Judging In addition to match play, a key part of VEX Robotics competitions is competition judging. The REC Foundation oversees judging and decides award criteria for VEX Robotics competitions. The goal of judged awards is for students to become familiar with using industry tools such as documentation. Judges take into consideration the team’s engineering notebook, team interview, team performance in the competition, and general team conduct when deciding awards. The awards offered by the REC Foundation include: •
Excellence Award: This award is given to the best overall team at the competition. The team must rank near the top of all competition rankings and receive high scores on the engineering notebook and team interview. •
Design Award: This is the highest judged award at VEX Robotics competitions. Teams must receive high scores on the engineering notebook and team interview as well as demonstrate their use of the
engineering design process and time management. •
Innovate Award: The innovate award is given to the team who best documents the use of the design process for a unique design on the robot. The team should be able to point to the specific section in their notebook that documents the design of the mechanism. •
Think Award: This award is given to a team that effectively uses programming during the competition. The team should consistently score points during the autonomous period of matches and be ranked near the top of the programming skills rankings. The team should also have clear and complete documentation of programming in their engineering notebook and be able to fully explain their code in the team interview. •
Amaze Award: This award is given to a team with a consistently high-performing robot. An engineering notebook is not required for this award, but the team should be able to explain how they worked together to build and design their robot. •
Build Award: This award is given to a team with a sturdy, safe, and reliable robot. This is often given to the team with the best build quality. •
Create Award: This award is given to a team who uses innovative designs to overcome a challenge rather than simply copying other teams’ designs. •
Judges Award: This is a special award given by judges to a team that does not fit into other award categories but deserves recognition. Judges often give this award to a team that demonstrates strong teamwork and perseverance in overcoming a challenge. Starting in the 2022-2023 season the Judges Award is now required at all events with judging. The VEX Robotics World Championship is the highest level of competition in VEX Robotics and the final competition of each season. This event has been awarded by the
Guinness World Records as the largest robotics competition in the world in 2018 with 30,000 attendees from 70 countries. In 2021, the VEX Robotics World Championships was awarded the title of the largest online robotics championship with 12,693 attendees. A new game is revealed at the conclusion of each World Championships to mark the start of the next season. == Other Programs ==