FLL UNEARTHED Innovation Project: Get a Jump on Research and Ideas!
- Arnav Jain
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The 2025–2026 season of FIRST LEGO League, called UNEARTHED, officially launched on August 5, 2025, and invites teams to explore the underground world—from tunnels, buried cables, and pipes to hidden ruins and ancient artifacts. The earlier your team starts thinking, researching, and brainstorming, the more time you'll have to investigate clues, solve ancient puzzles, and build a strong, future-shaping project through curiosity and teamwork.
You can watch the reveal video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exWkcUBS0j8
Using LEGO® SPIKE Prime or MINDSTORMS EV3 robots, teams will complete missions on the field that simulate real underground challenges. But just as important as the Robot Game is, the Innovation Project is even more significant.
What Is the Innovation Project?
Each FLL team will:
Identify a real-world problem related to underground systems or exploration
Learn how it affects people, places, or the environment
Research and learn about that problem
Develop a creative solution
Share their solution with others
The Innovation Project is a chance for teams to think like scientists, engineers, and inventors. It’s about solving problems that exist in the real world.
How to Start Your FLL UNEARTHED Innovation Project Research
To begin, teams should look for a real problem related to the underground theme. Below are some ideas and topics that fit the season and can lead to strong, meaningful projects:
Underground Infrastructure
How do cities detect broken pipes and leaking cables underground?
Can we design better ways to repair things below the surface without digging everything up?
Archaeology and Ancient Discoveries
How can we safely uncover old buildings, tools, or fossils buried underground?
Can robots help archaeologists dig carefully and avoid damaging fragile objects?
Underground Environments
What kinds of life exist in caves or deep underground?
How can we explore these places without harming them?
Urban Planning and Transportation
How can we design better subway systems or underground walkways?
Can we build underground spaces that are safer, more affordable, or more eco-friendly?
Monitoring and Safety
Can we build sensors that tell us when the ground is shifting or in danger of collapsing?
How can we track underground pollution or rising water levels?
Robotics and Exploration Tools
How can we design robots that work well in small, dark underground spaces?
Can we create tools to map tunnels or underground areas more accurately?
Why This Matters
The Innovation Project is not just a school assignment — it’s a real-world challenge. Many cities, scientists, and engineers are already working on these problems. Your team’s idea could help inspire real solutions in the future.
It’s also one of the three judged areas of the competition, along with the Robot Game and Core Values. Doing well on the project can help your team stand out — and it’s a great learning experience, too.
Want Help Getting Started?
If you’re new to FLL or want more ideas, check out our other blog posts for:
Robot game tips
Mission breakdowns and strategy
Innovation Project brainstorming tools