RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University advanced through the qualification stage to reach the elimination round at the 2024 VEX U Robotics World Championship and complete the 2023-24 robotics season with a top-4 global skills ranking.
The world championship was contested April 28-30 at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, Texas. Arkansas Tech went 8-1 in its qualification matches to earn a No. 10 seed in its division for head-to-head, elimination competition. ATU drew Purdue University as its opponent.
“We knew it was going to be a very tough match because Purdue has been a huge name in VEX robotics for a while,” said Jacob Weidenfeller, ATU engineering faculty member and advisor for the ATU robotics club. “We played the best match we have ever played, not just from this weekend, but from any tournament this and last season as well. Our autonomous period played out how we wanted it to, and our driver period was the best driver execution we’ve ever done.”
In the end, Purdue won the match and went on to earn the world championship. “Immediately after the match against Purdue, knowing we lost the match, there were instant smiles and laughs from us because there was nothing to be upset about,” said Weidenfeller. “We will keep improving and demonstrating what ATU students are capable of.”
