#Japan #Tokyo #VEX Robotics #Big Dippers #STEAM School

Big Dippers Robotics Team: Aiming for the World Stage

The Big Dippers, a robotics team composed of middle and high school students, has officially launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for their participation in the VEX Robotics World Championship 2026. This prestigious international competition will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, where over 3,000 teams from around the world will compete.

The crowdfunding initiative is hosted on CAMPFIRE, and the project page can be accessed here. The team aims to raise approximately 1.4 million yen to cover travel expenses, accommodations, and robot development costs needed to participate at this level.

About Big Dippers

Formed just two years ago, Big Dippers is based at the STEAM school “FIVE by DOHSCHOOL” in Futako-Tamagawa, operated by San-ei Co., Ltd. The five-member team is responsible for every aspect of their robotic projects—from design and manufacturing to programming and strategic planning. Their hard work paid off in January 2026 when they won three major awards at the Japan V5RC HS National Regional Championship: the Excellence Award, Tournament Champions, and Robot Skills Champion, securing their second trip to the VEX World Championship.

The Importance of VEX Robotics World Championship

The VEX Robotics World Championship is known for being one of the largest robotics competitions globally. Teams compete using autonomous programming and precise driving skills to achieve high scores. However, the competition is not solely about points; strategic planning, time management, and collaboration with alliance teams are vital components that influence success. Additionally, the teams are evaluated based on engineering notebooks, interview assessments, and team management processes. This makes it a comprehensive training program for young engineers worldwide.

Preparation and Learning

Big Dippers meticulously documents the entire development process in their engineering notebook, which already exceeds 400 pages. Their design cycle includes design, production, testing, and improvement phases, with multiple full rebuilds of their robot throughout the season to optimize for the world championship.

Last season was an eye-opener for the team as they faced intense competition at their first world championship, ultimately finishing with a record of three wins and seven losses. This experience highlighted the disparities in robot quality, strategy, and quick decision-making skills at the global level. Motivated by this challenge, Big Dippers has set an ambitious goal: they aim to win against the world's top teams and advance to the knockout rounds of the tournament.

Fund Distribution

To compete, the team is anticipating costs totaling around 2.8 million yen, which breaks down roughly as follows:

• - Travel expenses: 1.5 million yen
• - Accommodation: 500,000 yen
• - Tournament fees: 350,000 yen
• - Robot development: 200,000 yen
• - Miscellaneous expenses: 250,000 yen

The crowdfunding goal is set at 1.4 million yen, which will directly support their expenses for this significant trip.

Team Mission

Big Dippers is dedicated to their mission: "Continuously challenge and pave the way to the world." As they prepare to represent Japan on an international stage, they welcome and appreciate any support from the community.

You can support Big Dippers through their CAMPFIRE crowdfunding page here.

Contact Information:
Team Name: Big Dippers
Affiliation: FIVE by DOHSCHOOL
Email: [email protected]

The project officially kicks off on March 14, 2026, and they are poised to embark on an exciting journey. With community support, they can achieve their goals and showcase their skills on a global stage.