Frequently Asked Questions

General

Q: Who can join the IROS 2026 Roboracer competition?

A: Anyone can join the Roboracer competition. For the in-person competition you will have to build and bring your own racecar to Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Q: Are there any prerequisites, restrictions or formal requirements to participate in the competition?

A: No, there are no general restrictions, prerequisites or formal requirements for joining the competition. For the in-person event every team has to build and bring their own racecar (which has to adhere to the General Rules and the Competition Rules) with them when they travel to Pittsburgh. Everyone attending the competition on-site also has to register with IROS (see questions below). Please check with airline regulations for how to safely travel with LiPo (or NiMH, or whichever technology you use) batteries.

Q: How much is the fee to participate in the Roboracer competition?

A: There is no fee to participate in the Roboracer competition itself. However, since the in-person Roboracer competition is held at IROS, every in-person participant has to be registered with IROS to be able to access the competition area (see questions below). The Roboracer discount is currently $300 - we are actively talking to organizers to try and make it more affordable.

Q: Where can I get more information/ask questions about the event?

A: Please join the Slack channel and ask any questions there. This way, you will also receive relevant updates from our side. You can also e-mail your questions to: contact@roboracer.ai

Q: I am new to Roboracer, where can I find resources to get started?

A: Information about building a car, research, as well as learning/teaching materials can be found here: https://roboracer.ai/. See also our Getting Started page and the guide on setting up f1tenth_gym_ros with 4 cars.

In-Person competition

Q: Who has to register with the IROS conference in order to access the competition area?

A: Everyone (be it team member, student, teacher, supervisor, etc.) who will be present at the competition (no matter if they themselves participate in the race or not) has to be registered for IROS. This can either be a full conference registration or the discounted competitions-only registration (currently $300). Other types of registration (e.g., paper author) usually already include access to the competition area, so no additional registration is necessary in that case. See the Competition Rules.

Q: How much will IROS’s discounted registration for competitors cost?

A: The competitions-only registration rate is currently $300 per person, but we are actively working to improve this discount, please fill out this form to help us do so. This rate is available only with a discount code, which is given to all teams during the competition registration. Regular IROS registration options and fees are listed on the IROS registration page. Any questions regarding registration can be addressed to contact@roboracer.ai.

Q: What is included in the discounted registration for competitors at IROS?

A: More details to come. We will update this answer as soon as IROS confirms what the competitor registration includes.

Q: How can we get a visa for the United States?

A: Visa support is provided by IROS, see https://2026.ieee-iros.org/attend/visa-information/ for the official information. In short:

  • Check whether you need a visa. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries can usually travel with an approved ESTA instead of a visa. Everyone else needs to apply for a visitor (B-1/B-2) visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. The only authoritative source is https://travel.state.gov/.
  • Apply as early as possible. Most applicants need an in-person interview and biometrics (fingerprint scans); IROS warns that applications are subject to increased scrutiny and that you should expect delays. Check the website of your embassy/consulate for current appointment wait times.
  • Invitation letters are issued by IROS only to registered and fully paid participants. After completing your IROS registration and payment, log in to the Registration Resource Center to download your letter, or contact iros@maritz.com (“Request Invitation Letter”). These letters do not commit the organizers to any financial obligation.
  • If a visa is denied, IROS reviews refund requests on a case-by-case basis (see the IROS registration page).
  • Any questions regarding the visa letter can also be addressed to contact@roboracer.ai.

Q: How many people are needed/allowed for each team?

A: There is no limit to the number of people in a team. A team consisting only of a single person is also fine. However, for the in-person competition in Pittsburgh, we provide up to 4 chairs, 1 table and 1 power socket for every team. Note that every team member who wants to access the competition in person at IROS has to be registered with IROS.

Q: Are there any pre-competition events or meetings?

A: Yes, there are two online orientation sessions before the competition: Orientation 1 (competition rules overview) and Orientation 2 (venue walkthrough, track and surface overview, run-of-show). Dates, times and links are on the Timeline. All other relevant details will be communicated via Slack.

Q: When does the registration for the competition start?

A: Registration opened on August 11, 2026, in accordance with the official timeline. Register here. Registration closes on September 9, 2026; the video demonstration (autonomous driving and obstacle avoidance, ~1 minute) and the hardware list are due on the same day. See the Competition Rules for what makes a registration final.

Q: What is the competition format?

A: The IROS 2026 competition is run as a multi-car (4-car) knockout competition. Teams first complete qualification time trials to determine seeding, and are then placed into a knockout bracket in which four cars race on the track at the same time. Head-to-head heats start from a staggered grid seeded by the Time Trial results, in a single-elimination bracket. See the Competition Rules.

Q: Is obstacle avoidance mandatory?

A: Yes. Every team must pass an obstacle avoidance check on site, immediately before the qualification time trials. A car that does not pass does not run the time trials and cannot compete. The check covers both static and dynamic obstacles, and your video demonstration must also show obstacle avoidance. See the Competition Rules for details, and the multi-car simulation guide to prepare.

Q: What is the track surface?

A: The racing surface is the bare exhibition hall floor (not carpeted). Tune and test your vehicle accordingly (tire choice, suspension setup, friction assumptions in your control stack). Further track details are listed in the Competition Rules as they become available.

Q: How long is the track?

A: The track layout is not finalized yet. It will be presented during Orientation 2. More details to come.

Q: How are you going to calculate the motor specifications according to the current rules?

A: We use this formula: https://things-in-motion.blogspot.com/2018/12/how-to-estimate-torque-of-bldc-pmsm.html. For this race, we aim to accept any motors that have previously been approved at past Roboracer competitions, as well as motors with similar specs. After examining the hardware lists supplied by the teams, there will either be a clarification of the rules or a list of approved motors. If you are unsure about your motor, ask us on Slack.