Third Emirates Robotics Competition
ERC 2025 | April 8, 2025
Join the Robotics Challenge: Transforming Our World for a Sustainable Future
Welcome, university students in the UAE! Are you ready to embark on a journey that combines the cutting-edge technology of robotics with the imperative of environmental sustainability? Look no further – you're about to embark on a mission that could change the world.
Embrace the Future with Robotics
Robotics has emerged as a pivotal technology, poised to revolutionize numerous sectors and impact society in profound ways. From disaster response to healthcare and beyond, the possibilities are endless. Yet, there's a significant gap between the potential of robotics and its current capabilities.
To bridge this gap, we embrace a human-centric approach, where robots operate autonomously in complex, unstructured environments, collaborating seamlessly with other robots and humans. Our mission is to inspire and challenge university students to address real-world environmental problems through robotics.
Three Challenges for a Sustainable Tomorrow
In the heart of the UAE, we present three exciting challenges that revolve around environmental sustainability, focusing on the critical issue of waste management. These challenges are:
Trash Sorting Manipulator Challenge: Imagine a world where robots assist in efficient waste sorting. In this challenge, we invite you to develop manipulator robots capable of sorting various types of waste materials, contributing to recycling efforts and reducing environmental impact.
Trash Collection UGV Challenge: The future of waste management is here, and we need your help to make it happen. Create UGV (Unmanned Ground Vehicle) robots designed to collect trash efficiently and autonomously, helping keep our environments clean and green.
Trash Collection USV Challenge: Our oceans are precious, and we must protect them. Design USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) robots capable of collecting trash from water bodies, ensuring the health and vitality of our marine ecosystems.
The Partners Behind the Vision
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This year’s competition will be hosted by the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and co-organized with:
• Dubai Future Labs (DFL)
• Khalifa University (KU)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
The prize money will be sponsored by Dubai Future Labs (DFL)
Join the Robotics Revolution
If you're a university student in the UAE with a passion for robotics and a commitment to a sustainable future, we invite you to be a part of the Robotics Revolution. Unleash your creativity, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.
Together, we can harness the power of robotics to create a more sustainable and prosperous world. Are you up for the challenge? Join us and be the change-maker of tomorrow!
DOWNLOAD THE COMPETITION GUIDELINES HERE
Click here for FAQs about setup details
Click here to view Challenge 1 and 2 - sample objects
Important Dates
Registration deadline: 5th of December 2024
Team announcement: 12th of December 2024
Progress update 1: 31st of January 2025
Progress update 2: 5th of March 2025
Final Shortlisted teams: 11th of March 2025
Trials at site: 22nd and 23rd of March 2025
Date of Competition: 8th of April 2025
Registration Requirements
Teams interested in participating in this competition should follow the requirements below.
- Registering teams must consist of 3-6 members.
- At least half the team members should be from a local UAE-based university.
- Members must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree at the university.
- Teams must be supervised by a faculty member from the same university.
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Prizes
The total prize money for the challenges will be AED 90K, distributed as per the below.
Prizes are in AED currency.
| Challenge | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
| Recycling Manipulator Robot | 15K | 10K | 5K |
| Rubbish Collecting Mobile Robot | 15K | 10K | 5K |
| Water Cleaning Swimming Robot | 15K | 10K | 5K |
Timeline
The total prize money for the challenges will be AED 90K, distributed as per the below.
Prizes are in AED currency.
| Milestone | Date |
| Announcement | 11/11/2024 |
| Registration deadline | 05/12/2024 |
| Selected Teams Announcement | 12/12/2024 |
| Progress update 1 | 31/01/2025 |
| Progress update 2 | 05/03/2025 |
| Final Short-listed teams | 11/03/2025 |
| Trials 1 | 22/03/2025 |
| Trials 2 | 23/03/2025 |
| Competition Date | 08/04/2025 |
Organizing Entities
Sponsored by
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AUS Alumni Contribution
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Challenge 1: Trash Sorting Manipulator Challenge
Q1) We would like to know the shelf's dimensions: height “h,” spacing between each level L1, L2, and L3—and the distance between the shelf and the table.
Answer: All placement and dimensional information is now shown in Figures 1,2,3, and 4 in the competition guidelines.
Q2) We would like to know the number of items in each level.
Answer: We will provide four items per class, which might change closer to the competition date.
Challenge 2: Trash Collection UGV Challenge
Q1) The challenge description says to choose an item for collection then deposit it into the bin. Does this mean that we have to choose one type of item and collect only that or does the robot have to collect every item in the arena?
Answer: Collect all items in any order you prefer.
Q2) We would like to request the range in weight and dimensions of the objects we can expect to find in the arena.
Answer: Typical dimensions and weight of trash items that you usually find in public places (bottles, cups, cans, papers,...).
Q3) What type of obstacles can participants expect (e.g., size, material, or possible shapes)?
Answer: Any obstacle (chairs, tables, boxes,...)
Q4) Will the obstacles be static, dynamic, or a mix of both?
Answer: Only static.
Q5) How will the obstacles be arranged or randomized for each trial?
Answer: They will be placed randomly in the arena.
Q6) AI Model Training: Will we be provided with the items (e.g., trash samples) beforehand to train our AI model?
Answer: The dimensions of the bins will be provided. Few days will be dedicated for testing where the trash bins and samples will be available.
Q7) Dustbin Dimensions: While we know the height of the dustbin is 50 cm, could you confirm the other dimensions (diameter or width)?
Answer: These will be provided soon.
Q8) Arena Obstacles: Could you provide details about the types of obstacles that will be present in the arena? Additionally, will images of these objects be provided for AI training purposes?
Answer: Expect any kind of obstacle to be in the arena. No images will be provided.
Q9) Garbage Handling: Is it permissible to drag the garbage during collection?
Answer: Yes it's ok. The target is to dispense in the proper bin.
Q10) Sustainability Bonus: Since the theme of ERC 2025 is sustainability, will there be extra points awarded for incorporating sustainable features in the robot’s design?
Answer: The provided requirements are the ones rewarded.
Q11) Mapping Time: Will additional time be allotted before the trial begins to allow the robot to map the arena? If so, how much time will be provided?
Answer: Yes you will be provided with trial days for testing purposes.
- Small glass bottles (e.g., empty juice or soda bottles)
- Glass jar lids (from jam or pickle jars)
- Glass perfume bottles (lightweight and compact)
- Glass light bulb covers (from decorative lights)
- Empty water bottles
- Plastic bottle caps
- Plastic straws
- Disposable plastic spoons/forks
- Small plastic containers (e.g., yogurt cups)
- Plastic lids
- Crushed plastic soda bottles
- Aluminum soda cans
- Tin can lids (with safe, smooth edges)
- Metal bottle caps
- Small aluminum foil balls
- Empty food cans
- Soda can tabs
- Metal keys
- Nuts and bolts (small, safe sizes)
- Small steel or aluminum pieces
contact us
For further information, please contact: ERC25@aus.edu
