WorldSkills Shanghai 2026: AMR and UAS Countdown

Quick Summary: The countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is on! Taking place September 22–27, 2026, the 48th WorldSkills Competition will bring together approximately 1,400 Competitors from 73 countries and regions to compete across 64 skill competitions. Among them are Autonomous Mobile Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems, two rapidly evolving fields that bring together engineering, electronics, software, automation, and problem-solving. As a WorldSkills Global Partner and the exclusive supplier for the WorldSkills Autonomous Mobile Robotics Competition, Studica Robotics is proud to support the global skills community and follow these two exciting competitions as Competitors prepare to take the stage in Shanghai.

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Is Almost Here

Every two years, the WorldSkills Competition brings together the world's top young talent in technical and vocational skills for a global celebration of skills excellence. Competitors have earned their places at WorldSkills through national and regional selection competitions, representing years of dedication, preparation, and technical achievement.

WorldSkills Skill Sectors

The 64 skill competitions are organized across six skill sectors.

Skill Sector	Number of Skills	Skills in This Sector
Construction and Building Technology	14	Bricklaying, Cabinetmaking, Carpentry, Concrete Construction Work, Digital Construction, Electrical Installations, Intelligent Security Technology, Joinery, Landscape Gardening, Painting and Decorating, Plastering and Drywall Systems, Plumbing and Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Wall and Floor Tiling
Creative Arts and Fashion	7	3D Digital Game Art, Digital Interactive Media Design, Fashion Technology, Floristry, Graphic Design Technology, Jewellery, Visual Merchandising
Information and Communication Technology	8	Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, ICT Network Infrastructure, IT Network Systems Administration, Mobile Applications Development, Software Applications Development, Software Testing, Web Technologies
Manufacturing and Engineering Technology	17	Additive Manufacturing, Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Chemical Laboratory Technology, CNC Milling, CNC Turning, Electronics, Industrial Control, Industrial Design Technology, Industrial Mechanics, Industry 4.0, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Mechatronics, Optoelectronic Technology, Renewable Energy, Robot Systems Integration, Water Technology, Welding
Social and Personal Services	10	Bakery, Beauty Therapy, Cooking, Dental Prosthetics, Hairdressing, Health and Social Care, Hotel Reception, Pâtisserie and Confectionery, Restaurant Service, Retail Sales
Transportation and Logistics	8	Aircraft Maintenance, Autobody Repair, Automobile Technology, Car Painting, Heavy Vehicle Technology, Logistics and Freight Forwarding, Rail Vehicle Technology, Unmanned Aerial Systems

The competition gives Competitors an international stage to demonstrate their technical expertise while highlighting the importance of skilled careers and technical and vocational education and training around the world. For Studica, two competitions are particularly exciting: Autonomous Mobile Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Two Skills to Watch in Shanghai

From robots navigating the ground to unmanned systems taking to the air, Autonomous Mobile Robotics and Unmanned Aerial Systems demonstrate how technical skills are being applied to increasingly automated and connected systems.

Both bring together engineering, electronics, software, and problem-solving, while applying those skills in very different environments.

Autonomous Mobile Robotics at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

Autonomous Mobile Robotics brings together mechanical engineering, electronics, programming, sensors, and control systems as Competitors design, build, program, and test mobile robots to solve complex problems.

Part of the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology sector, the skill reflects the growing role of robotics across industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, aerospace, mining, and medicine. Competitors need to combine multiple areas of technical expertise to create robotic systems that are reliable, precise, and effective.

AMR Materials for Shanghai 2026

For the Autonomous Mobile Robotics competition, the Shanghai 2026 collections provide the components Competitors need to build and configure their robots. The BASE Collection provides the components needed to build four base robot configurations: Differential Drive, Differential Drive All-Terrain, Mecanum, and X-Drive.

The WorldSkills Autonomous Mobile Robotics Shanghai 2026 FULL Collection includes components for those four robots, plus additional parts for the robot OMS assemblies. The collection includes the VMX Robotics Controller, electronics, motors, servos, structural components, gears, sprockets, pulleys, belts, wheels, bearings, axles, brackets, fasteners, and other robotics hardware. In total, the collection offers more than 2,100 components.

Together, these materials give Competitors the flexibility to build, test, and adapt their robots as they tackle the challenges of the Shanghai 2026 competition. Competitors can also create 3D-printed parts when additional components are needed.

Unmanned Aerial Systems Makes Its WorldSkills Debut

For the first time, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) will make its WorldSkills debut at Shanghai 2026. Commonly known as drones, UAS technology has moved far beyond hobby aircraft, with applications ranging from aerial surveying and infrastructure inspection to precision agriculture, firefighting, conservation, and public safety.

At WorldSkills Shanghai, Competitors will bring together skills in aerodynamics, electronics, flight control, software, navigation, sensors, and communications as they work with unmanned aircraft and the technologies that make them fly, sense, and respond to their surroundings.

The Technology Behind the UAS Skill

Studica Robotics supports UAS education and skills development with the Studica WS500 UAV Quadcopter Kit, an open platform designed for hands-on learning with modern unmanned aerial systems.

The WS500 combines a carbon-fiber frame and motors with a CubePilot flight controller and Raspberry Pi 4B companion computer. Its sensor package includes an optical flow and distance sensor with a 6-axis IMU, a ToF 3D depth camera, and T-Mini Plus LiDAR. Together, these components provide a hands-on platform for exploring flight control, navigation, obstacle avoidance, sensor fusion, and autonomous systems, while ROS 2 support with MAVROS adds opportunities to work with robotics software and autonomy.

The kit also includes the practical hardware needed to build and maintain the aircraft, including the power distribution system, propellers, landing gear, wiring, protective covers, and an installation and repair toolkit.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is WorldSkills Shanghai 2026?

The 48th WorldSkills Competition will take place from September 22–27, 2026, in Shanghai, China.

Where will WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 be held?

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will be held in Shanghai, China.

How many skills are represented at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026?

WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 will feature 64 skill competitions across six skill sectors.

What is Autonomous Mobile Robotics?

Autonomous Mobile Robotics is a WorldSkills competition focused on designing, building, programming, testing, and maintaining mobile robots that can solve problems in real-world environments.

What sector is Autonomous Mobile Robotics part of?

Autonomous Mobile Robotics is part of the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology sector at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026.

What is Unmanned Aerial Systems?

Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS, refers to unmanned aircraft and the technologies used to operate them, commonly known as drones. The field involves technologies including aerodynamics, flight control systems, communications, robotics, software, sensors, navigation, and regulatory compliance.

Is Unmanned Aerial Systems new to WorldSkills?

Yes. Unmanned Aerial Systems is making its WorldSkills debut at Shanghai 2026.

What is Studica Robotics' role in WorldSkills?

Studica Robotics is a Global Partner of WorldSkills and the exclusive supplier for the WorldSkills Autonomous Mobile Robotics Competition. Studica also supports skills development in emerging technology fields including robotics and unmanned aerial systems.

The Final Countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

The countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 is almost over. In just a few weeks, Competitors from around the world will put their skills, preparation, and determination to the test on the global stage. For Autonomous Mobile Robotics Competitors, Shanghai is the culmination of years of preparation. For Unmanned Aerial Systems Competitors, Shanghai marks the beginning of a new chapter as the skill makes its WorldSkills debut. Studica Robotics offers WorldSkills Competition Kits for AMR and UAS and proudly supports both competitions. We are excited to be part of the journey to Shanghai.

The countdown is on. We’ll see you in Shanghai!