The FUTURE Foundation exists to advance robotics and technology through education.

FUTURE Foundation Robot Construction Challenge
Build a robot or robotics machine out of VEX Robotics component that supports the learning process in a school. We want you to use your imagination to build a VEX-based robot or robotics machine that can help teachers and students both. This robot needs to be directly involved in the educational process, so a robotic earthquake “shaker table” would qualify, but a t-shirt cannon would not. Think outside the normal robot box – how could you help in language arts, history, theater, economics, art or music; as well as the more traditional options of science, technology, engineering and math?
Elementary School | Middle School | High School | College / University | No Grade Level Restrictions |
VEX V5 Robotics Competition | VEX U Robotics Competition |
Prizes
- 1st: FUTURE Foundation Robot Construction Award: $750 VEXrobotics.com gift certificate and automatic team qualification for the 2016 VEX World Championship
- 2nd: $500 VEXrobotics.com gift certificate
- 3rd: $250 VEXrobotics.com gift certificate
Eligibility
- This contest is open to registered 2016 VEX Robotics Competition and VEX U teams.
- Designs submitted in previous Online Challenges are not eligible for submission this year.
Requirements
- Build a VEX robot that directly supports the classroom educational experience.
- The robot must be portable, so there is a limit of a maximum size at rest in its “starting position” of no more than 72” (183mm) height + width + depth. Your robot may exceed this size in use. Your robot may be a couple of inches too big, but clear violations of the size limit will result in score reductions. Explanation: This means that a robot 36” tall that is 18”x18” on the base is legal, but one that is 48x18x18 is not.
- Create a video of the robot in action posted to YouTube, not more than 2 minutes long. Extra judging credit will be given to robots that are shown in use in a classroom setting. After your 120 seconds of video demonstrating the robot, you should have up to 15 seconds of credits. The credits must be at the end, not the beginning of the video.
- The robot should be made of VEX EDR components with the use of non-VEX components allowed for decorations or for video, sound, cameras, or other elements not provided by VEX. Use non-VEX parts sparingly.
- No flames or chemicals.
Judging Information
Judges will select ten finalists from the submitted entries, and will take community voting results into account in making their choices. The finalist submissions will then be judged by additional selected professionals whose scores will be combined with the preliminary-round judges’ scores to determine the winner of the FUTURE Foundation Robot Construction Challenge.
Evaluation and Additional Information
- The judges will be looking for a robot that is useful in supporting the educational process.
- The robot or robotic machine is well made and functional, and safe in use.
- The robot completes its task in a creative, fun, interesting way.
- The video clearly shows the robot in action, and how it performs its task.
- The video is well made with good video, editing and use of sound and music.
Deadline Information
Current time:
Tue, Feb 11, 2025 8:39 AM CST
Opens:
Wed, Sep 16, 2015 11:00 AM CDT
Closes:
Wed, Jan 13, 2016 11:00 AM CST
Voting Ends:
Fri, Feb 5, 2016 10:59 AM CST