Robotics Competitions Power the Next Generation of Automation Talent

Thousands of manufacturing jobs remain unfilled, many requiring robotics and automation skills, according to industry estimates. For years, companies operating across the automation industry, from OEMs to end users, have struggled to attract talent to roles that we know are exciting, well paying, and increasingly high-tech — a far cry from the “dull, dirty, and dangerous” stereotype that once defined the industry.

Academic robotics competitions are emerging as one of the most effective ways to introduce students to these careers early. From the FIRST Robotics and VEX Robotics competitions to the First Lego League and the Automate Student Challenge, the number of academic robotics competitions is growing, and they can be an essential tool for industry to build a reliable talent pipeline.

Building Awareness and Experience

One major inhibitor of the industrial talent pipeline is awareness. Many students simply aren’t exposed to careers in controls engineering, robotics, automation, or manufacturing technology in their day-to-day lives. If they don’t know these careers exist, how can they know what skills they need to fill the open positions?

Academic-based robotics competitions are a great method for industry to build recognition of the positions they’re looking to fill in the future. These programs can help build the next generation of engineers, programmers, and integrators, who will bring a digital-native perspective to robotics and automation, which is sure to enable greater innovation.

Going beyond simply fostering awareness of the industry, robotics competitions give students hands-on experience in mechanical design, programming, wiring and systems integration, and troubleshooting and debugging. Students also gain familiarity with sensors, PLC-like logic structure, motions systems, and even the basics of vision systems. These same skills are used by professional robotics manufacturers and integrators.

Robotics competitions also expose students to the many roles involved in automation projects. Some participants gravitate toward mechanical design, integration, or programming. Others thrive as builders, drivers, or team project managers. This diversity of roles helps students envision where they might fit within the broader robotics and automation industry.

Put together, these experiences help make manufacturing seem innovative and high-tech, not outdated, dispelling the myth that manufacturing work involves only manual labor.

Industry Engagement Bridges the Talent Gap

Awareness doesn’t have to stop there. When companies and organizations participate in FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics, and other robotics competitions, students have one-on-one interactions with people in the roles they could one day fill. They see concrete examples of how the skills they’re learning in competition can be applied.

These programs can become talent incubators for the industry. By sponsoring competitions, providing engineers as mentors, hosting facility tours, and offering workspace for teams to practice, companies can engage, nurture, and build relationships with students, processes that may lead to internships, apprenticeships, and future careers.

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) recently engaged with Team Blizzard at the Highlander Summit VEX V5 Robotics Competition in New Jersey as part of its partnership with VEX Robotics. Students at the event demonstrated impressive creativity and problem-solving skills, while A3 representatives shared insights about real-world automation careers. The experience was captured as part of the Age of Automation series presented by A3 and produced for them by BBC StoryWorks.

Robotics Competition Differentiators

With a range of academic robotics competitions available, there are many opportunities for industry to engage students in middle school and high school. Each robotics competition plays a slightly different role in the talent pipeline, serving students at different ages and with different technical focuses. Here are a few of the most prominent:

The FIRST Robotics Competition targets high school students with large, industrial-scale robots. Industry’s involvement with this program has helped build a strong pipeline for engineering schools and automation companies. This program has a heavy emphasis on systems integration and gives students exposure to motion, sensing, and control systems, as well as fabrication and project management, setting the stage for careers in robotics and systems engineering.

The VEX Robotics Competition reaches middle school and high school students worldwide with a lower-cost, lower barrier to entry format. This program utilizes standardized metal robotics kits and focuses on programming and iterative design. Students learn about robotics programming, sensors, automation logic, and design optimization, building strong foundations in software and controls engineering careers.

SkillsUSA has a broader reach — to high school and post-secondary technical programs — and focuses on industrial automation systems, including PLCs, sensors, conveyors, and robotic cells. This program focuses heavily on workforce readiness, giving students experience with PLC programming, industrial robotics, and automation troubleshooting, aligning them for automation technician and maintenance roles.

What’s Next?

Robotics competitions provide a powerful entry point for students to discover careers in automation and advanced manufacturing. For industry, expanding support for these programs will be critical to strengthening the workforce pipeline. Greater involvement, from mentorship to sponsorship, can ensure that more students see a future for themselves in robotics, automation, and manufacturing.

If you’re interested in learning more, the VEX Robotics World Championship is scheduled to take place April 21–30 in St. Louis, MO. In June, the Automate Student Challenge returns with competitions every day of Automate. Learn more and make sure you’re registered here.