Cleveland State University’s student chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) is hosting its annual VEX Robotics Competition on Saturday, Feb. 2. This year’s competition consists of students pitting their robots against each other in an arena where they are tasked with launching balls, flipping tops and battling to control a central platform.

Students are encouraged to attend and spectate the event starting at 9:15 a.m. free of charge in Cleveland State University’s Recreation Center MAC Gym. 

Any CSU student can serve as a volunteer at the competition with attendance required for different shifts between 7 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. based on the assigned role. Volunteering serves as an opportunity to be more involved within the local community as well as a great way to add practical experience to add to your resume. Volunteers are also provided free lunch and a t-shirt. Please contact Jake Richey at jhrichey10@gmail.com for details.

The goal of VEX Robotics is to introduce and immerse students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through building and programming robots. By creating and piloting robots to interact with different objects or clear obstacles, students are gaining STEM knowledge while also improving their teamwork skills. With over 20,000 teams, the VEX Robotics Competition has become one of the fastest-growing educational competitions across the world. 

CSU’s branch of IEEE is part of the world's largest organization of technical professionals, whose mission is to “foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.”

To find out more information about CSU’s student chapter of IEEE and learn about their upcoming events, visit ieeecsu.org.