General Info
The countdown is on for the 8th Annual WAVE at WPI, and we're excited to welcome everyone back for an unforgettable event! WAVE is a 2.5 day event from December 3rd through 5th, hosted in Harrington Auditorium at WPI in Worcester, MA.
WPI is a nationaly recognized science and engineering university that focuses on project-based learning. WPI was the first university in the United States with a Robotics Engineering bachelors of science degree, and WPI has been hosting robotics events on campus for over 20 years. Teams attending WAVE will have an opportunity to tour WPI and see some of our robotics labs. All VEX participants (HS Seniors) are eligible to apply for the WPI VEX Scholarship. For more information: https://www.wpi.edu/admissions/tuition-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-grants/wpi-merit/robotics-scholarships
Day one of the event is check-in, inspection, practice, and skills. We suggest teams looking to attempt all their skills runs plan on runnning most of them on the first day. The other two days will be qualifications, followed by alliance selection and elimination matches on Saturday. Teams are expected to attend the competition on all days, but at a bare minimum must attend Friday and Saturday to compete.
Payment deadline for the event is October 5th. If your school or orginization requires a lengthy period to process payment or cut a check, please start this process as soon as your teams have registered. Reach out to vexrobotics@wpi.edu if payment is going to be delayed.
Please note that WAVE at WPI 2025 filled within approximately 15 minutes of the event opening. If your teams would like to attend, please be sure to sign up at right when the event registration period opens!
- Venue
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Address
- 100 Institute Road, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, United States
- Dates
- December 3 – 5, 2026
- Grade Level
- High School
- Skills Challenge
- Yes
- Judging Format
- Remote Engineering Notebooks
Registration & Logistics
- Event Type
- Open Tournament
- Event Format
- In-Person
- Field Control
- Smart Field Control
- Capacity
- 80
- Spots Open
- 80
- Event Region
- Massachusetts
- Max Registrations per Org
- 5
- Priority Registration Opens
- 14-Aug-2026 18:00 EDT
- Standard Registration Opens
- 28-Aug-2026 18:00 EDT
- Registration Deadline
- 19-Nov-2026 12:00 EST
- Payment Deadline
- 5-Oct-2026 17:00 EDT
- Price
- $475.00
Agenda
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Campus tours will be available for participants before venue opens. Contact WPI Admissions | ||
| 1400 Venue Opens | ||
| 1430-2000 Team Registration | ||
| 1500-2000 Inspection | ||
| 1500-2000 Practice Area Open | ||
| 1500-2000 Skills Challenge Open | ||
| 2030 Venue Closes |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0730 Venue Opens | ||
| 0800-1830 Practice Area Open | ||
| 0800-18:30 Skills Field Open | ||
| 0830-0900 Driver/Coach Meeting | ||
| 0920-0950 Opening Ceremony | ||
| 1000-1200 Qualifying Rounds | ||
| 1200-1330 Lunch | ||
| 13:15-15:00 Admissions Info Session (Sign up here ) | ||
| 1330-1800 Qualifying Rounds | ||
| 1900 Venue Closes |
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0730 Venue Opens | ||
| 0800-1430 Practice Area Open | ||
| 0800-Skills Field Open | ||
| 0800-1100 Qualifying Rounds | ||
| 1130 Alliance Selection | ||
| 1130-1300 Lunch (Skills open on competition fields) | ||
| 1300 Skills Field Closes (or at the end of the final qualification match, whichever is later) | ||
| 1315 Elimation Matches Begin | ||
| 1500 Closing Ceremonies and Awards | ||
| 1800 Venue Closes |
Stream
The event will be webcast on Friday and Saturday. Link will be updated closer to the event.
Travel Info
Parking Parking is available in any WPI lot. Preferred parking is in the WPI Park Ave Garage. More information can be found here Hotel There are many hotels in Worcester and within a short drive of Worcester. Please contact the hotels directly for more information and availability, and to book and pay for your rooms.
Judging Format
Judging will be hybrid. Teams are asked to have their engineering notebook link updated by 11/14 at 11:59 EST. At that time, judges will begin accessing the notebooks for advanced review. All other judging will be done in person at the event.
Volunteer
Volunteer registration If you are interested in volunteering, please feel free to email vexrobotics@wpi.edu for more information. We will be looking for volunteers to fill all roles, but the greatest need is for volunteers that want to be near the field and judges.
Emergency/Bad-Weather Policy
Emergency/Bad Weather Policy In the event of inclement weather, a decision will be made on how the competition will proceed and any changes will be communicated to teams via the main contact email address and/or via live announcment in the venue. This may include a delayed start or early end to matches on a competitoin day, extending or modifying hours on some days, or removal of matches from the competition schedule in order to complete the event. Every effort will be reasonably made to continue the event as planned.
- Excellence Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Tournament Champions (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Robot Skills Champion (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Robot Skills 2nd Place (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Tournament Finalists (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Amaze Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Build Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Create Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Design Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Innovate Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Judges Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIC/ADC/VAIRC)
- Sportsmanship Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)
- Think Award (VRC/VEXU/VAIRC)