CONSTRUCTION ROBOTICS HACKATHON 2026
The first ever Construction Robotics Hackathon
A high-intensity event for students and innovators working at the intersection of construction, robotics, and digital innovation.
Construction has too much work and too few hands — and the robots that could help already exist. What's missing are people who make them useful on a real site. At the first Construction Robotics Hackathon you won't build hardware from scratch: you'll take real industrial robots, sensors and modern software and turn them into working solutions for real construction use cases. In teams, over one weekend, on real machines.
The weekend
Hands-on challenges built around real construction use cases — solved on real industrial robots
An online kickoff on 13 November, then keynotes and challenge briefings on Friday — mentors all weekend
Interdisciplinary teams — robotics, civil engineering, architecture, computer science
A party with DJ on Saturday night — pitches, jury and prizes on Sunday
Challenge Areas
Three to four use-case challenges — each one a real construction task to solve with industrial robots. The exact challenges will be announced before the event. The areas we're exploring:
Assembly & Installation
Teach a robot arm to handle and place real construction components with precision.
Surface Finishing
From human motion to robot motion — capture how a trade works and let the robot repeat it.
Construction Logistics
Autonomous material transport across a busy site.
Perception & Safety
Use industrial sensor technology to make robots aware of the site around them.
The schedule
Times can still move a little. Accepted participants get the final schedule before the event.
Online kickoff
- 14:00Welcome & intro
- 14:10FormatSchedule, deliverables, jury criteria, prizes and rules
- 14:30Challenge previewThe partners present their challenges
- 15:00Teams & logisticsTeams, travel and the venue
- 15:15Q&A
- 15:30End
Day 1
- 17:00Welcome & safety briefing
- 17:15KeynotesShort talks from research, start-ups and investors
- 18:00Challenge presentationsEach industry partner presents its challenge
- 19:00Dinner & partner fairPizza, drinks and a booth per partner
- 20:00Hacking starts
- →open end
Day 2
- 09:00Breakfast
- 09:45Morning stand-upNews, quick Q&A, the plan for the day
- 10:00Hacking & mentoring
- 12:30Lunch
- 13:30Challenge check-insEach partner meets its teams
- 14:00Hacking & mentoring
- 15:30Fireside chatWith founders and investors
- 16:00Hacking
- 19:00Dinner & partyDJ and drinks
- →open end
Day 3
- 09:00Breakfast
- 09:45Morning stand-upPitch order and submission rules
- 10:00Final hackingHand-in at 12:00: code, slides and demo videos
- 12:00Lunch & tech check
- 13:00PitchesAbout 5 min pitch + 3 min Q&A per team
- 15:30Jury deliberationCoffee and networking
- 16:00Award ceremony
- 16:30Group photo
- 16:45Closing words
- 17:00End
What you take away
- 01Hands-on time with industrial robots you won't get in a lecture hall
- 02Direct contact with construction and technology companies
- 03A share of a prize pool of up to €10,000
- 04The chance to grow your solution into a follow-up project with CTRL
Students of robotics, civil engineering, architecture and computer science — plus startups, young professionals and anyone who wants to put robots to work on real construction problems. You don't need to be a robotics expert: teams mix disciplines, and workshops get you started.
Construction is entering a new era of automation, digital workflows, and intelligent systems. This hackathon is where that shift becomes practical: industry brings real use cases, we bring the robots, and you make it work.
Frequently Asked
Still have a question? Write to info@ctrl-rwth.de
01What exactly is the Construction Robotics Hackathon?+
Three days, real industrial robots, real problems from the construction site. You don't build hardware from scratch — you take robots, sensors and modern software that already exist and make them useful for a construction use case. In an interdisciplinary team, over one weekend, on real machines.
02Who can apply?+
Students of robotics, civil engineering, architecture and computer science — plus startups, young professionals and anyone who wants to put robots to work on real construction problems. You don't have to study at RWTH Aachen.
03Do I need robotics experience?+
No. The online kickoff and the challenge briefings on Friday get you up to speed, mentors help you all weekend, and teams deliberately mix disciplines — the civil engineer who understands the use case matters as much as the developer who writes the code. Beginners are welcome; just tell us your background in the application.
04What does it cost?+
Nothing. Participation, your time on the robots, food and drinks across the whole weekend and the Saturday party are free. For some participants we can also cover travel costs — see below.
05How do I apply — and when do I hear back?+
Fill in the application form at the bottom of this page — applications close on 30 October 2026. Every application is read by the CTRL board, and we select the people who fit the weekend best — it is not first come, first served. We review on a rolling basis and confirm your spot by email. We deliberately mix disciplines and experience levels, so beginners have a real chance: take your time with the motivation question, that's the part we read most closely.
06Can I apply with a team, or on my own?+
Both. Teams are interdisciplinary and 3–5 people. If you already have a team, each of you applies and names the others in the application; if you apply solo, we match you into a team before the kickoff.
07What will we actually work on?+
Three to four challenges — each one a real construction task — from the four areas above: assembly & installation, surface finishing, construction logistics, and perception & safety. The exact challenges are announced before the event.
08What robots and equipment do we get?+
Industrial robot arms, a mobile robot platform, industrial sensor technology and the prototyping tools you need — provided by CTRL and our partners. Bring your own laptop; the robots, tools and materials are on site.
09What can we win?+
A prize pool of up to €10,000, shared among the best teams — how it is split will be announced before the event. The bigger prize is often what comes after: direct contact with construction and technology companies, and the chance to grow your solution into a follow-up project with CTRL.
10Do I have to be there for the whole weekend?+
Yes — plan for Friday 27 November, 17:00, to Sunday 29 November, 17:00, plus the online kickoff on Friday 13 November, 14:00–15:30. Teams build together across the weekend and close it out with the pitches and the prizes.
11Where do I sleep — and is travel or accommodation covered?+
We have some sleeping spots at the lab, but not enough for everyone. If you'd like one, tell us in the application form and bring a sleeping bag — otherwise, please plan your own place to stay. We can also cover travel costs for some participants. We decide this case by case, so it isn't guaranteed — if you need support, tell us in the application form as well.
12Which language is the hackathon in?+
English, so that everyone can take part. Within your team you can of course speak German.
13Where does it take place?+
At the CTRL Lab, Süsterfeldstraße 200, 52072 Aachen.
Application
Apply by 30 October 2026