From ₵5000 to the Robotics Arena – Our GRC Journey Begins
When we first heard about the Ghana Robotics Competition (GRC -2025 ), we were excited — but also a bit overwhelmed. The competition sounded huge: universities, high schools, and junior teams from across the country gathering at the University of Ghana to showcase their innovation and engineering skills.
But the first barrier wasn’t the robot. It was the ₵5000 registration fee.
Luckily, our team — TechTitans — didn’t give up. We applied for scholarships and reached out to our alumni, who stepped in to cover part of the cost. That support was everything. Without it, we wouldn’t be preparing for one of the biggest robotics competitions in the country.
Getting the Kit – First Step, First Lesson
Once we were confirmed, we had to get the robotics kit, a mat, and a set of obstacles (called “game elements”). The kit came with a pre-designed building guide — a helpful starting point for beginners like us.
At first, the building part wasn’t too hard. The instructions were clear enough, but what we appreciated most was the freedom to customize. You’re allowed to build in your own style, as long as it fits the rules — and that flexibility lets your creativity shine.
But the first barrier wasn’t the robot. It was the ₵5000 registration fee.
Luckily, our team — TechTitans — didn’t give up. We applied for scholarships and reached out to our alumni, who stepped in to cover part of the cost. That support was everything. Without it, we wouldn’t be preparing for one of the biggest robotics competitions in the country.
The Real Challenge: Programming
If building was straightforward, programming was the real challenge.
The Xplore Bot — the robot used in the Engineers League — needs to be programmed before it can do anything. At first, nothing worked. We wrote the code and… nothing happened.
Then we realized: you have to switch the Xplore Bot on before the code runs. That small switch taught us a big lesson — details matter.
We experimented with Python and started exploring AI-powered support to help us troubleshoot. The platform also has a block-style interface, similar to Scratch, (Xplore ide) which we’re still figuring out how to use fully. It’s a visual programming option — great for understanding how logic flows before diving deep into pure code.
The Journey Has Just Begun
Right now, we’re still refining our robot and learning how to program it efficiently. We’re testing different strategies for the Smart City Builders Challenge — the theme for this year’s Engineers League. It’s not just about tech — it’s about teamwork, time management, and trial and error.
We’ll be sharing more about our experience, challenges, and progress as we go. From struggling with a power switch to planning how to fix a bridge with a robot — this is a journey of growth.
Because in GRC, every mistake is a lesson, and every lesson gets us closer to building the future.
📢 Follow our journey! More articles coming soon on how we’re building, coding, and competing at GRC 2025.