RPI 2027 RECF Achieve Robotics Competition

RPI Pre-College Initiatives and the RPI Robotics Club are proud to host the RPI 2027 RECF ACHIEVE Robotics Competition "Pinnacle Qualifying Tournament" on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, on Monday, January 18, 2027. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1824, is America's first technological research university. We look forward to presenting this tournament opportunity for engaged and excited high school students who are passionate about science and technology as evidenced by the time and energy they put into the engineering design process to build competitive robots!

The tournament will take place on the main campus in Alumni Sports and Recreation Center (AS&RC). 

RPI INFORMATION &/or REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS 

HEALTH & 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 RECF Robotics 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 the Video Services Release Form for minors to participate in all sanctioned events. Coaches should download this form and have parents or guardians of each team participant review and sign the form. Coaches should collect the forms and turn them no later than check-in on January 18. 

Adherence to the RECF 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.

LODGING: A limited number of rooms at local hotels will be available for advance reservations at reduced rates for teams and families traveling to Troy for the evenings of January 17 and 18. Hotel information will be posted here soon.

FOOD OPTIONS:  Teams may bring their own food, or they may pre-order 16" round cheese and pepperoni pizzas, cut into 8 slices and bottled water. Concessions will also be available for purchase! The pizza pre-registration form will be sent to coaches starting in December to order pizzas in advance. Payment will be due at check-in, by cash or check.

T-SHIRTS: The T-shirt reveal will be in early December, and the order form will be sent directly to the coaches. Payment for pre-orders will be due on arrival. Participants and spectators will also be able to buy t-shirts at the door while supplies last! 

We hope you will be able to join us - we look forward to seeing you!

RPI 2027 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 Solo Matches
• Judging, Team Pits 

12:00 p.m.

• Lunch

1:00 p.m.

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

3:00 p.m.

• Robot Solo Matches end; active play will be allowed to finish round
• Alliance Selection

3:30 p.m.

• Elimination Matches

5:00 p.m.

• Awards

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

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. 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 .  The path from the parking lot, crossing 15th Street and to the Armory door will be clearly marked. All participants, equipment and the public must enter through the main ARMORY door.

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. 17, and 6 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 18. All registrants will be emailed in this timeframe with weather advisories or cancellation information. 

If the Event Partner cancels the event: 

For Inclement Weather: Due to the costs incurred by the time of the scheduled event, we will only be able to refund 25% of each team's registration fees; and since we will have already received and paid for the t-shirts, we will mail registered teams a shirt for each of their registered participants.

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

Registration fees will be returned in full (minus $5 administrative fee) for withdrawals through January 8. After January 8, registration fees will not be returned.