Section 1: Competition Overview
1.1 Dates & Venue
The 2026 RoboSub Competition (RoboSub 2026) will be held 11-16 July 2026 at the Woollett Aquatics Center in Irvine, California, USA.
1.2 Competition Structure
RoboSub includes (1) the Design Documentation that presents each team's work and system design; and (2) Autonomy Challenge that demonstrates an AUV's autonomous performance and safety.
1.3 Competition Theme: Storm Response
Technology in Action for Recovery and Relief. Storm Response explores the power uncrewed systems play in recovery, resilience, and discovery in disaster relief efforts. Framed as an opportunity, not just to restore what was lost, but to rebuild smarter and reimagine the future; this season’s challenges reflect the real-world role of robotics in helping communities respond to and recover from storms and other natural events. Through hands-on missions grounded in post-disaster scenarios, teams will apply technology with purpose – restoring harbor operations, assessing underwater infrastructure, supporting exploration, and unlocking new possibilities.
Find out more in Section 3: Autonomy Challenge for the tasks.
1.4 Eligibility
Student teams from anywhere in the world are eligible to participate. All teams must build an AUV to compete and may enter one or two vehicles in the competition. *
*First-year teams are eligible to participate in RoboSub without an AUV. These teams are expected to participate in Design Documentation and send representatives on-site at the event as a learning experience. First-year teams are expected to indicate this option in their registration form.
1.4.1 Eligibility Details & Team Composition
Teams must be comprised of 75% or more full-time students. Student members are expected to make significant contributions to the engineering development cycle of their AUV.
The majority of team members must be college or high school students. Teams may also include middle school students. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.
Teams may be comprised of 25% or less, mentors or advisors, alumni, industry, academic or government partners.
1.5 Competition Schedule and Timeline
The event schedule is also available on the RoboSub website.
Online Registration & Submissions
27 May 2026
Event Submission Deadline:
Team Member Registration
Team Demographics
Merchandise Order
Vehicle Information
On-Site Requirements
Design Documentation Deadline:
Technical Design Report
Website
Team Introduction Video
Communicaty & Outreach (optional)
(Online)
In-Person Event
11 July (early afternoon)
Team Check-in / Orientation
Woollett Aquatics Center
12-13 July
Practice Course Open
Qualifying Round
Design Presentations
System Assessments
Woollett Aquatics Center
14-15 July
Semi-Finals Round
Woollett Aquatics Center
16 July
Finals Round
Awards
Woollett Aquatics Center
1.6 Points of Contact
RoboSub Questions:
Registration Questions:
On-Site Logistics/Safety:
1.7 RoboNation Code of Conduct
All team members must abide by the RoboNation Code of Conduct while participating in the Competition. Failure to abide by this Code of Conduct at any point during the competition season may result in the disqualification of the team and/or participants from the Competition, and/or disqualification from components of the competition, the full competition, and/or future competitions.
Give your best effort. Display honesty, integrity, and sportsmanship while engaging in friendly competition. Compete fairly. Team products are solely the creation of student participants’ own efforts, ideas, and designs with supporting mentors providing only verbal advice.
Respect others. All participants and guests will display courtesy and respect toward officials, volunteers, other teams, and guests of the Competition.
Act with integrity. All participants and guests will behave in a responsible manner and follow the rules of the competition and host organization.
Support each other. All participants will embody the spirit of RoboNation and endeavor to engage with, learn from, and support one another.
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