Rock Climbing Robots Workshop 2026

About the Workshop

Despite rapid progress in humanoid robotics, complex multi-contact motion planning for highly dynamic tasks remains a fundamental challenge. This workshop explores the intersection of generative AI (diffusion models & transformers) for high-level contact planning and reinforcement learning for whole-body control, using rock climbing as a challenging benchmark.

Contact Planning Whole-Body Control Diffusion Models Reinforcement Learning Humanoid Climbing Multi-Contact Robotics Legged Locomotion Generative AI

Curriculum Overview

Climbing Demo

Hackathon

The goal of the Hackathon is to climb small walls using humanoid-shaped robots.

The three challenges below can be tackled independently — teams are free to focus on any single challenge or combine several of them.

Challenge 1 — Perception

Build a 3D model of the climbing wall and estimate the robot's pose in real time. Can be addressed independently of planning and control.

Challenge 2 — Planning

Generate a feasible path and contact sequence for climbing the wall. Fiducial markers can be used so perception is not required.

Challenge 3 — Control

Whole-body execution of the planned motion on a physical robot platform. A pre-computed contact plan can be provided so planning is not required.

Climbing robot prototype developed by the organizers.

Practical Information

A simulator will be released by the organizers (date T.B.D.)
A small-size robotic platform will be provided
Fiducial markers available — teams can skip perception and focus on planning & control
Official rules released: read the rules (PDF) v1.1 · release history

Microban — real robot

Climbing in simulation

Hardware — in progress

Hardware specifications

Microban will be used as a base to design a climber for the Hackathon.

Specifications for the small climbing wall and the robotic platforms are still being designed — they will be published here as soon as they are finalized.

Rhoban/microban on GitHub

Call for Participation

We welcome all students and researchers interested in robotics and/or AI, regardless of experience level.

Who should attend?

Undergraduate & graduate students in Robotics, AI, CS, Mechanical Engineering
PhD students and postdocs working on motion planning, control, or perception
Anyone passionate about humanoid robotics and climbing challenges

Practical details

Standard robotic platforms will be available on-site
Participants are welcome to bring their own robot

Contact & Registration

Interested in joining? Send us an email or subscribe to the mailing list for updates on registration, the simulator release, and updates to the rules.

Get in Touch

Participants

Country	City	Structure
Taiwan	Taipei	National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)
Germany	Wolfenbüttel	Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences
France	Talence	ENSEIRB-MATMECA, option Robotique Autonome (Team A)
France	Talence	ENSEIRB-MATMECA, option Robotique Autonome (Team B)
Scotland	Edinburgh	University of Edinburgh
France	Talence	Inria, Mnemosyne team
France	Bordeaux	University of Bordeaux, DROBOTIQUE

This list is updated as registrations come in.

Venue

SMART Facility — University of Bordeaux

The workshop is held at the SMART (Sport, Motion, Arts & Research Technology) sports science research facility in Bordeaux, France. The site features a full motion capture studio, force platforms, and an indoor climbing wall — ideal for human climbing data collection and robot experimentation.

Complexe sportif SMART, Bordeaux, France

Schedule

Wednesday, 28 October 2026
10:00	Visit of Pollen Robotics Guided visit of Pollen Robotics (a Hugging Face company), Bordeaux.
Afternoon	Setting up Installation of the climbing wall and of the robotic platforms.
Thursday, 29 October 2026
09:00	Hackathon kick-off Opening of the hackathon and introduction to the platforms.
After kick-off	Daily meeting / Tutorials Hands-on tutorials on the simulator and the robotic platforms.
12:00	Standing buffet lunch Walking lunch (cocktail déjeunatoire) offered by the organizers.
Afternoon	Hackathon
Evening	Welcome reception Arrival of the remaining participants, welcome reception.
Friday, 30 October 2026
09:00 – 10:00	Daily meeting / Tutorials Daily briefing of the teams, followed by a tutorial session.
From 10:00	Hackathon Team work and live testing sessions on the climbing wall.
Saturday, 31 October 2026
09:00 – 10:00	Daily meeting / Tutorials Daily briefing of the teams, followed by a tutorial session.
From 10:00	Hackathon
14:00	Internship & PhD opportunities Presentations by Bordeaux (France), Edinburgh (Scotland), Taipei (Taiwan) and Wolfenbüttel (Germany).
Afternoon	Hackathon continues
Sunday, 1 November 2026
Morning	Final hackathon sprint
11:00	Closing day Debriefing, final demos and Hackathon Trophies ceremony.
Afternoon	Dismantling the setup End of the event.