HAWAI‘I HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL VEX ROBOTICS PAN-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS 

Hawai‘i Tops the Charts with Largest VEX Robotics Tourney in the World

WHAT: VEX Robotics Pan-Pacific Championships

This year’s game, Round Up, is played on a 12’x12’ square field. Two alliances – one “red” and one “blue” – composed of two teams each, compete in matches consisting of a twenty-second autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver-controlled play.

The object of the game is to attain a higher score than your opponent alliance by scoring tubes upon goalposts, "owning" goalposts and by low hanging or high hanging from the ladder in the center of the field. A bonus is awarded to the alliance that has the most total points at the end of the Autonomous Period.

WHO: 112 teams of middle school and high school students from Hawaii, the U.S. mainland and China.

Hosting 112 teams from around the globe, the majority of which are Hawaii-based teams, Hawaii has topped the list as the largest VEX Robotics tournament in the world, outside of the world championships hosted in Orlando, FL.

WHEN: Friday, December 3, 2010

• 9:30am Opening Ceremonies
• 10:30 – 12:30pm Divisional Qualifying Rounds
• 12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch Break
• 1:30 – 6:00pm Divisional Qualifying Rounds continue
• 6:30pm Pit Area and Venue Close

Saturday, December 4, 2010

• 8:45am Opening Ceremonies/Awards
• 9:15am – 11:00am Divisional Qualifying Rounds Continue
• 11:15am Alliance Selection Process
• 11:30am - 12:30pm Lunch Break
• 12:30 - 1:00pm Match Staging and Divisional Playoff Introductions
• 1:00 - 3:30pm Divisional playoffs
• 4:00-5:30pm Finals, Awards, Closing Ceremony

WHERE: Hawaii Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 1 & 2

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Additional Hawai‘i robotics information available at: www.hawaiiroc.org

About the ROC: VEX Robotics is one of six programs which are supported by the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC), including FIRST, FIRST LEGO League, Underwater ROV, Botball, VEX Robotics and Micro Robotics.

Recognizing the importance of promoting robotics education at an early age and sustaining students' interest in STEM education throughout their schooling, Hawai‘i's six robotics programs joined together to form the Hawai‘i Robotics Organizing Committee (ROC). The six of the robotics programs are coordinating efforts to promote robotics education in elementary, middle and high schools statewide.