RoboBoat
An international student competition in Florida. Teams build small autonomous boats and let them solve a course on the water, with no one steering.
Small boats, real problems.
RoboBoat is run by RoboNation in the USA. Student teams from all over the world design, build and test their own autonomous surface vessel, and then bring it to Florida.
The tasks copy real problems from the maritime industry, like watching the coast, keeping a port safe and other work at sea. The boats are judged on how they move, how they are built and what they carry on board.
RoboBoat 2026 was the 19th competition. It was held from 19 to 24 February at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida.
From workshop to water.
The competition is a whole year of work, not only the week in Florida.
- Task 01
Build a boat
Teams read the rules and then design, build and test their own small autonomous boat during the year.
- Task 02
Sail the course
In Florida the boat has to run a set course on its own. The team is not allowed to steer it.
- Task 03
Show the work
Every team hands in a technical report and a video, and presents the boat to the judges.
- Task 04
Collect points
Points come from the course, the design and the documents. The team with the most points wins.
Good to know.
The short version of where, when and who can take part.
Where
Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Florida.
When
Every February. In 2026 it ran from the 19th to the 24th.
Who can join
High school and college teams, with at least three members.
Who runs it
RoboNation, who also run RoboSub and RobotX.
What the judges look at.
Points come from more than the sailing. The judges look at the whole project.
Course runs
How well the boat solves the tasks on the water, all on its own.
Technical design report
A written report about the boat and the choices behind it.
Team video
A short film where the team introduces itself and the boat.
Presentation
The team presents the design to a panel of judges.
Systems assessment
The boat is checked against the rules before it may sail.
Community work
Teams can also hand in what they do for their local community.
Why we follow this one.
RoboBoat is one of the biggest competitions for autonomous boats in the world. Teams we meet at Njord sail here too, for example Navier USN from Norway and AGH Solar Boat from Poland. The skills are the same ones we build with Argus: find the way, see what is around the boat, and dock on your own.
Follow RoboBoat online.
Dates, rules, teams and results – everything is on RoboBoat's own website.
The official program page for this year's competition – dates, rules, resources and all the teams.
The final standings and awards from RoboBoat 2026.
The rules and guides every team works from during the year.
RoboBoat's main website, run by RoboNation.
Want to know more about RoboBoat?
All the rules, dates and team lists live on RoboBoat's own website. You can also read about the competition we take part in ourselves.