Robotics Education & Competition Foundation
Inspiring students, one robot at a time.
Inspiring students, one robot at a time.
Event Code: RE-VRC-20-3259
Program: VEX Robotics Competition
Type of Event: Tournament
Event Format: Remote, Skills Only
Capacity: 20 / Spots Open: 3
Event Region: California - North
Price: $50.00
This event is closed to registration because:Date: 01/09/2021
Venue/Location:
Grade Level: All
Robot Skills Challenge Offered: Yes
Judging Format: Remote judging
This will be a unique experience! For more information and details, keep reading!
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few key differences in how this event will be conducted
Firstly, this is a remote event, to prevent close contact between participating teams. It is fully online, with the competing teams participating remotely over Zoom video calls, from the safety of their own fields.
This also means that any team from across the world can participate (timezone considerations permitting)!
Additionally, this event is also skills-only. No tournament alliance / head to head matches.
This VEX VRC competition will be held entirely online over Zoom video calls. Before the event, I will send you the meeting link and password. This means that you will need to have access to:
A computer / mobile device capable of joining a Zoom meeting with both video and audio
A Vex Competition Field setup with the VRC Change Up game elements to play matches on
The ability to compete under the Remote, Live Skills conditions described in the Game Manual.
We will be running matches live, and will try to live stream the events. Per the Game Manual, the Head Referee will be a certified referee for this remote event. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at gvexrobotics@gmail.com
Because of the online format, this event will be organized as a "Skills-Only" event. This means that you will only play Skills Challenge matches - both driver and autonomous (no tournament alliance matches).
Each time will sign up for a 30 time slot. During these 30 mins, the team will get a chance to play a total of 6 rounds - 3 driver skills rounds + 3 autonomous rounds. The robot with the highest combined skills score will win the event! We will have 4 teams sign up in a one hour slot and we will rotate between each team on that one hour time slot.
Remote Judging
Online Engineering notebook should be turned in by Friday Jan 8. Qualified teams will be invited on Saturday late morning with a time slot for remote judging.
In order to get ready for this event, there is not much you will need to do other than build a robot and practice!
Mandatory: All teams MUST have an adult present during the Skills run, have a sizing tool ready, and turn on webcams when entering the video conferencing room. All participants must have a Participant Release Form on file. It is the responsibility of the Team’s Primary Contact to make sure this occurs, this should be submitted online. You will also need to have a mobile camera connected to zoom to show close up of the field or your robot for inspection. We will also have a short session earlier in the day or the previous day to do a tech check of your setup and ask you to sign up for a time slt to make sure things are set up okay. We will send detailed instructions on this.
Inspection: No additional time will be given to complete the Inspection.
You need: One Competition Switch • Tool for sizing (VEX measuring tool or equivalent, measuring tape, etc.) • One webcam is permissible if it can view the whole field as well as move around the field via the Head Ref's instructions. Otherwise, additional webcams are needed to accomplish these tasks. Webcams need to log into the event at least 5 minutes before your time slot. Teams should carefully review the VRC Change Up Appendix B Game Manual section regarding team requirements for Remote Skills Matches.
Before logging into the Skills event room, review event norms with teams.
Watch the Skills Only event for 15-30 minutes prior to your assigned time so you can see other Sessions and get a sense of flow for the time increments.
Be ready with your field properly set up and your robot/controller/timer turned on 2-3 minutes prior to your Session time(s).
Enter session with webcams and microphones off until the Head Ref recognizes the start of your team’s session.
Use your team name as your Zoom name on
Switch on all webcams and microphones at all times during your team’s session
Switch off all webcams and microphones immediately at the end of your team’s session.
Ensure that the Team coach (Primary Contact or other adult who is not a team member) is present throughout the entire Skills session
Go through inspection of the robot, if not already completed, and then run up to (3) Driver Skills and (3) Programming Skills Matches.
Head Referees will not address rule related questions or clarifications in the chat. Teams should ask the Head Referee questions during their session time, just as they would have at an in-person event.
Here are a few things that would be good to verify on the day of the event:
Access to device with a working camera, microphone and internet connection with Zoom installed
This device, or an additional one, should be able to get up close to the goals to verify scored vs unscored balls, if called for by the referee
VEX VRC 2020-2021 Change Up Field
Tape measure or ruler (for robot inspection) (ideally the sizing tool)
Stop Clock (as a backup timer)
Spare parts
Batteries and chargers
Robots and controllers
Lunch / Snacks
NOTE: New this year, you will be required to complete a consent release form for all participants on robotevents.com
Each team will sign up for a time slot and will need to log into the Zoom meeting during this time. You should plan to join the meeting 15 minutes in advance of your allotted slot. You will receive more detailed instructions later on email.
Participating teams must be paid up, two weeks prior to the event. Teams not paid at this time may be dropped at the event partner's discretion to allow in teams from the waitlist. Refunds are not typically offered, but if you have a special case, please just let us know and we will see what we can do (see Refund Policy).
We may make it available on the RobotEvents event page on the day of the event.
Event Partner will provide agenda prior to the event. This event is a remote, live Skills-only event without judging.
Almost all event volunteer positions for this event are already filled.
If you have a special interest however, feel free to contact me at gvexrobotics@gmail.com and we will work to integrate you into our event staff.
Unless there is a major catastrophe (for example, a hurricane) or an internet/power outage, the event will take place as scheduled.
If you are unable to attend due to bad weather or an internet/power outage, please contact the Event Partner.
In the case of extremely bad weather conditions or possible cancellations, please visit the event on Robotevents.com where updates about the event status will be posted as needed. In case of an emergency, we will individually reach out to all teams using any and all contact information required. Teams should make sure their contact information in Robotevents.com is up to date and includes both school and non-school phone numbers.
In the event of an issue during the event (for example, internet/power outage), we will attemt to reconnect everyone as quickly as possible.
If we are unable to reconnect, the event will be rescheduled or cancelled, and refunds may be issued (see Refund Policy).
In the era of COVID-19, there are countless safety and health regulations in place for us to follow.
Because this event is fully remote, we will not be in danger of spreading the virus accross attendees or spectators.
(The World Health Organization has confirmed that COVID-19 cannot spread accross 5G networks)
Please make sure that you follow any and all national, state, county, and city guidelines for your local area when arranging to meet as a team (if you choose to).
https://youtu.be/9i6TV35Hbts - Room 1
https://youtu.be/HpCLgNfl-DQ - Room 2