vex

The Vex Robotics Design System is a robotic kit intended to introduce students as well as adults to the world of robotics. The Vex Robotics Design System is centered around the Vex Starter Kit (which retails for about USD $300). This kit comes with the Vex "brain" (a microcontroller), a hobby-grade remote control, various sensors, various electric motors and a servo, and structural parts. Additional sensors, wheels, tank treads, and other add-ons can be purchased separately.

This award winning platform was developed as part of a partnership between Innovation First, Inc. and IFIrobotics. ^{[citation needed]}

This product was originally available for purchase in RadioShack stores, and also on the web. On April 17 2006 Innovation First announced their acquisition of the VEX Robotics brand name and trademark registrations from RadioShack Corporation.^[1] RadioShack stores are no longer selling Vex kits.

FIRST Tech Challenge

Main article: FIRST Tech Challenge

The FIRST Tech Challenge, formerly the FIRST Vex Challenge, is a mid-level robotics competition announced by FIRST on March 22, 2005. The FIRST Tech Challenge, according to FIRST, was designed to be a more accessible and affordable option for schools. FIRST has also said that the FTC program was created for those of an intermediate skill level. FIRST Tech Challenge robots are approximately one-third the scale of their FRC counterparts. The FTC competition is meant to provide a transition for students from the FLL competition to the FRC competition.

The 2005 FIRST season featured a demonstration of the FIRST Vex Challenge using a 1/3 linear scale mock-up of the 2004 FRC Competition, FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar. For their 2005-2006 Pilot Season, FVC teams played the Half-Pipe Hustle game using racquet balls and ramps.

For the 2006 FVC Season (2007 FIRST Season), the FIRST Vex Challenge teams are competing in the Hangin'-A-Round challenge using softballs, rotating platforms, a hanging bar, and a larger 'Atlas' ball which is significantly larger than most Vex robots and harder to manipulate. Competitions are being held around the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Games

• 2005 Demonstration: 1/3 Scale FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar
• 2006 Pilot Season: Half Pipe Hustle
• 2006 Season: Hangin'-A-Round

VEXplorer

Model kit maker Revell Monogram and VEX robot supplier Innovation First announced more details of their new consumer robot kit February 13, 2007.

The VEXplorer robot kit is a direct descendent of the VEX robot kit that is the basis for student robot design competitions. It designed and marketed to "bring robotics creation outside the classroom taking the consumer robotics category to new heights."

VEXplorer includes all the parts, motors and wheels to make a remote controlled rolling robot with a webcam and a claw arm strong enough to pick up a can of soda. The kit, of course, can be used to build any kind of robot imaginable.

VEXplorer is the product of a partnership between the two companies that was announced last year. Revell will handle the marketing while Innovation First will provide the engineering and technical design.

The VEXplorer kit has 2 add-on kits, a wrist joint to give arms more flexability, and a tank tread set similar in design to those sold as a standard VEX add-on.

See also

• FIRST Robotics
• Robot kit

References

1. ^ http://www.vexlabs.com/docs/vex_release_4-17-06.pdf

External links

• Official FIRST Tech Challenge website
• Official Vex Robotics Design System Website
• Vex Robotics Design System tips, recommendations and how to order hard-to-find parts
• The MythBusters Test the Vex Robotics System
• The VEX store
• The Official Vex Community Site

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