National Robot Rodeo
August 11-15, 2025 | Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Aurora, Colorado
The use of advanced robotics in public safety and military bomb squad communities has grown significantly over the past few decades. As technology increases, bomb technicians need to better understand capabilities and limitations of these systems in order to align industry research and development (R&D) with the needs of responders based on real world applications. The NRR brings together experienced operators from military and public safety bomb squads to evaluate new and emerging robotic capabilities in real world operating environments. In partnership, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), the Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Office for Bombing Prevention (DHS CISA OBP), the EOD Technology Center at Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (EODTECHCEN/NSWC IHD), Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), and the United Kingdom Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK Dstl) are sponsoring the 8th annual NRR. Arapahoe County Sheriff Bomb Squad will host the event at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, CO with support of the United States Bomb Technicians Association (USBTA).
"It's our fifth year supporting the event. It allows us to stay ahead of threats that are constantly changing by looking at capabilities."
The NRR exposes active members of military and public safety bomb squads to new products and technology, while providing real-time feedback (i.e. as part of an Operational Evaluation) to event facilitators, sponsors, and supporting vendors. Sean Haglund, Associate Director, Department of Homeland Security Office for Bombing Prevention: “It’s our fifth year supporting the event. It allows us to stay ahead of threats that are constantly changing by looking at capabilities.” This multi-agency event provides opportunities for participants to network with other bomb technicians and exchange information on tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Out of the 29 operators and 25 vendors who participated in 2024, 100% said they would attend the event again in nearly all would recommend colleagues to attend in the future.
100%
Operators & Vendors in 2024 who said they
would attend again in the future
Participants will have an opportunity to utilize various unmanned systems technologies in a myriad of complex scenarios designed to replicate commonly encountered EOD and Public Safety Bomb Squad scenarios. This includes the following:
- Drones
- Passenger Vehicle and Bus Borne IEDs
- Complex Search, ID, and Clear RAD and CBRNE Threats
- Large Area Clearance
"We're looking for innovative solutions. The rodeo brings industry to the table to showcase how new and emerging technologies can meet their needs. It gets us close to the producers."
The National Robot Rodeo is a multi-day technical competition. Potential technologies, capabilities, scenarios, and demonstrations include:
- Detect, Locate, Access, Diagnose, Neutralize/Render Safe, Recover, Exploit, Dispose – Technologies and Payloads
- AI/ML and AR/VR Capabilities
- Platforms and Payloads (Air/sUAS & Ground)
- Maritime and Underwater (Shallow Water) Platforms and Payloads
- Sensors and Detection
- Secure and Agile Communications
- (Semi) Autonomy and Multi-Agent Collaboration
- Manned-Unmanned Teaming
- Mapping and Data Fusion
- Challenging Environments (low light, GPS denied, cluttered, extreme weather, etc)
- 3D Printed Tools/Payloads
- Remote Energetic Tools and Precision Aiming
- Advanced Command and Control (e.g. Haptics, Wearable, etc)
- First Place: USMC 2D EOD CO, Camp Lejeune, NC
- Second Place: USAF 125th EOD
- Third Place: USMC
Meets formal training requirements for bomb technician proficiency as outlined in the National Guidelines (40 hours)- Exposure to new and emerging technologies
- Challenging operational environments
- Vendor engagement – direct feedback from teams and sponsors
- Identification of new technology requirements/needs
- Modeled after real-world events and scenarios
- Allows teams to push capability boundaries
- Provides networking opportunities
- Identification of robotic capability shortfalls
- Enables early development of training techniques when using new technologies
For more information or for questions, please contact USBTA representative Amber Lowe.