From August 6 to August 8, TechBlazers VEX V5 teams 16610A and 16610B competed at the University of North Dakota Signature Even held at the Mall of America in Minnesota, USA.
Facing 120 top teams from around the world, TechBlazers 16610A—with consistent match performance, innovative robot design, and strong autonomous capabilities—ultimately earned:
– Number 2 Seed Alliance
– Create Award
– The world’s first team this season to successfully complete the AWP Bonus
At the same time, 16610A attracted significant attention at the event, becoming a focal point for communicate among teams and VEX enthusiasts. The VEX Robotics Game Design Director also visited our pit area to speak with team members and learn about the robot’s design approach and technical implementation.
16610A was also invited by a major YouTube creator to share our original robot design and technical ideas!
For a team just starting a new season, this is more than a single competition result—it reflects long-term development, training, and engineering accumulation.
Event Details | University of North Dakota Signature Event at the Mall of America
Event Dates: August 6–8, 2026
Location:Mall of America, Minnesota, USA
Event Name: University of North Dakota Signature Event at the Mall of America
Program:VEX V5 Robotics Competition
VEX Signature Events are among the highest-level competitions in the VEX Robotics system, attracting elite teams from many regions. Compared with regular regional events, Signature Events typically feature stronger fields and more intense competition, making them a key stage for top teams to showcase robot design and engineering excellence.
What is the AWP Bonus?
In this season’s VEX V5 game, the AWP Bonus (Autonomous Win Point Bonus) is considered one of the most challenging extra objectives.
Simply put, a VEX V5 match usually includes:
– Autonomous Period: the robot completes tasks on its own through programming
– Driver Control Period: students drive and control the robot
The AWP Bonus requires a team not only to complete the autonomous objectives, but also to finish a series of additional challenges within a set time window—earning an extra scoring advantage.
It tests far more than whether the robot can “move.” It demands:
✅ Precise mechanical design
✅ Highly reliable autonomous code
✅ Sensor fusion and localization capability
✅ Deep understanding of game strategy
Because of this, early in the season, very few teams are able to achieve the AWP Bonus.
At the Mall of America Signature Event, 16610A became the first team in the world this season to successfully achieve the AWP Bonus! This marks a major technical breakthrough at the very start of the season.
Number 2 Seed Alliance: Recognition of Strength
In VEX V5, the latter part of the tournament typically enters the **Alliance Selection** phase. Higher-ranked teams earn more selection power and invite other strong teams to form alliances for elimination rounds.
With strong overall performance, 16610A became one of the most recognized teams at the event and earned a place in the **#2 seeded alliance**.
This not only shows competitive match strength, but also reflects that other teams recognized 16610A’s autonomous consistency, strategic execution, and overall robot performance.
Create Award: Recognition for Innovative Design
Beyond match results, VEX Robotics places great value on engineering innovation.
The Create Award is an official VEX award that recognizes:
– Unique robot design concepts
– Innovative mechanical structures
– Excellent engineering solutions
– Creativity throughout the design and development process
Winning the Create Award means the judges valued not only the scores, but also the thinking and engineering behind the robot. For TechBlazers 16610A, it represents the results of long-term independent development and continuous optimization.
From the Field to the Pit: Technical Strength Draws Attention
Throughout the event, 16610A’s robot design and match performance drew widespread interest. Many teams visited the TechBlazers pit to discuss robot structure, design ideas, and match strategy. The VEX Robotics Game Design Director also had in-depth conversations with the team on-site.
For students, this is not just a competition—it’s a valuable opportunity to learn and exchange ideas with outstanding engineering teams from around the world. A truly great robot is not only about winning a match, but about growing through constant testing, iteration, and innovation.
16610B: A Growth Journey in Their First Signature Event
In addition to 16610A, TechBlazers’ other VEX V5 team, 16610B, also completed their first Signature Event of the season—an extremely valuable experience.
Facing a high-intensity competitive environment for the first time this season, they learned about pre-match preparation, strategy adjustments, and on-site communication. Every experience becomes part of the team’s growth.
More important than results is the process:identify problems → analyze problems → optimize and improve. This is one of the most important abilities VEX Robotics helps students develop.
The season has only just begun. For the TechBlazers VEX V5 program, this event is both a breakthrough and a new starting point. From robot design to autonomous development, from competition to engineering mindset training—every event is real-world engineering practice. Moving forward, we will continue to pursue higher goals, keep improving our robots, and compete alongside the best teams in the world!