From AI to Marine Robots... Over 500 Gather for Busan Robot Competition, the 'Future' in One Place

To Be Held August 8-9 at BEXCO and Tongmyong University in Busan


Featuring Busan Port Logistics and Eco Delta City Missions

A platform where young people can build and operate artificial intelligence (AI) and robots while learning about future technologies will be held in Busan. For the first time, missions that reflect local industries, such as Busan Port logistics and smart city initiatives, will also be introduced, allowing participating students to experience real industrial environments through robots.

The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Jeon Jae-su) announced on August 7 that it will host the "2026 16th Busan Robot Competition" for two days from August 8 to 9 at BEXCO and Tongmyong University.

This year marks the 16th edition of the competition since it began in 2010. It is hosted by the Busan Metropolitan Government and organized by the Korea Institute of Robot Convergence Research, with support from the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education. Regional universities and specialized organizations, including the Intelligent Robot Innovation Convergence University Project Group of Pukyong National University, the R-WeSET Project Group, and the Marine Robotics Education and Technology Research Institute of Tongmyong University, are also participating.

This year's competition will feature 503 participants across 260 teams made up of elementary, middle, high school, and university students, competing in a total of 10 categories. The elementary division will cover five events: robot curling, robot siege warfare, robot escape room, elementary hackathon, and the Busan Eco Delta City Smart Living Robot Challenge. The middle and high school divisions will race in four events: AIoT Industrial Site Robot Makerthon, Busan Port Smart Logistics Robot Challenge, AI Robot Creation, and AI Autonomous Driving Car. The university division will participate in the Marine Robot Challenge.

A notable addition this year is the inclusion of new events that reflect Busan’s industrial and urban characteristics. The "Busan Eco Delta City Smart Living Robot Challenge" will focus on solving everyday problems using sensors and robots set against the background of a smart city. The "Busan Port Smart Logistics Robot Challenge" will task participants with completing port logistics missions using autonomous robots and AI vision technology.

In both events, students will be able to experience and learn the principles of "physical AI," where AI is applied to robots that recognize and judge their surroundings.

During the competition, additional activities for the public will also take place. Professor Lee Seungjoon’s research team from Busan National University will exhibit "Anubis II," the robot that won last year’s RoboCup, and deliver a lecture on the "RoboCup Winning Story." Various programs will also be available, such as experiences with AI photo robots, logistics robots, marine robots, AI companion robots, a Busan marine quiz, and hands-on activities at the AI Busan Climate Information Center.

The opening ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on August 8 at Hall 2 of BEXCO. Outstanding participants in each category will receive the Mayor of Busan Award and the Superintendent of Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education Award, among others.

Park Dongseok, Director of the Advanced Industry Bureau of Busan, commented, "This event will serve as a field experience platform to foster scientific literacy and creative thinking among youth," adding, "The experiential events involving parents offer the entire family a natural opportunity to engage with and understand robots."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.