Time to gear up for the 2025 K12 Robotics Competition!
Your student can showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and coding expertise for a chance to win $500!
Unlocking the robo-rivalry: Competition details!
Open to Students in Grades 4–12
The K12 Robotics Competition is open to K12-powered students in grades 4–12. Students will compete against others in their grade band (4–6, 7–9, 10–12).
Compete as a Team
Students will compete as a team of one to three members. Each team must register an instructor—this can be a parent, guardian, teacher, or other adult who will act as a mentor or guide. Instructors will have access to training materials.
VRT Software
To enter, students must have Virtual Robotics Toolkit (VRT) software, which can be downloaded for just $50. Please note, the VRT software is only compatible with Windows PC at this time. This powerful software is an essential tool for designing, building, and programming the robots that will take part in the competition. The software will serve as the virtual playground for participants to create and test their robotic solutions. It is not necessary to possess a physical robot to participate.
Please contact support@cogmation.com to buy an annual subscription to the Virtual Robotics Toolkit for only $50. They accept purchase orders, PayPal, and credit card payments.
Registration
Students interested in participating should download the VRT software and complete the registration form by 5 PM (ET) on December 16, 2024. Parents or guardians must enter on behalf of students under the age of 13. Make sure to provide accurate contact information for further communication. Once complete, participants will receive a confirmation email containing important details about the next steps.
Competition Schedule
The first three rounds of competition will take place virtually. The top 9 teams—3 in each grade band (4–6, 7–9, 10–12)—will be invited to the national competition in June 2025.
December 16, 2024
Registration deadline
January 21–28, 2025
Initial Friendly Challenge
February 24–28, 2025
1st-Round Qualifier
March 24–28, 2025
2nd-Round Qualifier
June 3, 2025
In-Person National Competition
Prizes
One team will be declared the winner in each grade band. Each member of the winning teams will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
All registered teams are eligible to participate. The top 10 qualifying teams in each grade band will be declared the winners of the 1st-Round Qualifier. Each winning team will receive a certificate and be invited to compete in the 2nd-Round Qualifier.
Only qualifying teams from the 1st-Round Qualifiers are eligible to participate. The top 3 qualifying teams in each grade band will be declared the winners of the 2nd-Round Qualifier, for a total of 9 winning teams.
Each winning team will be invited to the in-person national competition in June 2025. K12 will pay for the hotel and transportation to and from the competition site and hotel for each finalist and a single chaperone per finalist. Teams are responsible for airfare/transportation to and from the national competition in Reston, Virginia.
Only qualifying teams from the 2nd-Round Qualifiers are eligible to participate. The team with the highest score in each grade band will be declared the National Winner, for a total of 3 winning teams. Each winning team member will receive a trophy and $500.
Save hundreds compared to other robotics competitions!
Students must have VRT software to enter, which can be downloaded for just $50. When you consider that most national robotics competitions cost several hundred dollars or more to participate in, the K12 Robotics Competition is an affordable option for many students.
Instructor Training
We will provide training sessions to equip instructors with the knowledge and skills required to guide their teams effectively through the software and challenges.
Instructor training sessions will be available on-demand in late October or early November. The training will cover various aspects of robot design, programming, and problem-solving.
We will also host live help sessions once a week where students and instructors can join to ask questions, clarify doubts, and gain insights from our experienced trainers.
Specific dates and access details will be communicated to registered participants in advance.
Please review the rules and regulations related to the K12 Robotics Competition. When registering, you must agree to these terms and conditions.
