Four Countries Came Together Online for the 1st GAR Invention Contest

Contest Overview

The 1st GAR Invention Contest (full name: GAR 2026 International Online Invention Challenge Contest) took place entirely online from April 9 to May 9, 2026, bringing together seven teams from four countries: Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It is a new addition to the International Robotics Competition track, one of GAR's three core programs alongside the Multinational Exchange Program​ and Global Study Tour. The following case study summarizes the contest value, structure, student projects, feedback from participants, and looks ahead to future editions.

Contest Value

Unlike traditional robotics competitions that focus on speed or task completion, the 1st GAR Invention Contest emphasized creativity, originality, and the ability to turn ideas into tangible inventions. It offered a global platform where young innovators could develop hands-on skills, express their creativity, and share their vision through robotics.

Beyond building and programming robots, the contest also cultivated a broad range of comprehensive abilities. Participants strengthened their skills in project report writing, video production, and live presentation, while also enhancing teamwork and cross-cultural communication. The online format removed financial and travel barriers, allowing students from different countries to participate and compete on an equal footing. These experiences helped prepare them for future academic and professional challenges, and more editions of the contest are already being planned, making this the first of several opportunities for young innovators to showcase their talents.

Contest Structure

The 1st GAR Invention Contest was built around the theme Building Block Humanoid Robot, inviting young innovators to design and build humanoid robots using the AISTEAM 101S kit. Each team was allowed to use up to two kits.

A pre-competition rules explanation and online Q&A session was held on March 13, 2026 to help teams prepare. The contest officially began with an online opening ceremony on April 9, 2026, followed by two main phases between April and May 2026.

Pre-competition Rules Explanation and Q&A

Opening Ceremony

Phase I: Off‑site Creation (April 2026)

During this phase, teams worked independently to build and program their robots. Each team was required to submit a project report documenting their design process and innovation highlights, along with a demonstration video uploaded to YouTube. The submission deadline for Phase I was April 27, 2026.

Based on the submitted reports and videos, judges awarded three scores in advance of the live event: the Creativity Score, the Technique Score, and the Teamwork Score.

Phase II: Online Demonstration & Q&A (May 2026)

In this phase, teams presented their projects live during the online competition. Each team had five minutes for their online demonstration, followed by a five-minute Q&A session with an international panel of judges. During this session, judges evaluated the live demonstration and the teams' responses to assign the Presentation Score.

In addition to the judges' scores, the Popularity Score was determined by the number of YouTube views each team's video received, counted until May 7, 2026.

Online Demonstration (Example 1)

Online Demonstration (Example 2)

Online Demonstration (Example 3)

Judge-Contestant Q&A Session (Example 1)

Judge-Contestant Q&A Session (Example 2)

Judge-Contestant Q&A Session (Example 3)

Judging and Scoring

The judging panel consisted of seven judges from six different countries. One served as the Chair Judge, who oversaw the process but did not participate in scoring. One judge was responsible for calculating the Popularity Score and Deductions. The remaining five judges scored the teams: four were from the participating countries, and one was an invited judge with no country restriction.

To ensure fairness, judges from participating countries did not score teams from their own nation. The final score for each dimension was calculated as the average of the judges' scores. The total score for each team was then determined as the sum of the average scores for Creativity, Technique, Teamwork, and Presentation, plus the Popularity Score.

International Judging Panel

Closing Ceremony and Awards

Following the online demonstration and Q&A sessions, a closing ceremony was held on the same day, May 9, 2026. During the ceremony, the final scores were announced and awards were presented. Three categories of awards were given: Overall Awards (including First, Second, Third Place; First, Second, Third Prize; and the Excellent Coach Award), Individual Awards (including Best Creativity, Best Technique, Best Team, Best Presentation, and Most Popular), and Special Awards (including Best Performance, Best Innovation, Best Organization, and Best Collaboration).

Overall Awards (Partial)

Individual Awards (Partial)

Special Awards (Partial)

The first-place team received a Nashenbot MPBOT S2 robot kit as a special prize. All participants received a medal, a Participation Certificate, a Competition Certificate, and a GAR Notebook Set.

In addition to the awards presentation, selected participants were invited to share their experiences and reflections on stage. The ceremony concluded with a group photo of all participating teams, coaches, and judges, capturing a memorable moment of the 1st GAR Invention Contest.

Participants Experience Sharing (Partial)

Closing Ceremony Group Photo (Partial)

Student Projects Showcase

All teams demonstrated creativity, technical skill, and a clear sense of purpose in their projects. Each robot reflected the team's unique approach to the Building Block Humanoid Robot theme. Below are three featured projects that highlight the range and quality of work from the 1st GAR Invention Contest.

Project Showcase 1: H.E.L.P.E.R. – Team An‑jel

H.E.L.P.E.R. (Humanoid Experimental Lifter, Practical and Eco‑friendly Robot) was designed to simulate plastic waste collection and assist with manual handling tasks. The robot features sensor‑equipped claws, a modular building‑block design, and dual‑mode intelligence (remote‑controlled and autonomous). A digital face display makes human‑robot interaction more natural.

Project Showcase 1

Project Showcase 2: GLORDON – Team GAR‑gantuan Crusaders

GLORDON is a farming robot built to simulate seed planting for small‑scale agriculture. With four wheels for stability on uneven terrain, two microcontrollers, and both autonomous and remote‑controlled modes, the robot uses an LED face to show clear status expressions, making it accessible for users with limited technical background.

Project Showcase 2

Project Showcase 3: Multipurpose Humanoid Robot – Team Notoriety Robots

This multipurpose humanoid helper is designed to simulate floor sweeping and provide companionship for elderly people. The robot includes an infrared obstacle detection system, an artificial alarm buzzer, a modular attachment system, and an energy‑efficient battery. The team also incorporated the Malaysian national flag to promote cultural pride.

Project Showcase 3

All participating teams showed outstanding effort and innovation. To explore more student projects, please visit the GAR Invention Contest video page. The full project reports for the three featured projects are also available in the attachment at the bottom of this page.

Feedback from Participants

We invited participants of the 1st GAR Invention Contest – including students, coaches, and judges – to share their thoughts on the competition. Here is what some of them shared with us.

Feedback from Participants

Coach Representative – Raymond

“The rules and guidelines were shared way before the competition started, which gave us enough time to prepare. Submitting reports and videos before the live demonstration allowed judges to review our work beforehand. The online format is one of the best features, as it opens doors for talented students who cannot travel. This has been a great, wonderful, and meaningful experience for us.”

Contestant Representative – Christian

“What I liked most was how unique and creative the competition was, especially the challenge of building a humanoid robot. It pushed us to think creatively, solve problems, and work as a team. It was a great learning experience that helped me improve my skills and made me even more interested in robotics. I hope there will be more competitions like this in the future.”

Judge Representative – Rana

“It was truly inspiring to evaluate projects from four different countries, all tackling the challenge of building a humanoid robot. Seeing the creativity and problem-solving skills these young minds brought to life was remarkable. This competition is not just about robotics; it's about empowering the next generation of innovators.”

We sincerely thank all participants for sharing their honest thoughts and experiences. Their insights are truly valuable to us. Feedback videos are also available for viewing on GAR's official YouTube channel.

Looking Ahead

The 1st GAR Invention Contest (April–May 2026) has successfully concluded, and we sincerely thank all participating teams, coaches, and judges for making the first edition a meaningful event. Looking ahead, the 2nd GAR Invention Contest is scheduled for September–October 2026 and will also be held online.

In addition to the standalone online contests, the Invention Contest is also offered as a contest item within GAR's major offline events. Participants can join at the GAR 2026 Asian Open Contest in July 2026, as well as the GAR 2026 World Championship Contest in December 2026.

GAR Invention Online and Onsite

Based on feedback from the first edition, several improvements are being considered for future contests: standard outlines for reports and videos, age‑based grouping, extended preparation time, and more engaging activities during waiting periods.

Stay tuned for updates on the official GAR website and our social media channels. More details about the 2nd GAR Invention Contest and other upcoming events will be announced soon.

Attachments

1. Project Report for Team An‑jel;

2. Project Report for Team GAR‑gantuan Crusaders;

3. Project Report for Team Notoriety Robots;

4. Award Announcement for the 1st GAR Invention Contest;

5. Official Rules for the 1st GAR Invention Contest.