Toward Real-World Embodied Intelligence — ATEC2026 Online Qualifier Open for Registration

As embodied AI continues to evolve, a fundamental question remains: how do robots move beyond simulation and perform reliably in the real world? The ATEC2026 AI and Robotics Real-World Extreme Challenge is designed to address this question by providing a platform for evaluating embodied AI systems in realistic environments, pushing performance beyond controlled simulation settings.

The ATEC2026 Online Qualifier is now open for registration! We warmly invite universities, research institutions, technology companies, and independent developer teams worldwide to participate and explore the real-world frontiers of embodied intelligence.

📅Registration Details:

Registration Period: 10:00, April 1 – 22:00, May 30, 2026 (UTC+8)

Online Qualifier Period: 10:00, May 1 – 22:00, June 30, 2026 (UTC+8)

🔎Official Website: https://www.atecup.com/competitions/ATEC2026

✨Competition Highlights:

• Bridging sim-to-real: A two-stage framework combining online simulation and real-world extreme challenges, with a focus on long-horizon tasks, including robot hiking, table clean-up, waste collection and disposal, and obstacle traversal

• Top-tier global experts: Leading academics and industry experts from institutions such as The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, Peking University, UC Berkeley, and Ant Group

• Global multi-city presence: Offline preliminary competitions in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Pittsburgh

• Cutting-edge hardware support: Providing advanced robotic hardware to support prototyping and full-stack innovation

• Attractive prize pool: Monetary and hardware prizes are offered in the Online Qualifier and Real-World Preliminary, with up to USD 150,000 awarded in the Real-World Final

For further details about the competition, please refer to the attached poster. For inquiries, please email us at atec@cuhk.edu.hk.

Warm regards,

ATEC2026 Organizing Committee