Spinup

VEX Robotics Competition Spin Up 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 Discs in Goals, Owning Rollers, and Covering field tiles at the end of the Match.

VRC: A Season of Learning

The VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) offers a unique challenge for students who may have already experienced the VEX IQ program during their earlier years. While they may have some familiarity with the engineering design process, VRC presents a new level of complexity and competition.

In VRC, students compete in head-to-head matches where two alliances of two teams each battle for the highest score within a set time period. Unlike the teamwork matches in VEX IQ, students in VRC must also focus on defensive strategies to prevent their opponents from scoring. This year's game, Spin Up, required students to design robots that could accomplish several challenging tasks, including picking up discs, throwing them at goals, spinning rollers, and expanding to cover as many field tiles as possible. By participating in VRC, students gain valuable experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, all of which are essential for success in future academic and professional endeavors.

Throughout the VRC season, students were challenged to apply the engineering design cycle to their robot designs. They began by identifying the problem they needed to solve, brainstorming potential solutions, and designing and building their robots accordingly. However, the game's three different aspects, including rollers, goals, and expansion mechanisms, required unique solutions, and students had to iterate through the design cycle to optimize their robot's performance in each area. This required gathering feedback, refining designs, and making adjustments to improve their robot's ability to score points and defend against their opponents. By using an iterative process, students developed important engineering skills such as prototyping, iteration, and critical thinking. 

These skills are essential for future success in engineering and other technical fields and can be applied to any problem-solving situation, making VRC a valuable program for students seeking to develop their skills and knowledge.