WBCD 2026 Competition Track
Full task specs, bills of materials, and CAD files are open-source on GitHub
Track 1: Logistics Picking
Robot from UnitreeRobot Demonstration
Teleop real robot video from Unitree -- bring your best and do even better!
This task focuses on whole-body teleoperated control and end-effector coordination utilizing the Unitree G1 humanoid robot. The objective is to bridge the gap between research and practical application by simulating a logistics scenario. Participants must use remote operation methods (VR, motion capture) to transfer items from shelves of varying heights to a transport vehicle. The system relies solely on the robot's own perception capabilities to execute complex maneuvers including upright, bent, and crouched postures.
End effectors: A pair of end effectors (clamps, three-finger or five-finger dexterous hands)
Control method: VR headset or inertial motion capture suit
Task Rules
The competition time limit is 10 minutes. The goal is to complete as many item transfer tasks as possible within this window.
- Control Method: Remote operation via VR headset or inertial motion capture suit.
- Perception: Participants must acquire external information solely through the robot's onboard perception system.
- Capacity: There is no limit on the number of items transferred per single operation cycle, provided they are not dropped.
Step 1: Shelf Picking
Navigate the robot to the shelving unit and extract items. The difficulty varies by shelf height, requiring specific body postures.
| Action | Description | Posture |
|---|---|---|
| 1a | Pick item from Top Shelf | Upright Position |
| 1b | Pick item from Middle Shelf | Bent Position |
| 1c | Pick item from Bottom Shelf | Crouched Position |
Success Criteria: Item securely grasped from the shelf without knocking over other items.
Step 2: Transportation
Transport the grasped items from the shelving area to the designated unloading area.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 2a | Stabilize item(s) during locomotion |
| 2b | Navigate to the transport vehicle/table |
Success Criteria: Maintain grasp on items throughout the movement. Drops result in penalties.
Step 3: Placement
Place the items onto the transport vehicle or unloading table.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 3a | Position item over target area |
| 3b | Release item securely |
Success Criteria: Item rests stably on the unloading surface.
Scoring
Scoring is weighted based on the difficulty of the whole-body motion required (posture).
| Source | Posture | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Shelf | Upright | +5 | Successful transfer from high shelf |
| Middle Shelf | Bent | +8 | Successful transfer from middle shelf |
| Bottom Shelf | Crouched | +10 | Successful transfer from bottom shelf |
| Item Drop | — | -3 | Per item dropped during transportation |
Items Used in This Task
Human Demonstration
Sample task execution by a human operator for demonstration purposes.
Track 2: Logistics Packing
Robot from GalaxeaThe objective of this challenge is to demonstrate robotic capabilities in logistics fulfillment. The system must pick, scan, and pack items from a primary storage container into three designated shipping parcels. The workflow involves handling diverse items (rigid boxes, irregular shapes, and soft apparel), identifying barcodes via wrist-mounted cameras, and securing the parcels by closing their lids.
Task Rules
The competition window is 30 minutes. Teams must fulfill as many shipping parcels as possible within this time.
- Placement: Participants may configure the placement of storage containers, shipping parcels, and the table.
- Reset Time: Time spent on scene resets is excluded from the 30-minute competition window.
- Human Intervention: If a human intervenes during a cycle, the task for that specific item is terminated immediately, and a partial score is recorded.
Step 1: Picking & Scanning
Grasp an item from the storage container and identify it. The container is pre-loaded with various items (boxes, irregular objects, soft bags).
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 1a | Grasp and extract an item from the storage container |
| 1b | Scan the barcode using a wrist-mounted camera |
| 1c | Receive index corresponding to one of the 3 shipping parcels |
Success Criteria: Item securely grasped, barcode successfully identified, target parcel determined.
Step 2: Placing
Transition the picked item to the designated shipping parcel.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 2a | Move the item to the assigned shipping parcel |
| 2b | Place the item securely inside the parcel |
Success Criteria: Item placed in the correct parcel (1 of 3) without dropping.
Step 3: Packing (Lid Closing)
Once a parcel is full or the sequence is complete, operate the parcel lid mechanism to secure the package.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 3a | Fold the box lid flat |
| 3b | Tuck in the two-sided lips |
| 3c | Engage the locking lid mechanism |
Success Criteria: Lid is closed flat, lips are tucked, and the box is locked.
Scoring
Item Processing
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Pick, Scan, Place | +5 | Successfully picks, scans, and places one item |
| Wrong Parcel | -5 | Item placed in incorrect parcel |
Parcel Finalization (Lid Closing)
Points for lid closing are cumulative based on the quality of the fold.
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Lid Flat | +5 | Box lid is covered flat without item sticking out |
| Side Lips | +10 | The two-sided lips both stick in |
| Locking Lid | +15 | Locking mechanism securely sticks in |
Items Used in This Task
Track 3: Life Science R&D - Lab Experiments
Robot from AgileX RoboticsThis task simulates a laboratory automation workflow. The system handles high-density sample racks, interfaces with analytical instruments, and performs reagent bottle operations (threaded caps and flexible tubing). The full task consists of three sequential steps performed in rounds.
Task Rules
The competition time limit is 20 minutes. Teams perform Steps 1 → 2 → 3 in order as one round. After completing a round, the workspace is reset and the next round begins. The goal is to complete as many rounds as possible.
- Mandatory sequence: All three steps must be attempted per round — you cannot skip a step or reorder them.
- Reset Time: Time spent resetting the workspace between rounds is excluded from the 20-minute window.
- Cumulative scoring: Points earned in a partially completed round (when time expires) still count.
Step 1: Sample Loading
Place vials into partially filled racks (dense packing). The racks already contain vials in most positions — seat the remaining vials into the correct empty slots.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 1a | Seat a 2 mL vial into the 2 mL rack |
| 1b | Seat a 2 mL vial into the 2 mL rack |
| 1c | Seat an 8 mL vial into the 8 mL rack |
| 1d | Seat an 8 mL vial into the 8 mL rack |
Success Criteria: All 4 vials fully inserted, upright, correct positions. No damage or drops.
Step 2: Instrument Interfacing
Load a sample rack into an analytical instrument by operating its drawer mechanism.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 2a | Open the instrument drawer |
| 2b | Place the rack in the correct position |
| 2c | Close the instrument drawer |
Success Criteria: Drawer opened/closed without excessive force. Rack in correct position.
Step 3: Mobile Phase Management
Switch the solvent supply line from bottle A to bottle B by operating threaded caps and relocating the flexible tubing.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 3a | Remove the cap from the source bottle |
| 3b | Remove the tubing from the source bottle |
| 3c | Insert the tubing into the target bottle |
| 3d | Replace the cap on the source bottle |
Success Criteria: Caps intact, tubing relocated, bottles upright, no spills.
Scoring
Each step is worth 20 points per round (60 points per complete round). The three steps are balanced so no step is worth skipping.
Step 1 — Sample Loading (20 pts)
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 1a – Seat 2 mL vial | 5 | Vial fully inserted, upright, correct position |
| 1b – Seat 2 mL vial | 5 | Same |
| 1c – Seat 8 mL vial | 5 | Vial fully inserted, upright, correct position |
| 1d – Seat 8 mL vial | 5 | Same |
Step 2 — Instrument Interfacing (20 pts)
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 2a – Open drawer | 5 | Drawer fully extended without excessive force |
| 2b – Place rack | 10 | Rack in correct position and orientation |
| 2c – Close drawer | 5 | Drawer fully closed |
Step 3 — Mobile Phase Management (20 pts)
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| 3a – Remove cap | 5 | Cap unscrewed without stripping or spilling |
| 3b – Remove tubing | 5 | Tubing cleanly removed from source bottle |
| 3c – Insert tubing | 5 | Tubing inserted into target bottle |
| 3d – Replace cap | 5 | Cap re-secured on source bottle |
Penalties
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Dropped vial | 0 pts for that action (no partial credit) |
| Spilled liquid | 0 pts for that action |
| Damaged equipment (stripped cap, broken vial) | 0 pts for that action |
| Skipped step | Remaining steps in that round score 0 |
Items Used in This Task
Consumables & Reference Dimensions
Track 4: Deformable Object Manipulation
Robot from ARXThis task evaluates robotic manipulation of deformable objects in manufacturing scenarios. The robot must pick a T-shirt from a stack and load it onto a printing pallet, demonstrating sophisticated perception and control capabilities for handling flexible materials.
Task Rules
The competition time limit is 15 minutes. The goal is to pick and load T-shirts onto a printing pallet with proper alignment and surface quality.
- Human Intervention: Each human intervention incurs a penalty as defined by competition rules.
- Reset Time: Time spent resetting the workspace (e.g., restacking T-shirts) is excluded from the 15-minute limit.
Step 1: Picking
Grasp a single T-shirt from a stack. The robot must identify and separate one T-shirt from the pile.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 1a | Identify the topmost T-shirt on the stack |
| 1b | Grasp and separate a single T-shirt |
Success Criteria: Exactly one T-shirt securely grasped without disturbing the rest of the stack.
Step 2: Loading
Position and load the T-shirt onto the printing pallet.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 2a | Transport T-shirt to the printing pallet |
| 2b | Place T-shirt onto the pallet surface |
Success Criteria: T-shirt placed on the pallet, covering the effective area appropriately.
Step 3: Alignment & Surface Quality
Align the T-shirt with pallet edges and ensure a flat surface without wrinkles.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| 3a | Align T-shirt edges with pallet boundaries |
| 3b | Smooth the surface to remove wrinkles |
Success Criteria: T-shirt edges aligned to pallet edges, surface smooth and flat for printing readiness.
Scoring
| Action | Points | Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Pick + Load | +5 | Successfully picks a single T-shirt and loads it onto the pallet |
| Alignment + Surface | +5 | T-shirt loaded without major wrinkles and aligned to pallet edges |
| Multiple T-shirts picked | -5 | More than one T-shirt grasped in a single attempt |
| T-shirt stuck on pallet | -5 | Unable to remove or reposition the T-shirt |
Printing Pallet Setup
The printing pallet (55cm x 45cm, effective area: 54cm x 45cm) serves as the target surface for T-shirt loading. Teams must load the T-shirt flat and aligned on the white pallet surface, ready for screen printing.
