For fans.
How long does a tournament day last?+
On both competition days the arena floor opens in the morning for teams to arrive and prepare, while spectator gates open at 14:00. The opening show and the first heats follow right away, and live competition runs until 19:00 — you can arrive any time between 14:00 and 19:00 and still catch the action. Each day closes with finals ceremonies and the podium in the evening. May 18 hosts the semi-finals; May 19 hosts the Grand Finals.
Is the arena safe for front-row spectators?+
Each arena runs inside a sealed competition cell, and the arena is designed with protective barriers between robots and the crowd. Final safety procedures follow the Autonomy Safety Charter and venue requirements, and will be shared before the event.
How loud is it? Do children need hearing protection?+
Precision arenas such as The Porcelain Protocol and The Platinum Putt are quiet. Faster arenas such as The Kinetic Overdrive, The Pinbreaker Strike and The Burst Circuit will be loud, similar to an indoor sports arena. We plan to offer earplugs at entry; families with young children may want to bring ear defenders.
What language is the commentary in?+
The arena show is planned in English and Hebrew at launch. Additional languages may follow and will be announced.
Can I take photos and videos?+
Personal, non-commercial photos and short videos on phones and handheld cameras are welcome. Professional equipment such as long lenses, tripods and lighting rigs is reserved for accredited media.
What food will be available?+
The venue plan includes food stations with vegetarian and kosher options. Full vendor details will be published closer to the event.
Can kids try robotics hands-on?+
Yes, a family zone is planned where children and students can see robots up close and meet the engineers behind them. School groups are welcome.
What does the early-bird ticket include?+
US$89 covers standard admission for both days — 55% off the US$199 standard price. These are standard seats, not VIP. Joining the early-bird list requires no payment now.
Are group or school discounts available?+
School and university groups can contact us through the early-bird list. Any group pricing will be confirmed directly with the organiser.
Is the venue accessible?+
Expo Tel Aviv, Pavilion 2, has step-free access. The venue plan includes an accessible arrival gate, accessible drop-off, wheelchair seating and accessible restrooms. See the Venue page for details.
What if a session runs behind schedule?+
Timings are managed by the race clock, and the running order may be adjusted on the day. Live updates will be announced in the arena.
For teams.
Do we need a humanoid?+
No. Any platform is welcome, including wheeled mobile manipulators, arm plus AMR set-ups, and third-party robots you made smarter. Research teams do not need to be the robot's manufacturer.
How many teams can apply?+
There is no overall limit on applications. Each arena takes up to 12 teams into its semi-final.
Is there an entry fee?+
No. Entry is free for competing teams.
Are there weight, size or actuator limits?+
Platform limits, including mass, footprint and energy storage, are defined per arena in the Official Rulebook and CAD blueprint briefs. Every robot must pass scrutineering on May 17.
Can we compete if we don't build our own robot hardware?+
Yes. Physical intelligence is won in the models and control loops, not only in the machine shop. Software, AI and control teams can bring an accredited third-party platform — a standard industrial arm, a commercial mobile base or another OEM robot — running their own intelligence stack. Teams can also ask for an introduction to hardware builders when they apply; the organizers plan to connect vetted software teams with robot makers looking for software partners.
Do we have to enter all 10 arenas, or can we focus on one?+
You choose your battles. Enter as few as one arena or as many as all ten. Medals and prize money are awarded for every arena, so a specialist team can become world champion in its discipline. Grand Laureate ranking is open to teams entering three or more arenas.
How many crew can be on the arena floor during our heat?+
Five, strictly. Your wider team can work from your 40 m² paddock bay, but only five credentialed crew — for example a crew chief, hardware tech, safety and E-stop lead, and two deployment engineers — may enter the live arena perimeter during staging and runs. A sixth person inside the perimeter adds a +10-second penalty to that run.
Is teleoperation allowed?+
Yes, when declared in advance. Declared teleoperation adds a +60-second time penalty. Undisclosed human input is a rules violation.
Can our robot use off-board compute?+
Connectivity and off-board compute rules are set out in the Rulebook. Final network arrangements will be confirmed with selected teams.
Can we adjust software between heats?+
Yes. Teams can review logs and update their software in the paddock between heats, within the Rulebook's timing rules.
Who owns our technology and data?+
Your team keeps ownership of its robot technology and intellectual property. Public results and broadcast footage are handled under the event terms.
How do we ship robots and batteries?+
Tell us your freight needs when you apply. Shipping arrangements and any support will be confirmed with selected teams. Lithium batteries must follow dangerous-goods shipping rules; don't book freight assuming it is covered.
Can rules change?+
Yes. The committee may update the rules, and teams will be informed by official bulletins before any change takes effect.
For partners.
Who will we reach?+
Up to 10,000 people at the venue — robotics engineers and researchers, founders and investors, enterprise buyers, and families and students — plus the planned global broadcast. We don't publish audience projections we can't back up.
Where does our brand appear?+
Branding zones include the arena floor, timing graphics, arena cells, the podium and the skybox. The exact package depends on the partnership tier.
Can we sponsor a single arena?+
Yes. A Competition Presenting Partner names one arena, for example “The Porcelain Protocol presented by [YOU]”.
Is category exclusivity available?+
Yes. There is one Title Partner and one Official Category Partner per category.
Can we bring our own robots or demos?+
Partners can plan demos, meetings and hospitality in the sponsor pavilion, without interrupting the competition floor.
Can our executives join the podium?+
Podium participation can be part of a partnership package, agreed as part of the partnership.
How much does it cost, and how fast do you respond?+
Pricing is discussed on a call. Download the partner prospectus with no form required, or send a short inquiry — we respond within 3 business days.