Two free, professional competitions — one page. Pick one or compete in both.
RoboCamp kickoff window begins in 29 days — main kickoff: 09:00. TechNova main event: December 11, 2025 — 09:00.
This page hosts two separate competitions that share an organizer and a single mission: empower learners with free, professional, hands-on coding and robotics experiences. RoboCamp is broad — coding + robotics for newcomers and intermediate teams. TechNova is focused, advanced, and Python & AI heavy for learners who want to push algorithmic limits. Both events are student-centric, mentor-friendly, and run with transparency.
Read RoboCamp first (it's on top), then TechNova directly below — both are independent sections. Phone and email are shown in header and within each competition so students and mentors can contact us quickly. The registration system is custom (no Google Forms for TechNova), and there are clear scoring rules for each competition so teams know how points are awarded.
RoboCamp 2025 is the first competition for students who want an accessible, friendly, yet rigorous introduction to robotics and coding problems. It balances hardware builds (LEGO/Arduino) with software challenges (Scratch/Python). Teams may enter solo or as 2–4 member groups.
RoboCamp start date is set to 29 days from the moment you open this page (this keeps the kickoff relative to your viewing time).
Primary goals: teach robust engineering practices, encourage creative problem solving, and introduce teams to iterative design. The competition emphasizes reliable solutions, clear documentation, and concise live presentations. Judges will grade both objective performance and soft skills.
Allowed kits: LEGO Spike Prime, LEGO EV3, Arduino Uno with compatible motor drivers, or simulator-only teams. Using simulators is permitted but indicated on registration. Adults may help with safety and logistics, but core design & code must be student work.
Stage 1 — Slido Quiz: short MCQs on sensors, loops, and basic electronics. Fast answers help with seeding. This stage is low-stakes but encourages study.
Stage 2 — Coding Challenge: 45–60 minutes per team. Tasks include algorithm writing, short debugging tasks, and one small applied problem (example: implement PID-ish behavior in pseudocode). Submissions must include a README and comments. Judges award points for correctness, clarity, and efficiency.
Stage 3 — Hardware Mission: Robot must perform a multi-part mission in 3 runs. Points assigned for successful completion of each mission segment, repeatability, and safe operation. Teams must submit an 800–1200 word technical summary explaining architecture and testing strategy.
Stage 4 — Presentation & Q&A: Teams present slides (max 6) and a live demo. Judges ask 3–4 technical questions. Scoring includes clarity, ability to defend design choices, and demonstration results.
Do repeated trials. Log times and outcomes. Video record your best run as backup. Keep code modular. Use simple state machines for mission steps. Prepare a compact README that explains how to run your code and what to expect — judges will appreciate clarity more than flashy but brittle solutions.
Questions? Call or WhatsApp: 073 105 0897 or email the organizer: wandiledlamini214@gmail.com
TechNova is a higher-difficulty competition focused on Python, algorithm design, and applied AI/ML for small robotics or simulation tasks. It is ideal for participants who want to dive deeper into coding and algorithms. TechNova's flagship event date is December 11, 2025 — 09:00.
TechNova is fixed to the calendar: December 11, 2025 at 09:00 (local time).
Recommended ages 14–18. Prior Python experience is strongly recommended. Teams may be 1–4 students. TechNova permits the use of common Python libraries (NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn) for AI mini-projects — see rules for allowed libraries and any disallowed external services.
TechNova spreads points across many items so scoring is granular and fair. The highest possible total is 200 points distributed as follows:
Each Stage 1 problem is auto-graded by a secure judge server. Correctness and runtime are measured. For tasks with multiple valid approaches, judges award points for both correctness and code clarity. Some tasks will include hidden tests to prevent hard-coding solutions. Participants must not attempt to circumvent the evaluation system.
Imagine a grid where the robot must collect three tokens and return to base in minimal steps. Scoring example:
Allowed Python libs: NumPy, SciPy, pandas, scikit-learn, matplotlib, PyTorch or TensorFlow (light usage permitted — check the rules page). Internet calls to external APIs (like paid model hosting or external inference) are not allowed. If you use pretrained models, cite sources and confirm offline availability. The technical report must list dependencies and explain training datasets (if any).
TechNova trains students in core algorithmic thinking and hands-on AI. It bridges classroom concepts with applied projects, forcing teams to think about data, validation, edge-cases, and real-world failure modes. Students come out with code, documentation, and a reproducible result — all critical for modern CS and robotics.
TechNova requires a separate custom form (collects detailed Python experience, project idea, and consent). Click the link below to go to the TechNova registration page hosted on the same domain.
Register TechNova (Custom)Questions? Call or WhatsApp: 073 105 0897 or email the organizer: wandiledlamini214@gmail.com