TIER IV and the Autoware Foundation (AWF) are sponsoring the 31st Roboracer Autonomous Racing Competition, currently underway at IROS 2026 through September 30. Featuring open-source hardware designs and simulation tools, the competition brings together students, researchers and engineers from around the world to build and race 1:10 scale autonomous vehicles. Competitions such as this and the Autonomous Driving AI Challenge are vital proving grounds for the next generation of engineers. Sponsoring the event allows TIER IV, lead developer of the open-source autonomous driving software Autoware, to support innovation within open ecosystems and engage directly with the global community advancing the field.
From simulation to track
At the event, teams first participate in a qualification time trial, proving their cars can complete laps without colliding with track bounds. Competitors then advance to a knockout tournament, pitting their autonomous driving algorithms against each other in four-car races.
The organizers provide various resources to help teams get started, including a detailed build manual for the open-source Roboracer Autonomous Vehicle System, simulation environments and educational materials, lowering the entry barrier for aspiring engineers. Competitors have to develop algorithms capable of handling new tracks and dynamic race conditions, gaining experience in sensor processing and vehicle control under strict hardware constraints. The 6th Roboracer Sim Racing League, a virtual benchmark competition, is also being held for teams to participate remotely.
Driving innovation
At TIER IV, our goal is to make autonomous driving accessible to all. Realizing this requires a thriving ecosystem of skilled developers. By supporting events such as the Roboracer Autonomous Racing Competition, TIER IV is helping to cultivate the next generation of autonomous driving engineers through open collaboration. “Roboracer provides an accessible path to practical software development,” said TIER IV North America President and Autoware Foundation Board Member, Christian John. “By backing open platforms, we are connecting with the global developer community and offering tools to build real-world systems together.”
If you are attending IROS 2026, visit the track to see the competition live. Representatives from TIER IV and AWF are also at the event. For more information about the competition, visit roboracer.ai.
Details
- Event: 31st Roboracer Autonomous Racing Competition
- Dates: September 27 – 30, 2026
- Location: David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Official site: iros2026-race.roboracer.ai
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