General Info

LAUNCH Signature Event - Welcome teams!

Akron University Jean Hower Taber Student Union is located in Akron, Ohio, and will look to LAUNCH this Signature event to new heights. Whether you arrive in person or are watching on livestream the event looks to visually wow you.  This venue is secured for 2 years with free parking and no backgrounds checks required this year.  The 4th edition of LAUNCH will have state of the art electronics ,the largest curved signature video screen and lighting to create an atmosphere as close to "the Dome" as you can get.  This event will qualify to the 2027 VEX Robotics World Championship in TBD.  Once we know a final number of registered teams, the agenda and daily schedule may be adjusted to reflect. Please check back here often as we update this page with more details about the event.

Volunteer Oportunities

If you would like to volunteer at the event please click on the volunteer link above - Coming soon

Signature Event Details

As a Signature Event, there are several special features of this event that will be different from many VEX V5 tournaments:

• No more than 50% of teams may come from a single region
• Competition fields will be raised (practice and skills fields will be on the floor)
• Matches will be split between two days of competition
• 3 VEX Worlds Championship Qualifications will be awarded at the tournament*
• Livestreaming will be on 2011 Robotics YouTube channel
• 3 competition fields, 3 skills fields, 4 practice fields and practice field(s) at Drury Hotel.

Payment Deadline

Payment is due within 2 weeks of your registration. Please contact Craig Kowatch, our Event Partner, if this is a problem or your team will be automatically moved to the bottom of the waitlist, and a waitlist team will be moved into the event. 

Event Judging

Judging will be in-person at the event. Per Global Robotics guidelines, teams need a physical notebook for in-person judging. If they have been creating and maintaining it digitally, then they should print out a hard copy.

Hotel - Practice fields at select hotel

Hotel information coming soon

Food at Event

Friday and Saturday

Food options at Jean Howard Student Center will be open during the competition:

Panda Express, Chick-Fil-A, Qdoba, Dunkin Donuts, Rooberry, The Union Market, Freshen's, Ohio Burger, and Zee's.

Past the sports fields around the back of the venue on exchange street has many more options.

Saturday Only - Back by popular demand

Vivander Cookie company will have desert (Ice cream sandwiches are unbelievable) during lunch and a few hrs afterward.

*World Spot Eligibility:
Signature Events will be awarded World Championship qualification spots if they meet all established criteria set forth by Global Robotics. Failure to fully comply with these criteria may result in the event being ineligible to receive World spots, regardless of prior expectations or historical precedent

Grade Level: High School

Skills Challenge Offered: Yes

Judging Format: All In-Person Judging

Skills Challenge Offered for VURC/VAIRC teams: No