A real-world problem
Teams choose a problem connected to the season theme and investigate how a robot, sensors, or automation could help address it.
Future Innovators
In Future Innovators, teams develop a robotic solution to a real-world problem, build a prototype, and present their idea to judges.
Overview
Future Innovators is a competition category where teams use creativity, technology, and research to design a robotic solution for a real-world problem connected to the season theme. The solution should include a robot, sensors, actuators, automation, or another clearly robotic function.
Teams choose a problem connected to the season theme and investigate how a robot, sensors, or automation could help address it.
The solution should be more than an idea. Teams build and program a prototype that demonstrates the robotic function of the solution and how it could work in practice.
Teams present their project at a booth, demonstrate the prototype, explain their research and design process, and answer judges’ questions.
Season theme
The WRO 2026 theme is Robots Meet Culture. Teams explore how robots can help protect, create, share, and experience culture, art, and history in new ways.
How can robots help protect, preserve, and share cultural heritage?
How can humans, robots, and AI create something new together?
How can robots create new ways to experience art, history, and culture?
Preparation
In Future Innovators, preparation involves both research and technical development. Teams need to understand the problem, design a solution, build a prototype, test it, and prepare a clear presentation.
Choose a real-world problem connected to the season theme. Gather information and speak with people who understand the topic.
Explore how robotics, sensors, actuators, or automation could help address the problem.
Build and program a solution that demonstrates the core function of your idea. The prototype does not need to be perfect, but it should show how the solution works.
Collect feedback, test the functionality, and improve both the idea and the technical solution before presenting it on tournament day.
Teams need to prepare a project report, a visible booth, and a 5-minute presentation where the prototype is demonstrated and its connection to a real-world problem is explained. If you need to choose sensors, motors, controllers, or prototyping materials, the equipment guide is a useful next step.
Tournament day
At the national tournament, Future Innovators teams demonstrate their prototype at a booth, present the project to judges, and answer questions about the problem, solution, technology, and process.
The team demonstrates the prototype, explains the problem, and shows how the solution works.
After the presentation, judges ask more detailed questions about the research, design, technical implementation, and next steps.
Teams also present their projects to visitors and other teams, learn from other ideas, and take part in the competition community.
Scoring and awards
Judges evaluate the project based on research, innovation, the robotic solution, prototype, presentation, booth, and teamwork. The exact scoring criteria are published with each season’s rules.
How well the team understands the problem, connects it to the theme, and develops an original and useful solution.
How well the prototype works and uses sensors, actuators, programming, and autonomous functionality.
How clearly the team explains the project, demonstrates the prototype, and uses the booth to communicate the idea.
How team members show their own understanding, share responsibility, and answer judges’ questions.
This is an informative overview. Teams should always follow the official rules, scoring rubrics, and amendments published for the relevant season.
Rules
Rules, season challenge descriptions, scoring rubrics, and amendments are published for each season. Teams should always follow the latest documents for the current season and any information published by WRO Iceland for the national tournament.
Official Future Innovators general rules for WRO 2026. These include rules for teams, equipment, booths, presentations, and additional materials.
General rulesThe Future Innovators season challenge for WRO 2026. This document explains the annual theme, challenge, and ideas for solutions.
Season challengeGuidance for teams and coaches about preparation, judging, presentation, booth setup, project report, and teamwork.
Team guidanceThe official WRO overview page with all rules, documents, amendments, and links for the 2026 competition season.
WRO 2026 overviewInternational events
Teams that qualify for international events need to review the rules of the specific event they attend. International events may require English materials, a video presentation, or a different judging format.
Next steps
Start by reading the getting started guide, finding a team and coach, choosing a real-world problem, and following registration updates for the next national tournament.