Results of Phase 1 judging for the 2026 Drillbotics Competition are in!
Physical Rig Competition (Mode P)
Five of the teams that submitted Phase 1 Design Reports have advanced to Phase 2 (listed alphabetically):
- ITBA (Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires) – Argentina
- NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) – Norway
- PDEU (Pandit Deendayal Energy University) – India
- TAMU (Texas A&M University) – USA
- TU Clausthal (Clausthal University of Technology) – Germany
Virtual Rig Competition (Mode V)
Four teams have advanced to Phase 2 (listed alphabetically):
- PalSU + SunUU (Palawan State University + Sunway University) – Philippines + Malaysia
- UMaT Team A (University of Mines and Technology) – Ghana
- UMaT Team B (University of Mines and Technology) – Ghana
- UMaT Team C (University of Mines and Technology) – Ghana
Congratulations to all teams advancing to Phase 2! We’re impressed by the quality and innovation demonstrated in your design reports.
What’s Next?
Phase 2 teams should prepare for:
- February 25, 2026 – SPE Live – Join us for “Engineering the Next Leap in Drilling Automation and Digital Systems” with finalist teams showcase their progress for this year. The committee will coordinate with some of you on this.
- Mandatory (For Virtual Teams) Interoperability Check – A required gate before proceeding with Phase 2 development. The committee will coordinate with you on this.
- Final Competition Day – May/June 2026, where teams will put their autonomous drilling systems to the ultimate test.
- March 17-19, 2026 – Drillbotics will have an exhibition booth on the IADC/SPE Drilling Conference in Galveston, Texas.
Visit our Guidelines website for Phase 2 requirements and detailed competition rules.
Good luck to all competing teams as you move forward to the final test!
2025-2026 Drillbotics is proudly sponsored by:
