categories based on this table.
No, there are enough competition and practice tables available at the competition.
Please refrain from bringing your own competition tables. As a rule, there is not enough space at the competitions to set up your own tables.
The same applies to playing field mats.
Yes, if the team coach is unable to attend on the day of the competition, another adult can take over the supervision of the team. In an emergency, a team can also compete without a team coach. However, this is not advisable.
In such a case, please notify us of the change, thank you
A WRO competition is an all-day event. Roughly speaking, you can expect the race to run from around 7.30 am (opening) to around 5.30 pm (award ceremony).
The exact schedule can be found in the competition schedule, which is published on the information page of the respective competition a few weeks before the event.
Every now and then a coach or team asks whether people can take part in an age group for which they are still too young. This may be because the desired team colleagues are older, or a participant thinks that the task of the higher age group is easier.
However, the age limits make sense, as the teams should compete with people of the same age as far as possible. It is therefore not possible for a team to participate in an age group if none of the team members have reached the lower limit. If an individual team member is too young, exceptions are possible, but such a team cannot then qualify for the international competitions, as the age limits are strictly adhered to there.
FAQ for coaches and teachers
The team should first familiarize themselves with the robot without looking at the competition tasks. This includes the use of sensors and how the robot can best drive. Can it follow a black line and drive across the game field with the gyro sensor? Both are very useful skills that will certainly be needed!
The task is then studied and the LEGO models (“objects”) belonging to the task are assembled. You can now consider how the robot must be designed so that it can move the objects correctly and reliably (pushing? lifting? that depends on the task!). The team should now construct a prototype of this robot.
Then you think about it: What are the simplest subtasks? Which ones score the most points? Most teams do not manage to solve all subtasks within the allotted 120 seconds. That’s why a bit of strategy is needed here: driving to safety and therefore scoring few points, but having them safely? Or would you rather take risks in the hope of scoring more points, but also run the risk of something not working out? The team has to find out among themselves…
As the competition approaches: test, test, test! Don’t add much more, but rather make sure that what you have already achieved works reliably. Also test the different starting positions, as the objects are randomly placed on the playing field. Testing is not exciting, but it is necessary in order to find any errors. You can also take care of the speed. By now at the latest, the general rules and regulations should also be thoroughly studied so that there are no unpleasant surprises on the day of the competition.
Finally: Memorize the robot! Take a photo or use Stud.io (Lego design software from bricklink.com) to create instructions, and then disassemble and reassemble until you no longer need the instructions! Instructions are not permitted in the competition, after all. What is allowed are numbered bags in which the parts are strategically sorted.
And then: if possible, do the final training sessions under competitive conditions. The coach stays outside, the cell phone is switched off and the computer is in airplane mode. The team tries to do everything themselves, without help and without instructions.
The team needs:
- Regular time for training. It is best to schedule a fixed appointment every week where all team members can be present.
- A LEGO robotics set (SPIKE Prime, Mindstorms Robot Inventor or Mindstorms EV3).
WRO Switzerland offers sets for rent at a reasonable price. - A computer or tablet on which the app belonging to the respective robotics set is installed. The system requirements must be observed.
- Enough space for the playing field (approx. 1.3m x 2.3m)
- Lego bricks to build the models for the competition task (these can be ordered when registering for the competition or in our webshop).
- Recommended: a measuring tape.
It is also recommended to have a table for the playing field. Building instructions are available on the website. If this is not possible for space reasons, we recommend at least making a frame for the playing field from a few slats, which can be easily screwed together and taken apart. Boards around the playing field are very useful because you can align a robot with them, for example, so that the driving angle is correct…
Otherwise, you need patience and the ability to motivate your team!
They may work together, but the product must be recognizably different, both in design and in code. The motto is: learn together and from each other, but don’t copy each other’s work!
No, you don’t have to be able to program yourself or even be a computer science professional. As a coach, you learn along with your team. You can help your team research things they need, but the programming work has to be done by the team itself!
However, we do offer courses and webinars for new coaches with information on WRO and the basics of robotics.
Yes, if the team coach is unable to attend on the day of the competition, another adult can take over the supervision of the team. In an emergency, a team can also compete without a team coach. However, this is not advisable.
In such a case, please notify us of the change, thank you
Anyone who is at least 18 years old and who wants to get girls and boys interested in technology. This can be a teacher, a parent or an older pupil and does not necessarily have to be someone with a technical background.
WRO CH holds regular courses for teachers and coaches at the beginning of the year.
Yes, if the team coach is unable to attend on the day of the competition, another adult can take over the supervision of the team. In an emergency, a team can also compete without a team coach. However, this is not advisable.
In such a case, please notify us of the change, thank you
A registration fee of CHF 100 per team must be paid at the time of registration. This fee includes the playing field mat (worth approx. CHF 68) and, for teams taking part for the first time, the Lego sets for the playing field objects.
As we want to keep the barriers to participation in our competitions as low as possible, the registration fee will be refunded after participation in a regional competition. We have decided to go down this route instead of simply waiving participation fees because we want to avoid teams simply registering but then not taking part. After all, our regional partners have a lot of organizational and financial work to do to stage the competitions, and the number of places is limited. We believe that this variant leads to greater commitment and still keeps the hurdles low.
In addition to the registration fee, there are further costs for the teams:
In particular, a Lego robotics set is required. This can be purchased in retail outlets, e.g. from our partner Educatec. And WRO Switzerland offers inexpensive sets for rent in its web store.
Each team is responsible for its own travel costs to and from the competitions. However, there is a hardship fund that can be used to provide a subsidy for travel and accommodation costs in justified individual cases.
The team only needs their computer/tablet with power cable and the robotics set with power/charging cable. Playing fields, task models and tables are provided by the competition organizers. Catering is also provided.
The program that the team worked on during the preparation time may and should be used, it does not have to be completely reprogrammed on the day!
Attention: The robot must be disassembled into its individual parts at the start of the competition! It must then be assembled by the team during the first construction phase without instructions, photos or other aids.
General questions
Sure – with pleasure! The WRO is a large community project with many partners and volunteers who are involved as competition partners (organization of a local competition), referees, jury members or helpers at regional competitions or at the Swiss final.
You can make an important contribution as a team coach, referee, jury member, helper, competition partner or sponsor. Simply get in touch via our contact form. We are very happy!
The WRO is organized in Switzerland by our association WRO CH. The association is made up of adults and young people who enjoy robotics and some of whom have taken part in international events and competitions as participants, coaches or supervisors. It is therefore a personal concern of ours to inspire as many children and young people as possible to experience robotics for themselves.
The WRO CH is affiliated to the Swiss Science Olympiad Association.
The World Robot Olympiad Association, based in Singapore, coordinates the World Robot Olympiad on an international level. Our club has an exclusive contract to organize the WRO in Switzerland.