Demonstrate the gestures
At inspection, declare a gesture for each of the five commands. Each must be recognised and correctly executed in at least two of three tests. This readiness test awards no competition points.
AI-Powered Robots
AI Jedi Mode
Turn your gestures into robot actions and guide your team through the course.
What happens in this category?
Move with a gesture. Guide with intelligence.
A student stands at the Jedi Station and guides a robot with hand or body gestures recognised by a camera-based AI system. The team chooses its gestures and teaches the system to turn each one into a dependable movement command.
The robot travels from START to FINISH through four gates in order. Teammates can observe the course and give spoken guidance to the Jedi Operator, but only that operator's recognised gestures may control the robot. A joystick, keyboard or phone cannot replace this interaction.
This is a human–AI–robot challenge, not a line-following race. Teams must demonstrate that the camera recognised the gesture, the system generated the command and the robot carried it out. Reliable stopping and clear teamwork are just as important as reaching the finish.
Technical Specifications
- Robot footprint
- 20 × 20 cm maximum at inspection
- Control method
- Camera-based AI recognition of the Jedi Operator's gestures
- Required commands
- FORWARD, BACK, LEFT, RIGHT and STOP
- Field and road
- 200 × 200 cm field; 30 cm road
- Course
- START → Gates 1, 2, 3, 4 → FINISH
- Team and levels
- 3–5 students + 1 mentor; Levels 01–07
- Run time and format
- Up to 3 minutes; 3 runs; best 2 added
- Recovery allowance
- 3 cards per run; −5 points each
Competition Setup
How the competition unfolds
Start with the team in position
The Transfer Operator places the robot in START. The Jedi Operator remains at the station; guidance and recording functions are assigned. Timing begins on the referee's signal.
Navigate all four gates
Use recognised gestures to move along the road and cross each gate completely, in order. Teammates may give spoken guidance to the Jedi Operator, but may not electronically steer the robot.
Finish and stop
Bring the whole robot inside FINISH and execute STOP. The dashed centre marking is a visual reference; sensor-based line following is not required. A needed recovery after all three cards ends the run.
Scoring & Ranking
| Task | Points |
|---|---|
| Five AI commands correctly demonstrated | 8 each; maximum 40 |
| Robot completely leaves START | 5 |
| Each gate reached / completely passed | 5 + 5; maximum 40 across four gates |
| FINISH reached / fully inside with STOP | 5 + 10 |
| One run / best two combined | 100 / 200 maximum |
The AI command chain must end in the correct physical robot action; a label on a computer is not enough. Net score equals mission points minus penalties, with a minimum of zero. The two best runs are added. Ties prioritise recoveries, completed gates and demonstrated AI commands before the later rulebook criteria; speed is not the primary measure.
Teamwork, Safety & Rules
Only the Jedi Operator's declared gestures control the robot. A forward-facing robot camera is optional and may assist navigation, but does not replace the gesture camera.
Manual electronic driving and changing the software, AI model, gestures or parameters during a run disqualify that run. Shortcuts and bypassed gates require recovery and cannot gain an advantage.
Every run is recorded by the students. Operators remain outside the arena. Light gate contact is permitted; a second knocked-down gate ends the run. Choose a safe speed and follow referee emergency-stop instructions.
Prepare your team
Train gestures that remain distinct under event lighting, make recognised commands visible for inspection, and practise safe stopping with your guidance teammates. Read the official rulebook for recovery, gate and finish definitions before competing. Participation implies acceptance of those rules.
OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
Competition Rules & Guidelines
Review the official competition rules, evaluation criteria, project requirements and submission guidelines before preparing your project.