USEL Youth Robotics — Program Overview

USEL Youth Robotics

The Official Program of the USA National Robotics Team

Empowering districts with scalable robotics and AI education

District-Wide Robotics Success Without the Headaches

We help districts run robotics competitions and AI initiatives across every school — without depending on one teacher's expertise or adding to staff workload.

Why Partner With USEL Youth Robotics?

  • Centralized expertise Training, curriculum, and resources come from us, so no school needs its own robotics specialist.
  • Scalable and uniform Every school offers the same quality of robotics and AI learning, which keeps access equitable across the district.
  • Competitions students look forward to A new theme each year keeps students challenged, and keeps teachers from rebuilding curriculum from scratch.
Students working together on a robot at a USEL competition
Grades 1–3

Starter Program

Exploring Robotics Through Play

Introduction to Robotics

Young learners build with LEGO® Spike Essential, code with icon blocks, and work through hands-on challenges. The focus is problem-solving, collaboration, and — just as important at this age — having fun. Students finish the year by showing what they built at RoboPalooza.

  • Hands-on building with LEGO® Spike Essential
  • Icon-based block coding
  • Problem-solving and teamwork
  • Short, playful challenges
  • Showcase at RoboPalooza
LEGO Spike Essential build used in the Starter Program
Grades 3–5

Elementary Program

Innovation Meets Competition

RoboMission Robotics Program

RoboMission builds real coding fundamentals through hands-on work with LEGO robots. Students move from following instructions to designing their own solutions, with AI tools introduced as part of the process.

  • Building and coding LEGO robots
  • If / then / else logic
  • Loops and functions
  • Reading sensors, including the color sensor
  • Collaborative teamwork and project design
  • Showcase at RoboPalooza
  • Pathway to USA National Robotics and the World Robot Olympiad
RoboMission competition robot and mission mat
Grades 6–8

Junior Program

Advanced Robotics & AI Coding

Future Engineers in Training

Middle schoolers program LEGO® SPIKE robots with the help of AI coding assistants. They learn to describe what they want precisely enough for an AI to produce working movement code — then read, test, and fix that code themselves.

  • Building and coding LEGO robots
  • If / then / else logic
  • Loops and functions
  • Reading sensors, including the color sensor
  • Hands-on AI-assisted coding
  • Programming in Python
  • Turning plain-language instructions into robot code
  • Pathway to USA National Robotics and the World Robot Olympiad
LEGO SPIKE robot programmed by Junior Program students
Grades 9–12

FELP & Boys and Girls Club

Hands-On STEM with Multiple Pathways to Success

Build, Compete & Innovate

These programs teach engineering through teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking, with two routes students can choose between.

One route is SumoBots: students design and build their own machine, then compete head-to-head.

The other is a Future Innovators project taken to the World Robot Olympiad. Teams that place highly can go on to compete internationally.

  • Build and compete with custom SumoBots
  • Create a Future Innovators project for WRO
  • International competition for top-placing teams
  • Teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking
  • Real engineering skills in a social setting
Students presenting a Future Innovators project
Future Innovators
Two SumoBots facing off in the competition ring
SumoBots
Grades 9–12

CTE Program

Real-World Experience & Career Readiness

Internship-Level Experience

High school students work alongside USEL staff on live projects and sit inside the actual workflow of the office, not a simulation of it.

Each student also builds a Future Engineers project to compete with at the World Robot Olympiad.

  • Work directly with USEL developers and staff
  • Behind-the-scenes access to real projects
  • Experience of day-to-day office workflow
  • Build a Future Engineers project for WRO
  • Mentor younger students across USEL programs
  • Compete at RoboPalooza and the World Robot Olympiad
CTE students working on a project with USEL staff

Get in Touch

Questions about bringing a program to your school or district? Send us a note.

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WRO 2026 FAQ

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Everything you need to know about the season

Competition Info

How does a WRO season work?

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  • The WRO 2026 season follows this structured competition schedule:
  • Registration Opens: January 2026
  • Game Rules Released: January 15, 2026
  • District Championships (School Partners Only): Ontario, CA · April 17–18, 2026
  • School National Championships (School Partners Only): Ontario, CA · July 24–26, 2026
  • USEL Affiliate Cup: DeKalb, IL · August 7–9, 2026
  • Regional Open Qualifier: Chicago, Illinois: Chicago, IL · August 12–14, 2026
  • Regional Open Qualifier: Charlottesville, Virginia: Charlottesville, VA · September 5–6, 2026
  • Regional Open Qualifier: Ontario, California: Ontario, CA · September 12, 2026
  • Open Championship: Americas: Ontario, CA · September 25–27, 2026
  • Open Championship: Asia & Pacific: Delhi, India · September 25–27, 2026
  • Open Championship: Europe: Zagreb, Croatia · October 13–16, 2026
  • International Final: San Juan, Puerto Rico · December 8–10, 2026

How do I register a team for the competition?

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  • Teams in the Affiliate Program Pathway register for each event directly with the USEL affiliate hosting it. Each event sets its own registration and fees.
  • Get official WRO equipment, including competition mats, challenge kits, and table tops, in the USEL Store.
  • District Championships & School National Championships: Exclusive to USEL school partners.
  • A signed data protection form is required when submitting team member details.

How do I host a WRO event?

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  • Organizations can become USEL affiliates and apply to host sanctioned Regional Open Qualifiers.
  • Every event must be approved by USEL before it is held, and affiliates handle registration for the events they host.
  • Each year, affiliates can also apply to host the USEL Affiliate Cup.
  • Learn more on the Affiliate Program page.

What is the USEL Affiliate Cup?

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  • The USEL Affiliate Cup is a national level competition held in DeKalb, IL that awards USA National Robotics Team qualification spots to both the International Finals and the Americas Open Championship.
  • The traditional single US Nationals format has been replaced by two championship events: the School National Championship and the USEL Affiliate Cup. Together they form the WRO-USA national qualification structure, and each pathway earns International Final entries under WRO's published Qualification Table.
  • International Finals qualification spots from the Affiliate Cup:
  • RoboMission – one team from each age group
  • RoboSports – one qualifying team
  • Future Innovators – one qualifying team
  • Future Engineers – one qualifying team
  • USEL affiliates can apply to host the Affiliate Cup each year.

How do Regional Open Qualifiers work?

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  • Regional Open Qualifiers are hosted by USEL affiliates and award qualification spots to the WRO Americas Open Championship.
  • All Regional Open Qualifiers must be approved by USEL before being held.
  • Important: Regional Open Qualifiers do NOT award spots to the International Finals—only the Affiliate Cup does.
  • USEL affiliates can apply to host Regional Open Qualifiers through USEL.

Can a team compete at both the Americas Open and International Finals?

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  • No. Starting this season, teams are no longer allowed to compete at both events.
  • You must choose one path: either the WRO Americas Open Championship or the WRO International Finals.
  • The Affiliate Cup awards spots to both competitions, while Regional Open Qualifiers only award spots to the Americas Open Championship.

Do I need my own robot?

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  • Yes, teams must provide their own robot.
  • All robot systems are now allowed in all WRO categories for 2026!
  • Each category has specific size and weight requirements (e.g., RoboMission: max 25x25x25cm, RoboSports: max 20x20x20cm and 1.2kg, Future Engineers: max 30x20x30cm).

How much does it cost to participate in WRO?

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  • Teams register for each event directly with its host, and registration fees are set by each event.
  • Official WRO equipment, including competition mats, challenge kits, and table tops, is available in the USEL Store.
  • For teams qualifying for international competitions, additional fees apply.
Exhibitor Information

Move-in Date and Time

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  • District Championships (Ontario, CA · April 17–18, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM OR morning of event from 7 AM - 9 AM
  • School National Championships (Ontario, CA · July 24–26, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Affiliate Cup (DeKalb, IL · August 7–9, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM
  • Please check specific event details closer to the date for exact times and locations.

How many booths are available for exhibitors?

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  • District Championships: Up to 15 standard 10x10 booths can fit.
  • School National Championships / Affiliate Cup: More space is available, allowing for double the booths.
  • Contact USEL for specific booth availability at each event.

Is parking included for exhibitors?

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  • Yes, exhibitors receive one parking pass. Additional passes can be requested.

Will there be WiFi and electricity?

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  • Yes, WiFi and electricity will be available at all competition venues.