Nearly 500 students will compete in the 2017 VEX Robotics State Championships set for Feb. 19 at Michigan State University’s Jenison Field House.
Competitors from 48 high school and 28 middle school teams will participate in the tournament from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The students will challenge each other for top state honors and the right to represent Michigan in the 2017 VEX Robotics World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, April 19-25.
“VEX is the fastest growing robotics competition in the country and MSU is proud to nurture these young engineers and designers,” said Drew Kim, assistant to the dean for recruitment, scholarship and K-12 outreach in the MSU College of Engineering. “This is one of Michigan’s biggest STEM events each year and one of the best ways to showcase MSU for students interested in technical fields.”
This year’s theme is “VEX Starstruck.” Using the VEX Robotics Design System, students build innovative robots and compete on a 12-foot by 12-foot playing field. Points are scored by moving 24 stars and four cubes, and by expertly hanging their hand-built robot on a corner pole before time expires.
"VEX Robotics helps middle and high school students learn the basics of technical communication, working together, trouble shooting and having fun in a team setting,” said Bob Watson, K-12 outreach and robotics coordinator for the College of Engineering.
MSU is the largest university sponsor of VEX Robotics in Michigan with 24 teams around the state, many of them from underrepresented student populations. The tournament is supported by MSU student volunteers who help VEX participants learn the principles of engineering as they design and build their robots for competition.