The VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) has two separate age groups taking part.
Elementary (Primary Schools)
Middle School (Secondary Schools up to Year 10)
Each year, a different VEX IQ Robotics Competition game is released. Teams will design, build and program a robot to play this game. This video give an overview of the 2024 - 2025 game, Rapid Relay. Both age groups will be playing the same game.
Teams will design and build a robot using the VEX IQ system of parts. Teams are not allowed to alter the parts from their original state, so the need to be clever about how they use them in their designs.
Please familiarise yourself with the Game Manual: VIQRC Rapid Relay Game Manual
Teamwork Challenge Matches
For Middle School, there are two separate Divisions, Lovelace and Brunel. Teams are randomly divided into these Divisions. For Elementary School, there is a single Division.
Throughout the event, teams will participate in numerous Teamwork Challenge qualification matches partnered with other teams in their Division based on a randomly generated schedule. The teams work together in each match to score as many points as possible. Both teams get the score from that match included in their overall average score. These average scores go into a league table (called Rankings) which you will be able to see throughout the event.
After all the qualification matches are complete, teams are paired with the team next to them in the rankings for the Finals matches. So rank 1 and 2 are paired together, 3 and 4 together and so on.
In the Finals, each Alliance gets one shot at setting the highest score possible to see who will be Divisional Champions. Finally, the two Divisional Champion Alliances will face off one last time to see who will be crowned Teamwork Champions.
Skills
Teams will also have the opportunity to show off their individual ability in the Skills Challenges.
There are two categories here. In Driver Skills, teams take to the Field on their own and try to score as many points as possible in one-minute. In Autonomous Coding Skills, teams are not allowed to use their remote controls and must code the robot to score points autonomously.
Each team will get three attempts at Driver Skills and three attempts at Autonomous Coding Skills over the course of the event. Their highest score from each category will be added together to give an overall Skills score - the team with the highest combined score will be crowned Skills Champion.
Elementary and Middle School teams will have separate rankings tables for Skills.
Awards
As well as the performance related awards (Divisional Champions, Teamwork Champions and Skills Champions), there are also numerous judged awards, which is where our panel of judges come in! Judges will be told in advance which award they will be judging.
So that you can familiarise yourself prior to the event, please read the REC Foundation resources on judging here. Please feel free to read as much of this as you can prior to the event. The most important sections are:
Get Started - Judge Volunteer Role Overview
Judging Processes: The Guide to Judging - There are a few sections under this heading to help you prepare. The Guide to Judging: Awards outlines each of the awards on offer and the criteria for these awards
There is no requirement for judges to have taken the Judge Certification Course. However, if you wish to expand your knowledge then you are very welcome to complete this.
There will be a Judges Briefing each morning which will take you through everything you need to know. Judges will have time to interview each team in relation to their award as well as watch on-field matches to help with decision making.
