Home to the first-of-its-kind bachelor’s degree in robotics engineering and one of the first graduate programs in the nation, WPI is widely respected for its innovation in the field and its commitment to inspiring young people's interest and participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). To inspire future robotic engineers, WPI hosts several different robotics events throughout the year including FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics events, various game-based VEX Robotics tournaments, and WPI’s Annual Robotics Preseason programs.
Whether looking to join a team, watch a competition, or volunteer for an event, the opportunities to engage with robotics at WPI are endless.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) District Event
Every year, WPI hosts the official FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) event for New England teams. The FIRST Robotics Competition is a high-level, large-scale robotics event primarily for grades 9 to 12.
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Open
The FIRST LEGO League Open introduces students ages 5 to 16 to STEM concepts through LEGO Mindsorms and SPIKE Prime robotics kits. WPI hosts a FLL Open (WAFFLE) which is a world championship equivalent event to which the top teams from around the world advance.
BattleCry@WPI
Since 2000, BattleCry@WPI has been one of the largest global non-championship FIRST Robotics Competition offshoot events. Teams use some of the most elite robots in highly competitive matches for various awards. BattleCry is the second-longest running off-season in all of FIRST.
Rainbow Rumble
An off-season event created for LGBTQ+ students on FRC teams, the Rainbow Rumble provides a supportive space to connect, collaborate, and showcase the incredible potential of our LGBTQ+ community in robotics. The first event on the WPI campus will be held in September 2024.
WPI Annual Robotics Preseason (WARP)
Previously known as Savage Soccer, the WPI Annual Robotics Preseason (WARP) is a WPI/Mass Academy/FIRST-based national robotics program that can be used and adapted by schools and groups to help their students learn more about engineering, design, and robotics through fun competition. The four-week competition is full of creative and technical challenges. If you have questions, send a note to savage@wpi.edu.
VEX Robotics Events
VEX Robotics Competitions were established in 2007 and are a haven for robotics enthusiasts of all ages. VEX gives students the chance to come together as a team, build a robot, and compete against their peers. Among the events sponsored by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, the international high school VEX Signature Event and the college-level VEX U Event inspiring teams to innovation with their robots and camaraderie with their teams. If you have any questions, send a note to vexrobotics@wpi.edu.
What are robotics competitions really like?
Robotics competitions are exciting events! Don't just take our word for it--watch this video and see it all in action.
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Additional Robotics Resources
WPILiB for FIRST
WPILib, the robotics software library used by all FIRST robotics competition teams every year. WPI created, and continues to help design, the invaluable software that’s used around the world to develop the programs behind their robots’ control systems. Read more about WPILib on the FIRST blog.
Access WPILib Suite Software Repositories.
Robotics Scholarships
Scholarships to attend WPI are available to students who are active FIRST (FRC or FTC) team members and for VEX participants. Learn more about available awards, deadlines, and other application requirements.
Learn more about scholarships for active FIRST team members.
Learn more about scholarships for VEX participants.
Contact RRC
Whether you’re interested in volunteering for a robotics event or in being a spectator at the next competition, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved with robotics on WPI’s campus. Contact the Robotics Resource Center for more information.