Hyderabad, 9 July 2026: Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology (VJIT), in association with the IEEE Student Branch and the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), successfully inaugurated ROBOAUTO 2026, a National-Level 24-Hour Robotics Hackathon, on 9 July 2026.
The event marked a significant milestone as one of the country’s pioneering 24-hour robotics hackathons, providing engineering students with a unique platform to design, develop, and demonstrate innovative robotic and automation solutions to real-world engineering challenges.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. N. Venkatesh, Secretary, IEEE Hyderabad Section and Senior Director – Engineering, Silicon Labs, as the Chief Guest. Dr. Punit Badeka, Founder, Eon Space Labs, attended as the Guest of Honour, while Dr. Senthilkumar Selvaraj, Treasurer, IEEE RAS Hyderabad Section and Assistant Professor, VNR VJIET, served as the Judge for the event.
The programme was also attended by Dr. A. Srujana, Principal; Mrs. G. Srilatha, Director–Academics; Dr. A. Padmaja, Dean – Accreditation & Rankings; Mr. R. Venkatachalam, Senior Administrative Officer; Dr. P. Nageswara Rao, Professor & Head, Department of ECE; Dr. M. Rajendra Prasad, Professor, Department of ECE; along with faculty members, student participants, and other distinguished dignitaries.
Addressing the participants, the dignitaries emphasized the importance of innovation, interdisciplinary learning, teamwork, and hands-on technical experience in preparing students for the rapidly evolving fields of robotics and automation. They encouraged students to leverage emerging technologies to develop practical, industry-oriented solutions capable of addressing real-world challenges.
Following the inaugural ceremony, the dignitaries officially flagged off the 24-hour hackathon, where participating teams began developing autonomous robotic systems across multiple challenge themes, including Line Following, Obstacle Avoidance, Material Transport, and Smart Automation. The competition evaluated teams on technical innovation, autonomous navigation, system integration, problem-solving capabilities, and real-time performance.
Speaking on the occasion, the organizers stated that ROBOAUTO 2026 reflects VJIT’s continued commitment to promoting experiential learning, research-driven innovation, and industry-academia collaboration through nationally competitive technical events. The hackathon was designed to strengthen students’ practical engineering skills while fostering creativity, collaboration, and technological excellence.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students representing leading engineering institutions across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Teams from Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology, Vardhaman College of Engineering, Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology (GRIET), Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Technology (MGIT), Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology (SNIST), Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT), VNR VJIET, Anurag University, Malla Reddy University, BVRIT, Aditya University, and several other institutions showcased exceptional creativity, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills throughout the competition.
The hackathon provided an excellent platform for students from diverse academic backgrounds to collaborate, exchange innovative ideas, and develop cutting-edge robotic solutions. Their active participation reflected the growing enthusiasm for technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship among aspiring engineers, making ROBOAUTO 2026 a grand success and reinforcing VJIT’s vision of nurturing future-ready innovators and technology leaders.
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