Objective
Education and research on advanced autonomous space robotics technologies, including AI, control, perception, and navigation.
AI × SPACE × ROBOTICS
Advancing Space Robotics
through research and competition.
RoboCup JapanOpen @Space Challenge is a robotics competition designed to advance AI × Space × Robotics technologies for future activities in orbit, on the Moon, and on other planetary bodies.
01 / ABOUT
About
@Space Challenge
Participants develop algorithms and integrate systems for autonomous space robots, competing on problem-solving tasks inspired by real operations. The challenge also aims to build a community connecting education, research, and industry.
Participants
Open to a broad range of participants involved in space robotics, including students, professionals, research institutions, and companies.
Competition Format
Tasks and evaluation metrics are designed around scenarios in which robots operate in actual space environments.
02 / TOURNAMENTS
Tournament
Archives
Overview, rules, schedules, and results for each tournament year.
03 / NEWS
News
Latest updates on activities, awards, and tournaments
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Two presentations, including a keynote lecture, were delivered at the 44th Annual Conference of the Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ2026).
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The @Space Challenge received the Robotics Society of Japan Award for its competition platform promoting the application of ground-based AI technologies to space.
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RoboCup JapanOpen 2026 @Space Challenge was held as an autonomous space robotics competition in an ISS-simulated environment.
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The RoboCup JapanOpen @Space Challenge tournament website was launched.
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An invited lecture was delivered at the RoboCup Workshop, a 30th-anniversary special project of the Kayamori Foundation of Informational Science Advancement.
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A RoboCup @Space Challenge tutorial was held at the 13th Intelligent Home Robotics Workshop.
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Two presentations on @Space Challenge were delivered at the 43rd Annual Conference of the Robotics Society of Japan (RSJ2025).
04 / PUBLICATIONS
Publications & Presentations
Research outputs and presentations on the competition platform
44th Annual Conference of the Robotics Society of Japan RSJ2026
| Title | Authors | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Prospects for Human-Cooperative Robotics Technologies in Spacecraft through Robot Competitions | Taisei Nishishita et al. | Abstract PDF |
| KEYNOTE Design and Implementation of a Space AI Robot Benchmark in RoboCup JapanOpen 2026 @Space Challenge | Yuki Ikeda et al. | Abstract PDF |
43rd Annual Conference of the Robotics Society of Japan RSJ2025
| Title | Authors | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Concept of RoboCup JapanOpen @Space Challenge | Yoshinobu Hagiwara et al. | Abstract PDF |
| Technology Demonstration Using the ISS Internal Robot Int-Ball2 and Expansion to @Space Challenge | Yuki Ikeda et al. | Abstract PDF |