Agenda

RPI 2026 VEX Robotics High Stakes Competition Agenda

8:00 am 

• Check-In begins
• Robot inspections

9:30 am

• Event meeting 

10:00 a.m.

• Qualification Matches
• Robot Skills
• Judging, Team Pits 

12:00 p.m.

• Lunch

1:00 p.m.

• Qualification Matches continue
• Robot Skills continue
• Judging continues, Team Pits 

3:00 p.m.

• Alliance Selection

3:30 p.m.

• Elimination Matches

5:00 p.m.

• Awards

Volunteer

Volunteers are requested for field reset, as referrees, judges, and other positions on the day of the competition. Experience is preferred for some positions, but not all.  In addtion, we are looking for volunteers for set up on Sunday, Jan, 18, and take-down on the evening of Jan 19. Contact the event partner if willing and able!.

All volunteers will receive an event t-shirt, lunch, and an abundance of thanks!

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

In the event of freezing rain, sleet or a snow emergency, the event may be cancelled. Should this be necessary, the decision will be made between 12 noon on Sunday, Jan. 18, and 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 19. All registrants will be emailed in this timeframe with weather advisories or cancellation information. 

Refund and Payment Policies

If the Event Partner cancels the event: 

For Inclement Weather: Due to the costs associated with the event, we will not be able to refund registration fees. However, your registration fee will be applied to your team's registration fees at the 2027 Rensselaer VRC Tournament!

If the event is cancelled before noon on January 16 for any reason, all registration fees will be returned excepting the $5 adminstrative fee retained by RECF.

If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event then chooses to withdraw or not attend:

Registration fees will be returned in full excepting the $5 administrative fee retained by RECF, for withdrawals through January 16. After January 16, registration fees will not be returned.

Health and Safety Policies

Rensselaer welcomes minors on campus to attend classes or to participate in activities specifically scheduled and designed for their benefit as part of a Rensselaer Sponsored Event or a Rensselaer Sponsored Program - like the VEX Robototics Tournament! However, children/minors are not allowed in high-risk areas such as -laboratories, shops, studios, mechanical rooms, power plants, garages, food preparation areas, or any areas containing power tools or machinery with exposed moving parts - under any circumstance.

Rensselaer requires that parents or guardians of minors attending programs review and submit the Assumption, Release and Indemnity Agreement, and Photo Release to participate in all sanctioned events. Download this and have parents or guardians of each team participant review and sign the form. Coaches should collect the forms and turn them in at check-in on January 19.

Adherence to the VEX Code of Conduct, as well as obeying safety signs (e.g., NO RUNNING!) should keep everyone safe.

On-site First Aid will be available in the event of minor injuries. In the event of a more serious injury, Samaritan Hospital is 1/8 mile away from the event venue.

Date: 19-Jan-2026

Travel Info

Directions to campus and a campus map can be found here. Note that the coordinates only take you to the campus - they do not take you to the event venue.

The tournament will be held on the RPI campus in the Alumni Sports and Recreation Center (AS&RC), commonly known as the Armory. All participants must enter through the main door on 15th Street, at 42.728514, -73.677381. 

Participant and spectator parking will be in the Academy Hall Lot. The entrance to this lot is on College Avenue at 42.727099. -73.679274.

Webcast

Information on live-streaming will be posted no later than the morning of January 19.

Judging Format

All In-Person Judging - The Team Interviews and Engineering Notebooks will be judged in-person the day of the event. Teams should bring a physical copy of their notebook. They will be collected at check-in.