Experience VEX Robotics World Championship: 1,400 Teams from 30 Nations

[gallery ids="102,104,103" type="rectangular"] Top student robotic teams representing more than 30 nations will compete in the 10th VEX Robotics World Championship April 19-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The event, which broke the Guinness World Record in 2016 for largest robot competition, has been extended from three to seven days this year. VEX Worlds brings $1.7 million in economic impact to Louisville and takes place for the third consecutive year at the Kentucky Exposition Center, filling Freedom Hall, East Hall, North Wing, and South Wing A and B. The event draws 1,400 teams made up of 20,000 students ranging in age from elementary school through college. They are the best of the best, and have competed against 18,000 teams to advance to the championship. During VEX Worlds, these teams compete in games using robots constructed to overcome engineering challenges. There are three VEX events throughout the seven days of competition:

• VEX IQ Challenge Crossover: Elementary and middle school teams compete in a Robot Skills Challenge, where drivers control robots with the goal of achieving the highest score on the playing field. The Teamwork Challenge concentrates on alliance building and robots working together during a match.
• VEX Robotics Competition Starstruck: Middle and high school teams form alliances to compete in matches requiring both autonomous and driver-controlled play. The playing field includes a number of challenges, and the alliance with the highest score wins.
• VEX U: College and university teams compete in an event based on the VEX Robotics Competition, but students are granted more customization and greater flexibility.

VEX Worlds is free and open to the public. Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle and $20 per bus. Event hours are:

• Wednesday, April 19       1:30-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 20           8 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Friday, April 21               8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 22           8:30 a.m.-6:15 p.m.
• Sunday, April 23             1:30-7:30 p.m.
• Monday, April 24            7:45 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 25            7:30 a.m.-6:15 p.m.

The competition is operated by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, which works to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by engaging students in hands-on curriculum-based robotics engineering programs worldwide. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.roboticseducation.org.