Thank you for sharing the 2026 rules.
I have read RCJRescueLine2026-final.pdf and RCJRescueMaze2026-final.pdf.
and I have some questions about it.
Section 4.1, which was included in the 2025 rules, has been removed. In particular, Section 4.1.5 described parts and modules that were not allowed to be used.
Does the removal of Section 4.1 mean that there are no longer any prohibited parts or modules (i.e., that any parts or modules may now be used)?
Are items such as line-following sensors, AI cameras, and OCR libraries, which were prohibited in Section 4.1.5 of the 2025 rules, now permitted for use in 2026?
I posted this question on the Forum on February 15, but I have not yet received a response.
I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly provide an answer.
Thank you for reading the draft rules carefully and for your questions.
Even though the old “prohibited parts/modules list” (2025 section 4.1.5) is no longer present, that does not mean “everything is allowed” in 2026.
In the 2026 Rescue Line rules, the restrictions are written in a more general way. In particular, the rules still prohibit using commercially produced robot kits or sensor components that are specifically designed or marketed to complete any single primary task of RoboCupJunior Rescue (i.e., “task-solver” modules). This is intended to keep the league educational and fair.
What this means for your examples
Line-following sensors
If you mean a ready-made “line follower module” sold/marketed for line following / RCJ Rescue, then it is still not permitted under the “task-solver component” restriction.
If you mean general-purpose reflectance/IR sensors (that students integrate and program themselves), those are typically considered normal sensors and are generally acceptable.
AI cameras
A general camera / vision sensor can be fine.
But an “AI camera” module that is marketed as a complete line-following solution (or a complete rescue-task solution) would fall into the same “task-solver component” category and would not be permitted.
OCR libraries
The 2026 rules allow the use of external code, as long as teams credit the original creators and the team can explain what they are doing (i.e., it is not just using a complete solution without understanding).
So an OCR library is not automatically prohibited in 2026 by “parts/modules” rules. The key expectations are proper credit and student understanding.
It is very important that students understand it very well and are able to explain it.
Important practical note
Because these cases depend heavily on what exactly the item is and how it is marketed, the committee usually answers with this principle:
Generic sensors and tools are fine; “single-task RCJ Rescue solver” modules are not.
Best regards,
Mahmoud Madi
2026 RCJ Rescue Committee
Generic sensors and tools are fine; “single-task RCJ Rescue solver” modules are not.
I believe this corresponds to what is written in Rule 4.3.2 of the Rescue Line rules and Rule 4.3.5 of the Rescue Maze rules.
However, it is difficult for us to determine what should be considered “single-task RCJ Rescue solver” modules. We would appreciate it if you could provide some examples.
In the 2025 rules, Section 4.1.4 listed examples of modules that were allowed, and Section 4.1.5 listed examples of modules that were not allowed. This made the interpretation easier. However, these examples were removed in the 2026 rules, which makes it difficult for us to understand the boundary.
For example:
a. Using an AI camera (HuskyLens) only as a simple camera without using its AI functions.
b. Using the AI functions of an AI camera (HuskyLens).
c. Using a PixyCam only as a simple camera without using its special functions.
d. Using the line-following function of PixyCam.
e. Using the object recognition function of PixyCam.
f. Using TensorFlow with a dataset that was created and trained by someone else.
g. Using TensorFlow with a dataset that was created by someone else but trained by ourselves.
h. Using EasyOCR.
Would these be considered “single-task RCJ Rescue solver” modules?