VEX IQ MS - Skills - 2020 Indiana VEX Robotics State Championship

General Info

Parking

No parking passes will be required this year. We have a specific parking area for teams within the main Lucas Oil Stadium South Lot on the South West side of the stadium. We will allow 1 car from each team to park in this area to make loading-in and out as easy as possible for you. We do have limited spaces available so we are highly encouraging teams, parents, and spectators to carpool if possible.

There will also be additional parking available in the lot just south of McCarty St. for $10 all day. Bus parking will be available in the parking lot located to the east of E. Henry Street  South Pennsylvania Street.

Please note: Cars can be left in the south parking lot of Lucas Oil Stadium overnight however we do not suggest keeping any valuables (including robots) in your car. The lot is not patrolled by security so parking is at your own risk. 

Parking Map - LINK

 

Load-In 

Upon arrival, teams may enter the parking area from Missouri Street (this is a one-way street traveling north) at the southwest corner of the stadium.  All teams will be permitted to load-in via the southwest ramp (on the north end of the parking lot). This ramp will give teams direct access to the main competition area on the field. 

Load-In Map - LINK 

 

Suggested Entry Donation at Door

Annually, TechPoint Foundation for Youth's staff and board work tirelessly to raise $600,000 in philanthropic dollars to make the State Robotics Initiative possible for Indiana students. 

This year at the State Championship event, TPF4Y will be asking for spectator entry donations at the door of the event. This suggested entry donation will be for spectators and guests of the event, not coaches, team members, and event volunteers. Every dollar raised will go directly back to supporting Indiana elementary, middle, and (new next year!) high schools who wish to launch a robotics program for their students. Suggested entry donations will be a $3 individual or a $10 max family donation. We will have volunteers stationed at both the north and south entrance collecting donations by cash and card - cash is preferred for speed of the transaction.

Thank you for helping us make #Robots4All a reality in Indiana.

 

Dining Options

We ask that coaches and parents please review the following information carefully and plan accordingly. 

Teams are permitted to bring non-refrigerated snacks into their pit areas, packed discreetly, with the rest of the team’s supplies during LOAD IN ONLY. Each team member and coach should also bring a refillable water bottle. Food and drink from outside vendors WILL NOT be permitted at any time in the building. For example, teams will not be able to order pizza or Jimmy Johns and bring them into the stadium. 

The following lunch options are available for teams:

• Concession stands - A variety of concessions and vending machines will be open to teams and the general public throughout the day. We expect an average cost for lunch (sandwich or hot dog, chips, and drink) will run about $12 per person. Please note: we are expecting a very large crowd and long lines so we will be opening even more concessions stands this year as well as additional vending machines. We are staggering lunch times for each division to help manage lines and crowds: 

  • Elementary lunch = 11:30am-12:30pm 
  • Middle IQ Lunch = 12:00pm-1:00pm and 
  • VRC Middle + High School = 12:30pm-1:30pm 

• Concession Cards - Concession cards are available for pre-purchase for teams who would like this option for students. There will be a $.50 per card administrative fee. All cards must be pre-paid in full at least 72 hours prior to the event day. Concession cards may be picked up from the exhibit hall between 9 am-1:30 pm on the day of the event.If you are interested in purchasing box lunches, please refer to the team email you received and fax the form to [email protected]

• Pre-ordered box lunches - New this year - teams will have the option of pre-ordering box lunches through Lucas Oil Stadium’s catering company. All box lunches include a small sandwich, a bag of chips and an apple for $9. Bottled water or canned soda will cost an additional $3.50. There will be a 9% sales tax and 22% service charge added to all catering orders. All orders must be placed and pre-paid in full by no later than Friday, February 28th, 2020. Box lunches may be picked up between the hours of 11 am-2 pm in the exhibit hall. If you are interested in purchasing box lunches, please refer to the team email you received and fax the form to 317-262-2192 or scan and email to [email protected]

 

Team Check-In and Inspection

Please note that teams will be required to be checked into the event and have robots inspected by 9:30 am on Saturday, March 7. 

• Team Check-In: Team Check-In will be located between the Pit Area and competition stage of the team’s specific division. For check-in, no team members have to be present (the coach can complete check-in). Teams will receive their team packet and Inspection checklist, skills punch card, and will then proceed to the Inspection area. 

  • Consent Forms - please review REC’s policy regarding consent forms here and decide which option pertains to your team.
  • Engineering Notebooks - If you plan to submit an engineering notebook, do not forget to record your team number, team name, and coach’s contact information on the front of the book. Engineering Notebooks are to be dropped off (and later picked up) at your division’s Team Check-In. Important resources: Team Design Notebooks and Team Journals
• Inspection: VEX IQ Inspection will be located in the south endzone. VRC Inspection will be located in the north endzone. A student must be present in order for their robot to be inspected. Make sure a student from the team brings your robot, battery, remote, and inspection sheet from the team packet.  In order to expedite the inspection process, it is important for teams to be certain ahead of time that their robot meets all of the requirements to compete:
  • IQ Inspection Checklist
  • VRC Inspection Checklist (V5)

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• Friday Early Check-In/Inspection (optional but encouraged!) - Early check-in is optional for teams on Friday, March 6th from 6 pm - 8 pm. This is a great opportunity to beat the Saturday morning rush! Teams may check-in, grab their team packets, get their robots inspected, and set up their Pit Area.  You are welcome to set up your charging stations and any other equipment that you might have. Practice fields and skills fields will not be available at this time.

We get many questions regarding if robots can be left in the pit area overnight. This is at the discretion of the coach and team. The stadium will be locked up after 8 pm on Friday however there will be cleaning staff in the building afterward. We don't suggest leaving laptops, or other valuables. Many teams do leave their robot overnight - just remember once your robots are inspected Friday night, they are not to be modified prior to the event on Saturday. 

        Please Note: Friday check-in will close promptly at 8 pm and everyone will be required to exit Lucas Oil Stadium at that time.

 

Team Pit Area and Power 

Team pit areas will be located on the main field near the competition stages.  Each team pit area will be 8’ wide x 7’ deep, will include a 6’ table, 2 chairs, and a trash can. Each pit area will be stanchioned off and will share a power quad-box with 6-8 other pits. Teams should bring an extension cord and surge protector power strip for power needs. Teams will be emailed a finalized Pit Map prior to the championship, so you will be familiar with your team's exact pit location. 

The following are NOT PERMITTED in the Pit Area:

• fields that extend outside their pits (teams CAN bring a field as long as it fits in your pit area)
• balloons are not permitted anywhere in the Stadium - sorry :( 

 

Skills Challenge

Teams may compete on the skills fields on a first-come, first-served basis. Teams will be allowed to attempt both Programming and Driver Skills challenges 3 times each. Teams will be ranked based on their combined score in the two types of matches.

Skills Fields will be open at the following times:

• VEX IQ - Elementary School fields: 10:30am - 3:45pm
• VEX IQ - Middle School fields: 10:30am - 2:45pm
• VRC - Middle School fields: 10:30am - 2:45pm
• VRC - High School fields: 10:30am - 3:45pm 

Please note that the skills fields will be open during lunch.

 

Practice Fields 

Practice fields will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Please note: teams are NOT PERMITTED to bring fields that extend outside their pits (teams CAN bring a field as long as it fits in your pit area). 

Practice Fields will be open at the following times:

• VEX IQ - Elementary School fields: 10:30am - 3:45pm
• VEX IQ - Middle School fields: 10:30am - 2:45pm
• VRC - Middle School fields: 10:30am - 2:45pm
• VRC - High School fields: 10:30am - 3:45pm

 

VEX IQ Middle School

At the State Championship, middle school IQ teams will be divided into 2 separate sub-divisions of 55 teams with 110 total teams, competing on 2 separate stages (similar to what is done at Worlds).

Divisions will be named after women with Hoosier ties, both past, and present, who have had a significant impact on the STEM community. The 2 Middle School Divisions will be named:

• Dr. Crystal Morton Division
• Dr. Elcira Villarreal Division

Please note:

• teams will be randomly assigned to a division
• teams from the same organization/school will be split across the sub-divisions 
• in an effort to keep teams from the same school together, pit assignments will be organized in sequential team number order, regardless of the assigned division 
• teams will be notified of their division after the last local event in February
• each division will have its own award ceremony, where 18 awards will be handed out (see below for full awards explanation) 
• the top 24 teams, or 12 alliances, from each division, will compete in their own divisional finals
• in order to determine the overall Teamwork State Champion, the winning alliance from each sub-division and three overall wild card alliances (5 total alliances) will compete on the State Championship field for the State Championship title following the IQ Sub-Division Finals and Awards.  The wild card alliances are determined by selecting the next top 3 alliances of the 2 subdivisions combined. Teams who win the Teamwork State Championship will have already qualified to Worlds via Teamwork Championship in their sub-division.
• VEX IQ Middle School has been granted 42 World Championship spots

For further details on State Championship awards and which awards are Worlds qualifiers, please visit the full “Awards” tab in events.vex.com for your specific division’s event: VEX IQ Middle School

 

 

Indiana State Champ T-Shirts - now on sale!!!

 

Celebrate the 2020 Indiana VEX Robotics State Championship in style with this comfy, limited edition t-shirt designed by our friends at United State of Indiana!  Last year the State Champ shirt sold out QUICK so guarantee your piece of Indiana robotics history by pre-ordering now.

The shirt will be available to pick up on the day of the event at the North entrance of Lucas Oil Stadium near the horseshoe, just present ID or receipt of this pre-order purchase. This shirt is only available for pick-up on the day of the event, shipping will not be available

 

Sales close March 1st, so secure your shirt while you can. Click here to order!   

Grade Level: Middle School

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes