ABU Robocon 2026 Rulebook – Kung Fu Quest
Ultimate Guide to ABU Robocon 2026 Rulebook – Kung Fu Quest
Introduction & Background
The Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (ABU Robocon) is one of the most prestigious robotics competitions in the world. Since its inception in 2002, it has brought together engineering students from across Asia and the Pacific to showcase innovation, teamwork, and cutting-edge robotics technology.
In 2026, the contest will be hosted by Hong Kong, China, at the iconic Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Wan Chai.
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Theme: Kung Fu Quest – blending Chinese martial arts philosophy with robotics.
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Contest Dates:
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21 Aug 2026: Arrival
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22 Aug 2026: Test Run, Rehearsal
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23 Aug 2026: Contest Day
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24 Aug 2026: ABU General Meeting
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25 Aug 2026: Departure
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ABU Robocon 2026 Hong Kong, Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, Robotics Competition Rules
Theme – Kung Fu Quest
The Kung Fu Quest theme symbolizes the journey of a Kung Fu disciple through discipline, balance, and strategy. Teams must control two robots:
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Robot 1 (R1): Manual or automatic.
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Robot 2 (R2): Fully autonomous.
Together, the robots:
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Assemble weapons in the Martial Club (MC).
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Retrieve Kung Fu Scrolls (KFS) in the Meihua Forest (MF).
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Compete in a Tic-Tac-Toe battle in the Arena.
The contest mirrors martial arts training: harmony in the MC, balance in the Forest, and strategic mastery in the Arena.
Robocon Kung Fu Quest, ABU Robocon theme 2026, Meihua Forest challenge
Game Field & Zones
The game field is divided into three main zones:
1. Martial Club (MC)
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Start zone for robots.
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Staff Rack (4 staffs).
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Spearhead Rack (shared, 6 spearheads).
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Weapon assembly area.
2. Meihua Forest (MF)
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Inspired by Meihua Blossom Poles.
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Scroll retrieval area.
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12 blocks with heights of 200mm, 400mm, 600mm.
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Contains True Scrolls, Fake Scrolls, and opponent placements.
3. Arena
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Final battle area.
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Contains:
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Ramp entry.
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Tic-Tac-Toe rack (3×3).
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Retry zones.
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Used Weapon Area.
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Robocon arena design, Martial Club robotics, Meihua Forest blocks
Robots – R1 & R2
Robot 1 (R1)
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Manual or automatic.
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Allowed in MC, MF Pathway, and Arena.
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Duties: Assemble weapons, collect R1 scrolls, attack with weapons, place scrolls on bottom row.
Robot 2 (R2)
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Fully autonomous (no remote control).
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Allowed in MC, MF Forest, and Arena.
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Duties: Collect R2 scrolls, place them on middle row, get carried by R1 for top-row placement.
Robot Specs
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R1 size: ≤1000×1000×1000 mm (extended: 1000×1800×1300 mm).
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R2 size: ≤800×800×800 mm (extended: 800×1300×1300 mm).
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Total weight: ≤50 kg.
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Power: Batteries ≤24V, compressed air ≤600 kPa.
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No drones, projectiles, or dangerous energy sources.
Robocon R1 specs, Robocon R2 autonomous robot, ABU Robocon robot rules
Game Procedure
Step 1 – Setup (1 min)
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Teams place robots in Start Zone.
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Opponents place 8 scrolls (R1 KFS, R2 KFS, Fake KFS).
Step 2 – Martial Club
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R1 collects staffs.
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R2 collects spearheads.
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Robots assemble weapons together.
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R1 must exit with a weapon before R2 follows.
Step 3 – Meihua Forest
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R1 collects its scrolls from pathway.
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R2 collects adjacent scrolls from forest blocks.
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Robots must avoid Fake Scrolls.
Step 4 – Arena
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R1 places scrolls in bottom row.
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R2 places scrolls in middle row, and top row when carried.
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R1 uses weapons to displace opponent scrolls.
Step 5 – Endgame
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Win condition: Kung Fu Master (3 scrolls vertically or diagonally).
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Otherwise, team with highest score after 3 minutes wins.
Robocon game steps, Robocon arena battle, ABU Robocon 2026 rules
Scoring System
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Weapon Assembly: 10 pts each.
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Scroll Delivery: 10 pts each.
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Tic-Tac-Toe Rack:
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Bottom row (R1) = 30 pts.
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Middle row (R2) = 40 pts.
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Top row (R2 carried by R1) = 80 pts.
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Example:
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2 weapons + 3 scrolls delivered + 1 top-row placement = 10+10+10+80 = 110 pts.
Violations, Retries & Disqualifications
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Violations:
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R1 or R2 enters opponent’s area.
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Touching Fake Scrolls.
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R2 remote-controlled after game start.
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Retries:
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Unlimited.
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Can be team-requested or referee-imposed.
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Game clock continues.
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Disqualification:
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Unsafe robots.
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Acts against fair play.
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Damage to opponent robots or field.
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Using drones/projectiles.
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Robocon penalties, retry rules, Robocon disqualification
Team Rules & Participation
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1 team per country (host Hong Kong = 2 teams).
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Each team: 3 student members + 1 instructor.
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Max 3 pit crew.
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No postgraduate students allowed.
Robocon team eligibility, Robocon participation rules
Robot Technical Guidelines
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Allowed communication: Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth.
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No direct wireless link between R1 & R2.
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Battery limit: 24V nominal.
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Power circuits: ≤42V.
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Emergency stop button required.
Safety & Fair Play
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Safety gear mandatory for all team members.
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Robots must not endanger players, referees, or spectators.
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Fair play spirit enforced by referees.
Materials & Game Elements
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Staffs: PVC pipe + coupler (length ~1027mm).
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Spearheads: PLA 3D printed – Fist, Palm, Spear.
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Scrolls (KFS):
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R1 KFS: Robocon logo.
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R2 KFS: Oracle Bone Characters.
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Fake KFS: Random pattern with ribbon.
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Cultural & Educational Impact
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Combines Chinese heritage (Kung Fu) with robotics.
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Teaches teamwork, creativity, and innovation.
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Strengthens cross-border collaboration among Asia-Pacific students.
FAQ – ABU Robocon 2026
Q1. What is ABU Robocon 2026?
It’s the 2026 edition of the Asia-Pacific Robot Contest, hosted in Hong Kong, themed Kung Fu Quest.
Q2. How many robots are in each team?
Two: R1 (manual/automatic) and R2 (autonomous).
Q3. How do you win instantly?
By placing 3 scrolls in a vertical or diagonal line in the Tic-Tac-Toe rack.
Q4. How is scoring done?
Weapons = 10 pts each, scroll delivery = 10 pts each, Tic-Tac-Toe slots = 30/40/80 pts.
Q5. Can R2 be remote-controlled?
No. R2 must function autonomously once the game starts.
Q6. What gets a team disqualified?
Unsafe robots, unfair play, ignoring referees, using drones/projectiles.
Q7. Who can join?
University/polytechnic students (no postgraduates).
Q8. What power sources are allowed?
Batteries ≤24V, compressed air, elastic force.
Q9. Where are official updates posted?
At https://www.rthk.hk/aburobocon2026.
Conclusion
The ABU Robocon 2026 Rulebook blends ancient martial arts philosophy with modern robotics innovation. With two robots working in harmony, teams must master weapon assembly, scroll collection, and strategic Tic-Tac-Toe battles.
This year’s Kung Fu Quest promises to be one of the most thrilling and culturally rich Robocon competitions ever held.
