VEX Robotics

VEX Robotics is a robotics program for elementary through university students and a subset of Innovation First International. The VEX Robotics competitions and programs are managed by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF).[1] In April 2018, VEX Robotics Competition was named the largest robotics competition in the world by Guinness World Records.[2]

There are four leagues of VEX Robotics competitions designed for different age groups and skill levels:

  • VEX V5 Robotics Competition (previously VEX EDR, VRC) is for middle and high school students. This is the largest league of the four. VEX Robotics teams have an opportunity to compete annually in the VEX V5 Robotics Competition (V5RC)[3]
  • VEX IQ Robotics Competition is for elementary and middle school students. VEX IQ robotics teams have an opportunity to compete annually in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC).[4]
  • VEX AI is a planned advanced robotics program for high school and university students. The pilot program registration was initially scheduled to open to university students in fall of 2020,[5] however, as of 2024, no competitions have taken place.[6] As of February 2024, there have been no official updates on when, or if, the first VEX AI competition will happen. VEX AI robotics teams will have an opportunity to compete in the VEX AI Competition (VAIC).
  • VEX U is a robotics competition for college and university students. The game is similar to V5RC, but traditionally with separate, more relaxed rules on the construction of their robots.[7]

In each of the four leagues, students are given a new challenge annually and must design, build, program, and drive a robot to complete the challenge as best as they can. The robotics teams that consistently display exceptional mastery in all of these areas will eventually progress to the VEX Robotics World Championship.

The description and rules for the season's competition are released during the world championship of the previous season. Starting in 2021, the VEX Robotics World Championship has been held in Dallas, Texas each year in mid-April or mid-May, depending on which league the teams are competing in.[8]

  1. ^ "Home". REC Foundation. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Stephenson, Kristen (May 16, 2018). "Over 30,000 students help to break the record for largest robot competition". guinnessworldrecords. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
  3. ^ "Robotica educativa e Coding: Kit di robotica avanzata VEX V5 per didattica STEM". www.siadsrl.net. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ^ "Robotica educativa e Coding: Robot educativo per didattica STEAM e coding". www.siadsrl.net. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "VEX AI Competition - Competition - V5 - VEX Robotics". VEX Robotics. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  6. ^ Beem, Michael (May 2023). "Is VEX AI still a thing?". VEX Forum. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "VEX U". REC Foundation. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "VEX Robotics World Championship". roboticseducation.org. Retrieved July 31, 2019.