Compete on the World Stage.
In the VEX Robotics Competition, presented by theRobotics Education & Competition Foundation, teams of students are tasked with designing and building a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge.
Classroom STEM concepts are put to the test as students learn lifelong skills in teamwork, leadership, communications, and more. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels and culminate at the VEX Robotics World Championship each April!
- Middle school, high school, and college/university
- More than 11,500 teams from 45 countries playing in over 900 tournaments
- Local, regional, national, and world competitions
- Standard Matches: Two alliances of two teams each playing against each other
- Robot Skills Challenge: One robot playing alone against the clock
- Online Challenges: Unique contests using CAD, animation, essays, and more
The Game
VEX Robotics Competition Tipping Point is played on a 12’x12’ square field configured as seen above. Two (2) Alliances – one (1) “red” and one (1) “blue” – composed of two (2) Teams each, compete in matches consisting of a fifteen (15) second Autonomous Period, followed by a one minute and forty-five second (1:45) Driver Controlled Period.
The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance by Scoring Rings, moving Mobile Goals to Alliance Zones, and by Elevating on Platforms at the end of a Match.
Details
There are seventy-two (72) Rings and seven (7) Mobile Goals on a VRC Tipping Point Field. Each Alliance has two (2) Alliance Mobile Goals, with the remaining three (3) Goals being neutral. Each Alliance also has a Platform located in their Home Zone.
Rings scored on an Alliance Mobile Goal will count for the respective Alliance, regardless of where it ends the Match. However, Rings scored on Neutral Goals will only count for an Alliance if the Mobile Goal ends the Match in their Home Zone!
As the Match draws to a close, Robots will start heading back towards their Alliance Platforms. Alliances can earn additional points for each Robot and Mobile Goal that ends the Match Elevated on a Balanced Alliance Platform.
The Alliance that scores more points in the Autonomous period is awarded with twenty (20) bonus points, added to the final score at the end of the match. Each Alliance also has the opportunity to earn an additional Win Point by scoring at least one Ring on each of their Alliance’s Mobile Goals, and “Clearing” their Autonomous Win Point Line. This Bonus can be earned by both Alliances, regardless of who wins the Autonomous Bonus
Scoring
| Each Ring Scored on a Neutral Mobile Goal High Branch | 10 Points |
| Each Ring Scored on any other Mobile Goal Branch | 3 Points |
| Each Ring Scored in a Mobile Goal Base | 1 Point |
| Each Mobile Goal Scored in an Alliance Home Zone | 20 Points |
| Each Robot that is Elevated | 30 Points |
| Each Mobile Goal that is Elevated | 40 Points |
| One Ring scored on each Alliance Mobile Goal and a Cleared AWP Line in Autonomous | 1 Win Point |
Ready to start a VEX Robotics team?
Competitive robotics put your skills to the test. Get started!
Find a robotics competition near you!
Teams compete year-round leading to the VEX Robotics World Championship. Learn more!
Apply for a grant.
REC Foundation Team Grant Program matches schools and organizations. Learn more!
The Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation seeks to increase student interest and involvement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by engaging students in hands-on sustainable and affordable curriculum-based robotics engineering programs across the U.S. and internationally.
In addition to operating and supporting competitions for some of the world’s leading robotics platforms and organizations, including VEX, TSA, and BEST Robotics, the foundation also provides program support and
workshops focused on technology and professional development for educators. The REC Foundation is a US-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization.
For more information, visit the REC Foundation website at http://www.roboticseducation.org.