FIRA Open Competition Set to Ignite Innovation in Tehran!

Get ready for an exciting showcase of innovation and technology as the 12th edition of the Federation of International RoboSports Association (FIRA) Open Competition gears up to take place in Tehran from April 15 to 18. This prestigious event will welcome a remarkable 480 participants from around the globe, all eager to demonstrate their skills and creativity in robotics.

This year’s competition will feature three main categories: FIRA Air, FIRA Challenge, and FIRA Youth. Each category is tailored to different age groups and skill levels, ensuring a comprehensive experience for everyone involved. The categories include:

• FIRA Air: Participants will utilize autonomous flying vehicles in simulations of urban and disaster scenarios.
• FIRA Challenge: This segment focuses on tackling complex challenges in industrial, rescue, and service robot environments.
• FIRA Youth: Designed for younger participants, this includes engaging activities like mission impossible events.

The winners of this competition will earn an opportunity to participate in the 30th FIRA RoboWorld Cup Open, which is set to take place from August 11 to 15 in Daegu, South Korea. This event serves as a gateway for young talents to showcase their capabilities on an international platform.

The Federation of International Robot Sports Association, established in 1996 by Jong-Hwan Kim from KAIST in Korea, is recognized as the oldest robot soccer competition in the world. FIRA’s mission is to create a challenging environment for the younger generation and researchers working with autonomous mobile robotic systems, ultimately paving the way for a more industrial and intelligent society.

FIRA’s RoboWorld Cup Open and related summits take place in member countries to inspire the younger generation and encourage industries to delve deeper into robotics and artificial intelligence. This initiative has notably increased interest in these fields among youth.

In a recent highlight, 24 Iranian robotics teams participated in the FIRA 2024 RoboWorld Cup held in Sao Luis, Brazil, where they achieved an impressive 17 awards. The 29th edition of FIRA Robotics and Artificial Intelligence World Competitions took place from August 5 to 9, further showcasing the remarkable talent emerging from Iran.

Robotics Achievements by Iranian Students

Iranian students have also made significant strides in international competitions. Notably, students aged 7 to 17 secured second place among seven countries at the Kazakhstan RoboLand 2025, held from March 27 to 29 in Karaganda. This event attracted over 750 young inventors representing Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, competing across 23 categories.

Key highlights from the Kazakhstan RoboLand 2025 include:

• Participation from 362 teams across the competing nations.
• Over 2,000 children took part in elimination trials.
• More than 400 teams competed in the qualifying rounds for the finals.

Furthermore, roundtable discussions themed “Digital Transformation of Education: Trends and Prospects” occurred during the festival, focusing on the digitization of education and sharing best practices for STEM education development.

Another notable accomplishment came when Iranian students aged 7 to 17 achieved second place among 31 countries at the RobotChallenge 2024 in Beijing, China, held from August 9 to 11. This intense competition saw participation from over 5,000 contestants, with China and Romania claiming the first and third positions, respectively.

Iran was represented by a total of 16 groups, each consisting of three students, competing in various leagues, including:

• RoboSumo
• Soccer
• Innovation
• Robot Rugby
• Technical Report

For the second consecutive year, the Iranian team secured second place in the Technical Report category. Additionally, two U12 teams earned silver and bronze medals in the Innovation league, with China taking the top spot.

The Iranian teams participating in the 2024 World Robotics and Artificial Intelligence FIRA achieved remarkable results, including:

• 9 championships
• 7 runner-up positions
• Third place in various competitions

In the flying vehicles league, two teams ranked first, while one secured third place. In the FIRA youth competitions, the U14 division saw two teams claim second rankings in robosports, innovation, and business leagues. The U19 division also shone, with two teams achieving first rankings in their respective categories.

Moreover, two teams ranked second in rescue and crisis management robots, showcasing the breadth of talent and dedication among Iranian participants.

As the FIRA Open Competition approaches, excitement builds for what promises to be a thrilling event celebrating the future of robotics and artificial intelligence.