The participants are required to build machines that can perform a set task like play soccer (in 1995) or basketball (1996), pluck carrots (1997) or play carrom (1998) on a dining table-sized field. This year's game is Sumo Wrestling. The challenge is to create a robot whose purpose is to push, throw, flip, drag or move the opponent out of the 1.25 m ring.

Professor C Amarnath of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Mumbai and the brain behind Yantriki, says, ``The idea is to give students a platform to explore their potential. One should know how to build something out of nothing.'' Elimination and preliminary rounds will be held on August 28-29 and October 9 respectively. There are three categories: Tournament - based on the outcome, Technical -based on engineering excellence, looks and workmanship; Ingenious devices - in recognition of creativity and novelty.

There are special prizes for ``flawless machines''. The organisers will reimburse the machine cost, one-way train fare for two and accommodation. Visitors can also surf the net, play virtual reality games, take part in on-the-spot competitions, hourly quizzes and workshops.

Details can be got on www.iitb.ernet.in/ yantriki, or on 5782545 (extn 8527), or e-mail: yantriki@me.iitb.ernet.in. Last date of registration is September 15.