Robotix started in 2001 as an in-house event for the students of IIT Kharagpur. Kunal Sinha, Saurabh Prasad and Varun Rai created the event for IDEON, the school's techno-management festival. The inaugural event hosted eight teams. In 2003, the IDEON festival was reorganized and renamed to Kshitij. Robotix is now organized under Kshitij.
Event participation has increased over the years: Robotix 2006 had 220 teams, Robotix 2007 had 546 teams, and Robotix 2008 had over 1000 teams.
Robotix celebrated its tenth edition in 2010 with an array of challenging problem statements. Robotix 2011 conducted a water surface event, R.A.F.T., in which over 250 teams participated.
Events during Robotix are conducted under three categories: manual, autonomous and programming/online. In the manual events, the participant handles the robot by using a remote control. The remote system may be wired or unwired. The robot then has to perform the specified task, which is usually something mechanical. In the autonomous events, the robots act independently; participants are not allowed to control them during their run. These robots typically use programmed micro-controllers to make decisions. Some events involve more than one robot, and can be a mix of autonomous and manually controlled robots. In the programming events, the participants are given a problem statement and submit code to solve the problem; the competitors are also allowed to submit their solutions online.
The manual and autonomous events are further classified by competition type. In the solo runs, the robot team performs the tasks without other competitors in the field; they are evaluated on marking criteria such as time elapsed, goal completion, and efficiency. In the tournaments, two or more teams participate at a time, and only one team advances to the next round.
Robotix 2016 was held from 21 - 24 January, 2016. The events of 2016 edition are:
Summit: Build a manually controlled robot capable of climbing staircases, whilst picking storing and placing objects on its way.
Sherlock: Build an autonomous robot that can decode encoded wireless signals to navigate in a featureless arena using only a digital compass.
Warehouse: Build a gesture controlled semi-autonomous robot that is capable of sorting blocks on multi-layered platforms according to their RFID tags.
S.H.E.L.D.O.N.: Build an image processing robot capable of detecting characters, using an overhead camera and traversing them such that the equation generated by the traversal fulfills a certain condition.
The events of 2015 edition are:
AugHit:Build an Image Processing robot which can play the Brick Break game.
Minefield:Build a semi-autonomous robot which is capable of moving around and clasping objects using gesture recognition and implement metal-detection autonomously.
Cascade:Build a manually controlled robot capable of traversing vertical rods while shooting terrorists and extinguishing fire.
Shipment:Build a manually controlled robot that carries out shipment of parcels from dock to vessel.
Step Up:Build an autonomous robot that is capable of traversing a grid and arranging the blocks placed on nodes in the increasing order of height.
Sudocode:Write a code to optimise your strategy to find and destroy enemy bunkers in a jungle. Write a code to find and attack enemy troops in the jungle.
Robotix 2014 was held from 31 Jan - 3 Feb 2014. The events of 2014 edition were:
Geo-Aware: Create a vision-guided robot which can use onboard video feed to navigate an environment based on an overhead image as a map.
Tremors: Build an Autonomous robot that can seek out victims present in the arena while detecting and avoiding earthquake affected vibration zones present in the arena.
Canyon Rush: Build a manually controlled robot capable of traversing an arena similar to a canyon and saving victims stranded at certain depths.
Inspiralon:Build a manually controlled robot capable of traversing a broken pipe and repairing it on the way, in this case, popping corks plugged in the pipe.
Transporter:Build an autonomous robot which can traverse a grid and place blocks in voids on the grid such that it optimises its path while completing this task.
Sudocode:SudoCode was an online coding event including different Problem Statements to be judged by an online evaluator.
Robotix 2013 was held from 1–4 February 2013. It features the following events:
Abyss: The manually controlled robot uses ropes to descend a rocky surface. The goal is to retrieve people, represented by rings, and bring them to a station, represented by a pole.
Overhaul: The manually controlled robot traverses various terrains and crevasses in a broken landscape by constructing a path. The goal is to reach victims trapped at an accident site.
A.C.R.O.S.S. (Automated Constructions Robot Operations Systems): The event involves a pair of autonomous robots which must work together to navigate a series of chasms and buildings. One robot is placed on top and the other below.
Lumos: The autonomous robot navigates a dark arena that has light sources of varying lumniosities. The goal is to turn off the sources by bumping into them, but not hit the unlit sources.
Seeker: The autonomous robot navigates an indoor environment. It must recognize signs and directions so as to reach the targets and to eventually find its way out.
Marauder's Map: Design an algorithm that will plan an itinerary for a Marauder to loot various cities around the world. It considers factors such as account terrain, travel time, and cost of transportation (e.g. hiring vehicles, purchasing fuel).
Robotix 2012 was held from 27–30 January 2012. It consisted of the following events:
Inferno: The manual robots play the role of firemen by dousing fires and saving people (cylinders) from a burning building.
Vertigo: The robot rides a zip-line and shoots at targets below it.
Stasis: The autonomous robot must balance a water reservoir compartment, and guide it through a variety of terrains.
Stalker: A pair of autonomous robots that communicate so that one guides the other. The first robot follows a line, and communicates with the second robot so that the latter can trace a similar path on another arena that does not have any markings.
Nuke Clear: The autonomous robot uses image processing to navigate an arena to detect and to defuse bombs.
Echelon: In the online event, the idea is to make a machine capable of ‘understanding’ our world, and the following problem statement aims at putting together basic NLP (natural language programming) tasks towards a useful end.
Robotix 2011 was held from 28–31 January 2011. It featured the following events:
R.A.F.T.: The manually controlled robot or group of robots use a water raft to retrieve people (balls) from flood affected areas (platforms), and bring them to safety (designated zone).
Pirate Bay: The manually controlled robot searches and digs for buried treasure, and then rescues fellow pirates.
The Fugitives: An team of up to four autonomous robots communicate and collaborate to detect and corner fugitive robots.
Ballista: The autonomous robot shoots ping-pong balls into a basket from different locations. Judging is based on accuracy and range.
Robocop: The autonomous robot uses on-board image processing to identify and knock out statuettes of a certain color.
The Negotiators: In the online event, the participants submit a computer program that can negotiate with other opponents in order to complete a configuration of blocks on a virtual arena.
The tenth edition of Robotix was held from 28–31 January 2010. All events had an X in their name to indicate ten years. The competition featured the following events:
Xplode: The theme of the event was inspired by the land mine problem in some of the African countries. Each team presents a pair of autonomous robots. The first mine-detecting robot maps the arena, and transmits its information regarding the location of the mines to the second robot. The mine-avoiding robot attempts to reach the goal in the shortest time while it avoids the mines.
Xtension: The robots coordinate amongst themselves to traverse a series of chasms. There was no restriction on the number of robots one could build, but at least one robot must be autonomous.
8MileX: The autonomous robots travel outdoors on an actual road and follow traffic rules. It is similar to the Robotix 2009 8 Mile event, and is a scaled down version of the DARPA Grand Challenge.
TribotX Championship: A three-tier tournament that required participants to use their manually-controlled robots to perform three tasks over three days of the festival. The teams with the highest cumulative scores after the first two tasks advanced to final knockout stage. The tasks were selected from a pool of modules. Contestants were then informed of the day's task 12 hours before the start.
eXplore: In the underwater event, the manually-controlled robots dive and release several light weight balls held at different coordinates in a large water tank. The robots then collect the balls that are floating on the surface and bring them to the designed area of the arena called the victory zone.
Xants: The programming/online event that is inspired by ant colonies and the principles of swarm intelligence and collective intelligence. In a simulation of an ant colony and several energy packets distributed across the arena, where individual ants cannot sense beyond a certain range, and can only leave a scent trail for other ants to follow, participants had to design an algorithm to optimize this coordination and to procure the energy packets efficiently.
Robotix 2009 was held from 29 January – 1 February 2009. It featured the following events:
8 Mile: The autonomous battery-powered vehicles traverse the road, and must follow traffic rules from traffic lights to zebra crossings.
12 Doors Down: The autonomous robot is placed in a labyrinth of cells. The participants use a manually controlled robot to guide it out of the grid by opening and closing doors.
Micro Mouse 4D: In the programming/online event, participants code a function in a pre-programmed template to run a simulation to address the micro-mouse robotics problem. It was simulated with Microsoft Robotics Studio.
FramED9211: In the programming/online event that involves image processing, participants submit a code in a language of their choice to recognize the number plates of fast moving cars among all cars in a real life video.
wEDGED: The event was inspired by Nintendo platform games. The manually controlled robots climb a wooden wedge while they avoid the swinging pendulums. They grab a plank by its handle and swing on to a lower platform. It was a one-on-one competition.
"#mEsh": The manually controlled robot climbs up and down an inclined metallic mesh. The size of a unit square of mesh is 7 cm x 7 cm.
Robo-Relay: ??
Robotix 2008 was held from 31 January – 3 February 2008. It featured the following events, two of which were not disclosed beforehand:
I.M.A.G.E.: A autonomous robot, with the help of maximum two cameras, navigates the arena while avoiding obstacles, in order to pass various checkpoints and reach the end point.
Robo-Relay: Two autonomous robots traverse an irregular track while carrying a baton. The robots are synchronized so that they pass the baton and run one after the other.
On Spot Robotics (Autonomous): This was an undisclosed event where the participants build an autonomous robot that only uses logic gate circuits (i.e. no microcontrollers).
Stackistics: The manually controlled robot assembles blocks of various pre-specified shapes and sizes to form a given spatial structure.
Terra Ranger: The manually controlled robot travels on varied land terrains and also water surfaces.
On Spot robotics (Manual): This was an undisclosed event where the task was to build a manually controlled robot and controller to fulfill the requirement of the problem statement.
Mission Mars: In the programming event, the participants code robot ants which coordinate among themselves during their mission to explore an area.
Robotix 2007 was held from 1–4 February 2007. It featured the following events:
Rail Track Inspector: The automated robot follows two parallel white lines, 5 cm apart, on a black blackground, and reports any errors it encounters. The errors were of two types. First, it reports when the distance between the lines is different from their specified gap. Second, it reports if either of the white lines are discontinuous. The errors must be classified separately.
Grid Navigator: The autonomous robots move in an 8-foot square maze and detect the positions of obstacles placed in the maze without dislocating them. The maze is in the form of a two dimensional numbered grid. Squares are marked with white lines on a black background. The robot starts in one corner of the maze and exits on the diagonally-opposite corner after identifying all the obstacles. The robot is free to roam in the grid in any given way.
Mission Mars: A repeat of the previous year's event. In this programming/online event, the participants write code to control robot ants on a simulated Martian surface, so that it can cover the maximum area in a given time. Multiple instances of the same program were run at the same time, with each instance able to communicate with the others to prevent collisions which would render both robots extinct. The participants were allowed to code in C, C++ or Java.
Jigsaw: In this programming/online event, the participants write code to solve a jumbled up picture. The picture is broken into fragments and is scrambled by using a program. Only the top left corner of the jumbled picture is the same as the original picture. The participants code in either C or C++.
Load runner: The manually controlled robot uses a hooking mechanism to attach freights and link them together to form a train. It then has to act as the engine of the same train and pull it to its destination. Use of magnetic material to attach to the freights is prohibited.
Step climber: The manually controlled robot climbs up and down a flight of stairs. The height of the steps varies.
Robotix 2006 was held from 2–5 February 2006. It featured the following events:
Distance Tracker: The autonomous robot travels a certain path and reports the distance traversed in a digital format. The paths varied from a simple circle to an arbitrary route.
Match Maker: The autonomous robot moves white blocks placed in the arena to regions of their corresponding shape.
Mission Mars: In the programming/online event, participants code robot ants to cover as much area of the Martian surface within a given time.
Top-sy Turvy: The manually controlled robot takes balls at different heights and surfaces, and throw thems in a goal post within a limited time.
Water Polo: The manually controlled robot races on a water surface to place five balls inside a certain goal post in the fastest time.
