Photos: VEX Robotics World Championship attracts 20,000 students from around the globe

By Hope Reese // April 21, 2017, 1:02 PM PST // hope_reese

Image 1 of 30

VEX Robotics World Championship 2017

At VEX Worlds 2017 in Louisville, KY, 1,400 teams of budding roboticists, from Kazakhstan to South Korea, have gathered for the world's largest robotics tournament. Here's a look.
This team of girls is from Malaysia.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Kentucky Exposition Center

Here's where the fun begins! The VEX Robotics World Championship is held in Louisville, KY.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Inside the Kentucky Exposition Center

Take a peek into the massive Expo Center, where nearly 20,000 young roboticists are competing at the VEX Robotics World Championship.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Inspections

All robots must comply with strict guidelines. Here's the testing area.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations is a chance for all of the different countries--more than 30, altogether--to march in front of the crowd. This year, a team from Kazakhstan is here for the first time.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Colombia

Here's Colombia's team at the Parade of Nations.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Japan

Japan's team at VEX Worlds.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Paraguay

Here's the Paraguay team at VEX Worlds.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Lebanon

The Lebanese team at the VEX Robotics World Championship.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
USA

Here's the home team--the United States of America!
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Macau

A team from Macau, here to compete at VEX Worlds.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Japan

Team Japan is here to compete at VEX Worlds!
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Creation Station

Want a chance to tinker with robots? Check out the Creation Station.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Creation Station

Adults can also feel free to check out the Creation Station!
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Tiger

Lots of cool costumes were on display at VEX Worlds. Here's a favorite.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Super Mario

Another great costume!
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Cool costumes

And here's one more!
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Cape Elizabeth, ME

Here's the robotics team from Cape Elizabeth, ME.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Practice Fields

This is the practice area for teams, before qualifying rounds begin.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Practice Round

Here's a team getting ready to compete
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Practice Round

Here's another glimpse at the practice round.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Middle School Pit area

The pit area is where all the teams have their booths on display.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Gainesville Team

Here's a team from Gainesville.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Gainesville robot

Here's the cool display robot Gainesville made for the show.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese
Girl Powered

A participant of the VEX Robotics World Championship applauds the panel of female engineers during the Girl Powered Social on Wednesday, April 19, part of the VEX Robotics World Championship at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation
Girl Powered

Lieutenant Governor, Jeneane Hampton, discusses the role of women in engineering during the Girl Powered Social.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation
Girl Powered

Here's the crowd listening to the female panelists during the Girl Powered Social.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation
Girl Powered

Two attendees smile as they listed to the female panelists during the Girl Powered Social.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation
Girl Powered

Angie Stokes, Healthcare Vertical Market Leader, Harshaw Trane, chats about her experience in engineering during the Girl Powered Social.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation
Girl Powered

Jason Morrella, president of the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation addresses the crowd at the Girl Powered Social.
SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: REC Foundation

VEX Robotics World Championship 2017

At VEX Worlds 2017 in Louisville, KY, 1,400 teams of budding roboticists, from Kazakhstan to South Korea, have gathered for the world's largest robotics tournament. Here's a look.

This team of girls is from Malaysia.

SEE: How the 'Olympics of Robotics' shines a spotlight on girls and minorities in science

Image: Hope Reese

About Hope Reese

Hope Reese is a journalist in Louisville, KY. Her writing has been featured in The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, Playboy, Undark Magazine, VICE, Vox, and other publications.

| Commenting FAQs | Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add your Comment

Add your Comment

Free Newsletters, In your Inbox