TEKNOFEST Robotaxis-Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition

Robotaksi – Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition is a contest organized under the TEKNOFEST Technology Festival, one of Türkiye’s innovation-driven vision projects, aiming to foster innovative designs in autonomous vehicle systems. The competition has been initiated in alignment with the National Technology Initiative to support the development of Türkiye’s national autonomous driving technologies.

^{TEKNOFEST Robotaksi – Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition (Photo: T3 Foundation)}

The primary objective of the competition is to enable participants to gain knowledge and skills in autonomous driving systems, software algorithms, and vehicle design. In this context, the Robotaksi Competition does not limit itself to enhancing scientific and technical competencies but also encourages the emergence of innovative solutions that can contribute to the transportation infrastructure of smart cities. Autonomous vehicles hold significant potential in areas such as reducing traffic accidents, improving transportation efficiency, and developing environmentally conscious systems. This competition aims not only to support the development of these technologies within Türkiye but also to enhance the expertise and capabilities of young engineers and programmers in this field.

The competition is open to high school, associate degree, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as recent graduates. Participation is only permitted in teams. Each team may consist of a maximum of six members. Teams composed of high school students and those from university level or higher are evaluated in the same category. Representatives from the private sector are not eligible to participate. However, teams that previously competed in the Efficiency Challenge Electric Vehicle Competition held under TEKNOFEST may also apply for this competition, provided they submit separate applications.

^{TEKNOFEST Robotaksi – Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition (Photo: T3 Foundation)}

The competition is conducted under two distinct categories:

1. Original Vehicle Category: In this category, teams design and manufacture their vehicles from scratch. Hardware, mechanical structure, electronic systems, and software infrastructure are entirely developed by the participating teams.
2. Ready Vehicle Category: In this category, participants are provided with autonomous vehicle platforms supplied by TEKNOFEST. The task of the participants is to develop original autonomous driving software for these platforms.

The final stage of the competition is held on a standardized track environment applicable to both categories. In this phase, vehicles are expected to autonomously perform various tasks such as lane following, obstacle avoidance, passenger pick-up and drop-off, and parking.

The competition process includes the following technical and reporting stages:

• Technical Competency Form (TCF)
• Critical Design Report (CDR)
• Vehicle Test Video and Simulation Report and Presentation

^{TEKNOFEST Robotaksi – Passenger Autonomous Vehicle Competition (Photo: T3 Foundation)}

The Robotaksi Competition goes beyond the production of technical knowledge by also promoting the development of skills such as teamwork, problem solving, creative thinking, and multidisciplinary approaches. Participants are encouraged to actively engage in the development of autonomous technologies that will shape the future of transportation systems. The competition also contributes to Türkiye’s national vision for indigenous transportation technologies and enables young individuals to become qualified human resources capable of advancing future technologies.

This competition, conducted under the TEKNOFEST umbrella, is fully aligned with the vision of the National Technology Initiative. In line with Türkiye’s goals for technological independence, the initiative aims to develop indigenous solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, mobility, and software. In this context, the Robotaksi Competition contributes to Türkiye’s emergence as a key player in autonomous driving systems.