Robotics

In January 2018, ACAMIS took initial steps to create new ACAMIS Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) activities in Robotics in addition to Math and Chess competitions. Tapping into the considerable expertise of two ACAMIS members, Barbara Boyer and Tim Boyer from Shanghai American School Pudong Campus, significant progress was made and in May 2018 the ACAMIS Robotics Committee (ARC) was formed to make all arrangements as soon as possible for the immediate launching of ACAMIS Robotics.

ACAMIS FLL Robotics Competition 2026-2027

Welcome to a new year of ACAMIS FLL Robotics!
We are very excited to be able to offer another year of ACAMIS FLL Robotics Competitions this year and build on all the great competitions we have had over the previous years.

Here is the calendar for this year’s ACAMIS FLL Robotics Competitions. Please save the dates and let us know if you have any questions.

Introducing the 2026–27 Theme: CANOPY

This year’s global FIRST LEGO League theme is FIRST CANOPY — a biodiversity-focused robotics adventure that explores the interconnected systems that sustain life on Earth. Using STEM skills, creative thinking, and teamwork, students will investigate ecosystems, natural habitats, and biodiversity while developing innovative solutions that help protect our shared planet.

At the heart of this season is the BIOGLOW Challenge, launching globally on 4 August 2026. Teams will complete hands-on robotics missions and research projects focused on how technology and innovation can help us better understand and preserve the natural world.

What Students Will Experience

• Designing and coding autonomous LEGO robots
• Developing innovative research projects
• Collaborating as a team
• Presenting ideas to judges and audiences
• Building confidence, creativity, and problem-solving skills

Founders Edition and Future Editions of the FLL Robotics Competition 

This year there are two editions of the FLL Robotics Competition, and these are called the Founders Edition and Future Edition.

The Founders Edition follows the same format as previous years, and any EV3, Robot Inventor, and Spike Prime Robots can take part in the Robotics Competition. The 4 elements of Robot Game, Core Values, Innovation Project and Robot Design remain unchanged.

The Future Edition has a lot of very similar components as the Founders edition, such as the Core Values, Robot Design and Innovation Project are all still part of the competition and are very similar to the Founders Edition. The main difference is with the Robot game as it requires you to use the new LEGO Computer Science & AI Kits.

We are planning to offer ACAMIS Workshops on the difference between Founders and Future Editions at the ACAMIS Technology Conference which is happening at Keystone Academy on the 17th and 18th of October 2026.

You can also see the difference in the two robot games here: first-lego-league.org/en/divisions/future-edition-8

Transition process 

The Founders edition will run this year and next year, but the final season that uses this format will be the 2027-28 Season. So from the 2028-29 Season it will be Future Edition Only

This year in ACAMIS we will be running FIRST LEGO League Founder's Edition, and we may also offer Future Edition depending on interest. We are open to exploring ways for teams using the new LEGO Education Computer Science & AI Kit to participate in Founder's Edition using the CS & AI hardware as well as Spike or EV3, provided this can be done without remote control and within the spirit of the competition.

Teams should only purchase the Future Edition field if they already have, or intend to purchase, the CS & AI Kit this season. Teams with no plans to purchase the CS & AI Kit this year should purchase the Founder's Edition field.

We need to hear from you about your plans on which Robotics Kits you plan to use ASAP so we can help plan for the upcoming Robotics Competitions.

Please Fill out this Survey: ACAMIS FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition Plans – Fill in form

Why FIRST LEGO League?

FIRST LEGO League gives students the opportunity to develop engineering, coding, communication, and collaboration skills through authentic, real-world challenges. The competition empowers students to become confident innovators who can use technology to make a positive impact on the world.

Get Ready for the Season

• Review the competition calendar
• Recruit and organize teams
• Plan practice and build sessions
• Introduce students to the CANOPY theme
• Follow official updates from FIRST LEGO League

Official FIRST CANOPY resources and season information: firstinspires.org/first-canopy

You can purchase the official FLL Robotics Competition Fields from: wanglingling@mc2.cn 

All the resources for both set of Robotics Competitions are here.

Official season teaser trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=_g9kl7xb8nU

We look forward to seeing teams innovate, collaborate, and compete in another exciting season of ACAMIS FIRST LEGO League.

For further information, please contact:

• Simon Furmston: simon_furmston@wab.edu
• Kyle Douglas: kyle.douglas@dulwich.org
• Justine Tizzard: justine.tizzard@sais.edu.h

ACAMIS Robotics Committee (ARC) was created in 2018 to at the request of several ACAMIS member schools in the hope of adding robotics as an activity where it did not previously exist. Already present among a core group of member schools in Shanghai and two other cities, it became evident that an overview organization like ACAMIS would have the best chance for it to take on new life, expand with our organization, provide activities among similar schools, and be sustainable over time. To accomplish this, a team of robotics experts was needed to form the first planning committee. For classification purposes, as an ACAMIS Activity, robotics will be listing under Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE). To provide annual training and information, the Robotics Planning Committee will work closely with the Technology Planning Committee to create a Strand for robotics at the annual Technology Conference.

The ACAMIS Robotics Committee helps organize the following events for ACAMIS Member Schools:

• Robotics Strand of ACAMIS Technology Conference
• ACAMIS Robotics Expo Day in each region (Ages 6-10)
• ACAMIS Robotics Workshops in each region (Ages 9-14)
• ACAMIS Robotics Competition in each region (Ages 9-14)
• ACAMIS Robotics Championship Competition (Ages 9-14)
• ACAMIS Robotics Friendly Scrimmages (Ages 12-18)
• ACAMIS Robotics Final Competition (Ages 12-18)

The ACAMIS Robotics Committee helps connect schools with resources on joining the following events:

• VEX IQ Competitions
• VEX EDR Competitions
• WRO Competitions
• FLL Competitions for non-ACAMIS Schools

If your school is not yet involved and you would like to know more information about how to get involved in ACAMIS Robotics, please contact Committee Chair, Todd Voykin at todd.voykin@cisgz.com for further information.

Past Robotics Competitions