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VEX Factory Automation Competition

The VEX Factory Automation Competition is a classroom-based competition that provides students with essential and desirable foundational skills needed for today's advanced manufacturing careers. Students progress from education to workforce and beyond by engaging in hands-on curriculum using the VEX V5 Workcell.

Current Challenge: Pack and Ship

The 2024-25 Factory Automation Competition game, Elevation Integration, is a classroom-based competition where teams will compete to achieve the best Throughput and Run Time at different Competition Phases. Students design, build, and program a manufacturing Workcell to complete each Competition Phase. Participants submit a video of a Production Run to Robotevents.com, and their scores are recorded on a global leaderboard.
Teams from across the world will compete from their classrooms to achieve the highest global rank based on their scores at each Competition Phase.
Game Manual
Order V5 WORKCELL
REGISTER A TEAM

Current Challenge: Pack and Ship

Place orders for the VEX V5 Workcell at VEX.com. Please note that a V5 Workcell purchase includes team registration cost. After purchase, please register your team by creating a robotevents.com account or logging in to an existing account to register a team and select VEX Factory Automation Competition Team Registration FAC 2023-2024.

Industry Skills & More

Students learn desirable and applicable robotics manufacturing skills, STEM principles, and soft skills like communication and teamwork.
Manufacturing Skills
STEM Principles
Communication
Teamwork
Lab 1:
Industrial Robotics
Lab 2:
Safety
Lab 3:
Manual Robot Arm Movements
Lab 4:
Programming Robot Arm Movements
Lab 5:
Using Variables
Lab 6:
Using an End Effector
Lab 7:
Dropping Off Objects (HRI)
Lab 8:
Transporting Objects (Palletizing)
Lab 9:
Using a Conveyor System
Lab 10:
Conveyor Systems and Sensors
Lab 11:
Cooperative Systems
Lab 12:
Classroom Competition
Learn More

Workforce Development

The REC Foundation aims to improve Workforce Development Education and interest by:
  • Providing a clear path for students to prepare for advanced manufacturing careers
  • Closing manufacturing skills gaps for many employers
  • Preparing the manufacturing workforce for continual career development.
  • Changing the perception of factory automation and manufacturing career.
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2025-2026 Signature Event Updates

  1. An Event Partner wanting to apply to host a Signature Event must have hosted events for at least 2 seasons prior to applying. 
  2. Signature Events must use the officially branded award banners for the Excellence Award and Tournament/Teamwork Champions Award.
  3. When hanging field skirts the VEX Robotics logo/brand name can not be covered up on the competition fields.
  4. VEX V5 Robotics Competition Signature Events may have regional capacity and max per organization restrictions lifted 8 weeks before the event if the event is not full (similar to the process already in place for VEX IQ Robotics Competition Signature Events).
  5. Minimum pit size reduced to 8’x 8’ instead of 10’x10’.
  6. Beginning in the 2025-2026 season, the REC Foundation will collect $10 instead of $5 per team registration on all Signature Events. This is to help offset travel costs for REC Foundation staff to support these larger events.

2025-2026 Signature Event Application Reminders

  1. Existing Signature Events only need to complete the Final Application (due by March 31, 2025)
  2. New Signature Event concepts will need to complete the Initial Proposal by January 31, 2025 and if approved, complete the Final Application by March 31, 2025.
Crowd watches the Signature Event in Minnesota's Mall of America
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VEX Robotics World Championship landscape logo
VEX Worlds Search
Robot Shipping Option
Freeman is our shipping partner for the VEX Robotics World Championship. Teams choosing to ship should ensure that their robots arrive on or AFTER April 23, 2024 to the Kay…
Judges observe participants at VEX Robotics World Championship
Volunteer | VEX Robotics World Championship
WE NEED PASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU TO POWER THE VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP! Whether you participate solo or with a group of friends, family, or coworkers, you’ll make a huge…