2026 Barbados Robotics Innovation Challenge (BRIC)

 

BRIC OVERVIEW

The Barbados Robotics-Innovation Challenge (BRIC) is an annual competition for Barbadian citizens or residents who can demonstrate that they have lived in Barbados for the past 4 consecutive years. Eligible applicants are more than 15 and less than 30 years old on January 1 of the year of the Challenge. Secondary and tertiary students, members of Robotics Clubs and Associations,and curious innovators are all encouraged to participate.  Persons from low-income households and females are encouraged to enter the Challenge. BRIC aims to spark greater interest in technology and engineering while helping Barbados build the skills needed for the future workforce.
 

Conducted by the Caribbean Science Foundation in partnership with the Abed Foundation, the challenge encourages creative thinking and practical problem-solving and rewards teams for applying creative problem-solving approaches to address challenges that are relevant to the needs of Barbados. Funds are available to assist teams, that have a sound engineering design, to build out their designs.

1.1 The Overall Challenge

The Challenge is to design and build a remote-controlled robot that can: (a) climb a coconut tree, (b) trim away dead or dying leaves, (c) cut the coconuts away from the trunk of the tree and (d) lower the reaped coconuts to the ground in a safe manner.
 
1.2 BRIC Operating Phases
BRIC has 3 implementation phases:

1. Phase I is the robotics system Engineering Design Phase (EDP) – 2026 competition
2. Phase II is the robotics Prototype Development and Demonstration Phase (PDDP) which starts after EDP is completed
3. Phase III is the full system design and assembly phase

2026 PHASE I COMPETITION: BRIC ENGINEERING DESIGN PHASE

The 2026 BRIC focuses on Phase I only, and invites engineering design proposals only.  For the Challenge, the robot must be designed to climb a vertical pole (with a rough coconut-tree-like surface) with the following specifications:

• Pole diameter: 15–20 cm
• Minimum height robot to climb: 2.5 meters
• Minimum load robot to carry: 5 kg
• Climb time: under 4 minutes
• Maintain stability & safety

Such a pole will be supplied by the CSF during the Phase II competition, but contestants should secure a pole of their own for design and testing purposes.
 
In Phase I, teams are expected to brainstorm a robotics technology solution to the Challenge, which is normally the first step of the design-build-test-redesign engineering approach. Thus, teams are expected to employ basic principles from physics, mechanical engineering, sensor technology, and microcontroller programming in the design of their robot. The use of AI and machine-learning algorithms to control the robots is encouraged. Applicants may revise their Phase I Engineering Design as many times as needed up to the submission deadline. The submitted materials that are present on the server at the application deadline will be captured and used for judging.
 
The CSF will hold  a set of 4 BRIC Information Sessions to answer questions about the Phase I competition.  The dates for these sessions can be found in the Timetable below. At these sessions you will:

• Get additional guidance on how to prepare your design proposal
• Ask lots of questions
• Meet other participants
• Network and connect
• Potentially find teammates if you need them (Teamwork can be a key part of the experience)

The Phase I designs will be evaluated for innovation, feasibility, and cost effectiveness by the Robotics Evaluation Committee (REC).  A parts list will be required as a component of the overall design proposal submission. Up to six of the best designs will be invited to participate in Phase II (Prototype Development and Demonstration Phase) and they will be given the opportunity to apply for funds (about US$ 2,000 each) to build out their designs. A suggested outline for the design proposal is given below.
 
At the end of Phase II, the teams will demonstrate the operation of their robots at the BRIC Olympiad (which will be open to the public) and first place, second place and third place winners will be crowned.
 
Phase III is the full implementation phase to upgrade the robot to climb a coconut tree as stated above in Section 1.1
 

2.1 Rules of the Competition

1. All teams apply directly to the Challenge. If a team claims to be representing a school or a club, then a certifying letter will be required from a science or math teacher, coach, or principal or appropriate administrator of their school, club or association.
2. A school, club or association will be allowed to enter only 1 team into the challenge for each Phase
3. A team must have no more than 6 members
4. All participants must be more than 15 and less than 30 years old on January 1 of the year of the Challenge
5. All purchased parts must cost less than US$ 5,000 in aggregate
6. Robots entered into the Challenge must be operated in a safe manner
7. Robots entered into the Challenge must not pose a hazard to humans

2.2 How to Enter the Challenge
All persons entering the competition, whether competing as an individual or as part of a team, must first register with the CSF by filling out Section 1. Applicants are encouraged to register early by filling out Section 1 of the registration form as soon as possible. This helps the CSF and its sponsors to know in advance of the competition, for planning purposes, how many teams/individuals intend to participate.

There are several benefits to the competitors for registering early. These include:

• Tips, advice and other support to the teams in advance of the competition
• Invitation to the four scheduled information sessions (see dates below)
• Guidance and support from the organizers

All team members must also fill out Section 2 of the registration form. Only one copy of the Engineering Design Proposal should be submitted. It is the team leader who should attach the Engineering Design Proposal to his/her Form B before the deadline.

The Registration form can be filled out and submitted HERE.
 

ENGINEERING DESIGN PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

All teams must follow the proposal outline below to ensure submission of the required information:

• Cover page with at a minimum: (a) Team name, (b) Team members’ names, email addresses and affiliations, (c) secondary school, tertiary institution or club/association being represented (if applicable), (d) Team Leader’s name and e-mail address (all correspondence will be sent to this person)

• Detailed Robot Description that includes principles of operation, dimensions, figures and photos showing the system design and how all the parts fit together to accomplish the task

• Detailed Engineering Designs with explicit calculations of all forces, currents and voltages, materials strengths and materials chosen for the various components, etc. Scaled drawings of all critical parts must be provided (CAD drawings are recommended). Your engineering design must include an Identification of Components that meet the calculated Engineering Design specifications. We want to make sure that the components actually exist and will do the job, as machines generally fail from poor design or inappropriate choice of materials or components.

• Please note that applications that are lacking the very important above engineering design analysis will be deemed not qualified to move forward in the competition. That is, beautiful drawings alone are not enough to convince the judges that your robot can perform the specified task.

• Parts list of key components with vendors, catalog numbers and prices (no need to list parts costing less than US$ 5.00).

• Key Personnel: Provide a short biographic sketch (no more than 2 paragraphs) of each team member.  Be sure to highlight the educational and technical experience of each team member.

• A table listing the People Supporting the Team. The names, e-mail addresses, affiliations and roles of your coaches, teachers, financial supporters, or others providing the team with support.

• Appendices as necessary to provide additional information to the judges

TIMETABLE: SPECIFIC DATES FOR 2026 BRIC ACTIVITIES

DATE	ACTIVITY
PHASE I
05 Jan 26	BRIC Phase I registration period opens (Pre-register by filling our Section 1 of Registration form NOW!)
03 May 2026, 7 pm AST	BRIC Information session #1 via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86884952617
07 June 2026, 7 pm AST	BRIC Information session #2 via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86884952617
05 July 2026, 7 pm AST	BRIC Information session #3 via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86884952617
02 August 2026, 7 pm AST	BRIC Information session #4 via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/s/86884952617
16Aug26	Submission deadline for Phase I robot designs (Both Sections 1 and 2 of registration form must be submitted by this date)
17-20Aug26	Review and evaluate robot design proposals; feedback to be provided to Team Leaders
21Aug26	Notification of teams chosen to advance to Phase II
PHASE II
01Sep26	Phase II financial aid application forms made available to finalists
20Sep26	Phase II financial aid application deadline
01Sep26 – 13 Aug 27	Phase II teams work on their robotics
13Aug27	Phase II competition day
PHASE III
2027-2028	Phase III start TBD