BGSU NORTech Robotics Competition

May the best robots win.

As part of the National Robotics Challenge, the annual Northwest Ohio Regional Technology (NORTech) robotics competition provides a platform where students can put their robotics engineering skills to the test and compete their robots in various challenges.

Our competition is open to youth in grades 6-12 who attend school in Ohio and surrounding states, including students who are homeschooled.

Competition details:

When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025
Where: BGSU Student Union
Registration deadline: Friday, Jan. 31, 2025
Cost: $5 per robot
Lunch included

Have questions?

Please contact the Pre College Outreach and Academic Enrichment Office at falconyouth@bgsu.edu or 419-372-0424.

NORTech Events

Box Bot

Combat Bot - Antweight

Combat Bot - Beetleweight

Line Dancing

Line Following

Manufacturing Workcell

Micromouse

Mini-Sumo Robot

Rescue Robot

Robo Hockey

Robot Maze Contest

Robot Problem Solving

Shuttle Run

Sumo Robot

Triathlon

Event rules 2024 winners

About Our Events

Box Bot

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Teams design, construct, program and operate a battery powered robot for use in a package delivery simulation.

Combat Robot

Classes: Antweight-Plastic, Beetleweight

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Students design and create a single custom-built machine that employs one or more methods of destroying or disabling their robot competitor. This robotic device will be remote controlled, but may include some autonomous operations. We are utilizing a modified version of the SPARC Robot Construction Specifications v1.1.

Line Dancing

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School

Robot Type: Using commonly available educational robots like LEGO Mindstorms, VEX IQ and similar kits. This activity combines competition with skill-building in robotics and engineering.

Contest Description: The goal is for students to program a robot to perform dance moves inspired by the Cotton-Eyed Joe line dance. Each robot must navigate a dance floor, synchronizing to the beat and repeating a series of programmed moves. Points are awarded based on timing, creativity and accuracy.

Line-Following Race

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School

Robot Type: Using commonly available educational robots like LEGO Mindstorms, VEX IQ, or similar kits. This activity combines competition with skill-building in robotics and engineering.

Contest Description: Each robot must follow a black line on a white surface as quickly as possible, navigating curves, sharp turns and straightaways. The robot that completes the course the fastest wins.

Manufacturing Workcell

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Participants design, construct and operate a system that performs one or more manufacturing processes. The manufacturing workcell may include operations that demonstrate both fundamental and/or advanced applications.

Micromouse

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: The contestant or a team of contestants designs and builds a small self-contained robot (mouse) to negotiate a right/left-turn maze in the shortest possible time.

Mini-Sumo Robot

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: A team builds a self-propelled, self-controlled, sensing robot designed to force another Mini-Sumo Robot outside a four-foot competition ring painted flat black. There is an inside square surrounded by a one-inch square painted or taped flat white . Another white one-inch line will surround the inner ring with one inch between them. The robot that pushes any part of its opponent over the outer line wins.

Rescue Robot

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Participants build a remote-controlled vehicle to operate within a playing field that's 18 feet long and 10 feet wide. The vehicle travels the field and picks up four colored ping-pong balls from four holding devices (pick pylons) and places them into a receiving jig (drop pylons). The event simulates the environment a robot might be required to navigate in the event of a building collapse.

Robo Hockey

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Teams build two remote-controlled robots that will compete in a simulated hockey event against two opposing robots. The team that scores the most goals in a three-minute match wins. The event is held in a double-elimination format tournament.

Robot Maze Contest

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Students use a robot to navigate a right/left-turn maze.

Robot Problem Solving

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: Participants use a computer software program and a small robotic arm to solve a problem that occurs in a typical manufacturing plant.

Shuttle Run

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School

Robot Type: Using commonly available educational robots like LEGO Mindstorms, VEX IQ, or similar kits. This activity combines competition with skill-building in robotics and engineering.

Contest Description: The goal is for each team to program and control a robot to complete two laps of a shuttle run as quickly as possible, navigating a straight path to the far end of the field and back. The robot with the fastest completion time wins.

Sumo Robot

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

Contest Description: A team builds a self-propelled, autonomous, sensing robot designed to force another Sumo Robot outside an eight-foot competition ring painted flat black. There is an inside square surrounded by a two-inch flat white square. Another white one-inch line will surround the inner ring with two inches between them. The robot that pushes any part of its opponent over the outer line wins.

Triathlon

Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School

Robot Type: Using commonly available educational robots like LEGO Mindstorms, VEX IQ, or similar kits. This activity combines competition with skill-building in robotics and engineering.

Contest Description: Each robot will compete in three events — Shuttle Run, Line Dancing and Line-Following — scoring points in each challenge. The robot with the highest combined score across all three events will be the Robotics Triathlon champion.

Frequently Asked Questions

01. What is the primary goal of this robotics competition?
The NORTech competition aims to encourage students’ interest in robotics to create a pipeline for the next generation of engineers.

02. What grade levels can participate in this competition?
Events are designed for students grades 6-12.

03. Is the competition geared toward beginners, intermediate or advanced students?
We offer a wide range of events for students with all kinds of experience, so we encourage all to participate!

04. Is the competition in person or virtual?
This event takes place in person on the campus of Bowling Green State University.

05. Are there more competitions beyond the annual NORTech event?
Yes, the National Robotics Challenge takes place at regional, state, national and international levels. More details here.

01. What are the team size requirements?
Students can compete as individuals or in teams of up to four contestants. A classroom could have as many as 15 teams.

02. Are there any requirements for team composition?
No, we do not require a certain number of students per team, the involvement of mentors, etc.

03. Is there a registration fee?
There is no registration fee, but the cost to enter one robot into one event is $5. Teams are welcome to enter multiple events, but for each event, there will be a robot fee of $5.

04. Are there any eligibility requirements?
This event is open to public and private schools, homeschool groups and community organizations that work with students in STEM, including those with little to no robotics experience.

01. Are there certain kits required?
There are no specific materials or components required. We believe engineering is about finding the elements and equipment that are best for the problem you are given, not about taking the same parts as someone else and changing how they are put together.

02. Where can I find the official competition rules and scoring rubrics?
Click here to find rules for the National Robotics Competition challenges, as well as additional robotics contests unique to BGSU.

03. Are there specific safety guidelines or restrictions on robot size, weight or power sources?
Please refer to the competition rules for the event you are planning to compete in.

01. Where is the competition located and are accommodations provided or recommended?
The NORTech competition takes place on the campus of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. Please refer to your registration packet for additional information.

02. How long is the competition?
This is a one-day competition. Following a brief opening program, competitions begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. Students conclude the day with a boxed lunch and awards ceremony. Teachers can expect to depart by 2 p.m.

03. Is food or other amenities available on-site?
Lunch is provided.

04. Are parents or family members allowed to attend?
Unfortunately, no. This event is closed to the public.

Updated: 01/29/2025 09:08AM

Pre College Programs

NORTech Robotics Competition

BGSU NORTech Robotics Competition

May the best robots win.

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NORTech Events

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Frequently Asked Questions