VEX Educational Robotics

• What is Protobot?
  

  The Protobot is one of the two "starter" bots that students build when they begin using the new Classroom Lab Kit available in August 2008 (the other robot design is called the "Tumbler"). Protobot is the next generation improvement on what was previously called the "Squarebot". All the parts required to build the Protobot will be included in a specially packaged kit called the "Robot Kit". The "Robot Kit" will be included as part of the new Classroom Lab Kit. The "Robot Kit" can also be purchased as an individual item by users who simply want to build and have the Protobot.

• What is the new Classroom VEX kit? When? How much?
  

  The new VEX Classroom Lab Kit is a reformulated and improved revision of what has been the Classroom Lab Foundation Kit. Based on feedback from teachers and students, we have made a number of additions and improvements to the Classroom Lab Kit to better meet the needs of schools and robotics classroom lab setups.

  The new Classroom Lab Kit will be available in August.

  The new Classroom Lab Kit will cost $699 after the educational discount is applied.

• Will the current starter kit still be available?
  

  Yes, the current starter kit will continue to be available for $299.

• Will the current educational kit still be available?
  

  Yes, while supplies last.

VEX Robotics Competition

• What is the Registration Fee?
  

  The Registration Fee to enter a team in the VEX Robotics Competition is $75. There is a discounted Registration Fee for additional teams from the same school or organization of $25 per team. This fee provides for a team number and the administrative cost of organizing internationally sanctioned competition events and the development of the program materials.

• What is the fee to enter a tournament?
  

  Entry Fees for local and regional tournaments are decided and set by the Event Organizers for that particular event. Typically the costs of these events will range from $25 - $200. Our Event Organizers go to great efforts to provide an event for the teams at the lowest cost possible. Some events may spend more on things like Facility Rental, Audio/Visual Production, Pit Area setup, Volunteers (shirts, food, support) and more that impact the overall budget/cost of the event.

• Will we be able to keep our team number, pick our team number, or will we get new team numbers each year?
  
  Will we be able to pick our team number?
  
  • When they register, teams will have the option to request a team number. We know many teams have numbers that they and/or their school already identify with. We will make every attempt to honor each request. There may be cases where a particular number is already assigned or is requested by more than one team, in which case a different team number will need to be assigned (when such cases occur, we will contact the team directly to get them a permanent team number they are happy with).
  Will we be able to keep our team number from year to year?
  
  • Since this will be the first year for official VEX team numbers to be assigned, all teams will be able to keep their team numbers each year from this point forward.
  How will you handle multiple teams from one school?
  
  • Schools with multiple teams will have the following two options:
    • Multiple teams within a school can have completely independent team numbers (i.e. 100, 105, 148, 1234, 2345, etc.).  If they are all registered at the same time, and numbers are not already assigned to other teams, attempts will be made to give multiple teams from the same school numbers in sequential order (i.e. 2110, 2111, 2112, 2113).
    • Multiple teams within a school can share a single team number with each number divided by letter for the number of teams (i.e. 148a, 148b, 148c, 148d, etc).  If this helps schools keep a number identity and reduce costs for things like t-shirts, that's great. Schools have also asked us for this option so that no matter which of their teams may move onto a larger super event, such as the world championship, all their teams can rally around that one team with the shared number/identity.
• When will the new game be released?
  

  A new game will be unveiled at the end of each summer (August or the first week in September) and will be the official game for the VEX Robotics Competition season. We will announce the official game unveiling date in June and will send out email reminders to all teams as the date approaches.

• What is the competition season calendar? When are events?
  

  The VEX Robotics Competition is intended to have a very open and school friendly competition season/calendar. We know many schools in different areas participate in other programs in addition to the VEX Robotics Competition.  Some teams want VEX Robotics events in the fall (Oct-Dec) to help them prepare for upcoming programs they do in the spring, some want VEX Robotics Competitions in the January to March time frame to avoid conflict with programs they do in the fall, and some groups want to hold events in both the first semester and second semester to give their local teams multiple options to compete with their VEX robots. Basically, local event organizers have the flexibility to plan and hold their VEX Robotics Competition whenever they want, and more importantly, at whatever time is best for the schools and teams in their area.

  In addition to local and regional competitions held throughout the United States and other countries, there will be FOUR signature competitions for teams as follows:

  • VEX Robotics Asian Robotics League Championship will be held October, 2008 in Singapore. This event will include teams from countries throughout Asia and will qualify ARL teams for both the VEX Robotics Pan Pacific Championship and the VEX Robotics World Championship.  Fourteen teams from this event (12 semi finalists and 2 Excellence Awards winners) will also qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship in April, 2009.
  • VEX Robotics Pan Pacific Championship will be held December 4-6, 2008 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The available spots will be divided into three groups: 1/3 of the spots will be held for teams from the ARL, 1/3 of the spots will be held for teams from Hawaii and 1/3 of the spots will be held for teams from the United States and the rest of the world. The spots held for Hawaii, US and other international teams besides the ARL will be filled with an open registration system (no qualifying needed from smaller events).  Fourteen teams from this event (12 semi finalists and 2 Excellence Awards winners) will also qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship in April, 2009.
  • VEX Robotics Championship of the Americas by the CREATE Foundation will be held April 2-4, 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska. This event will hold 150-200 teams. All VEX Robotics Competition events held in North, Central and South America from October to March will qualify teams for the Championship of the Americas. Final qualifying spots available to local tournaments will be dependent on the total number of tournaments and the size of those events, but winning teams from every VEX Robotics Competition event in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and all other countries in Central & South America will qualify. At least 14 teams, and possibly more, from this event (12 semi finalists, 2 Excellence Awards winners and other top 10 finishers) will also qualify for the VEX Robotics World Championship in April, 2009.
  • VEX Robotics World Championship will be held in April, 2009 (location and dates to be announced soon). This event will hold 200-300 teams, and more if needed - ALL TEAMS that win a 2008/2009 VEX Robotics Competition event or an Excellence Award at a VEX Robotics Competition will qualify for the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship. NO WINNING TEAM WILL BE TURNED AWAY FROM THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (if they were, then it really wouldn't be a true world championship). If that means we need to expand the event to 350 or 400 teams in 2009 to accommodate every winner, we will do that. All VEX Robotics Competition events held from October to March will qualify teams for the Championship of the Americas. Final qualifying spots available to local tournaments will be dependent on the total number of tournaments and the size of those tournaments, but right now it is expected that 2-5 teams from every VEX Robotics Competition event in the world will qualify teams for the World Championship.
• Where can we find a listing of VEX Robotics Competitions and how do we register?
  

  Schools and teams will be able to find VEX Robotics Competition events in their area at http://www.robotevents.com/. Registration for the program and the listing of events will go public on Tuesday, May 13th. There are already many events scheduled, but many more will be added each week over the coming months. There will be VEX Robotics Competition in most, if not every state in the United States this year and also in many countries around the world. Keep checking the VEX Robotics Competition page at http://www.robotevents.com/ for updated information and event listings.

• We want to organize/host/hold a VEX Robotics Competition event in our area, who should we contact and where can we get necessary information?
  

  If you are interested in holding a VEX Robotics Competition in your area, please email Jason Morrella at jason_morrella@vexrobotics.com or call 408-445-8399 (California office 9:00-5:00pm PST).

• Do I need to purchase a new competition kit, classroom lab kit, starter kit or anything specific to participate if I already have plenty of VEX Parts?
  

  There is no mandatory kit or collection of parts a team must purchase to participate each year. Teams may be required to use a WiFi Upgrade Kit.

• Can I compete with the VEX Qwerk controller?
  

  For the regular High School and Middle School VEX Robotics Competition, teams will use the same VEX Microcontroller they have been using. The VEX Qwerk controller is not a replacement for the existing controllers and will not be used in the VEX Robotics High School and Middle School Competitions this upcoming season. The new VEX Qwerk controller will be the controller for the VEX Robotics Competition College Challenge being launched this upcoming season.

New VEX Products

• What is VEX WiFi?
  

  Innovation First has developed a WiFi control system for use as the future communication method of the VEX Robotics Design System. Before explaining why we are changing from the current 75MHz radios, it is important to know a few facts.

  • The existing VEX 75 MHz equipment will not be made obsolete.
  • We will offer an upgrade path for the existing 75MHz system code-named VEX 1.5.
  • Upgrading to WiFi is not necessary for classroom and home use.
  • Upgrading to WiFi will be necessary only for the robots going to future official competitions.
  • A new kit will ship with WiFi in late 2008 or early 2009. This kit currently has the code-name VEX 2.0.
  • VEX 1.5 and VEX 2.0 will have a different form factor, but the same function.
  • VEX 1.5 and VEX 2.0 can compete side-by-side in the same competition with almost no difference in functionality.
• Why is VEX going to WiFi?
  

  The purpose is to make competitions more diverse, manageable, repeatable, and reliable. WiFi will eliminate crystal management at competitions and allow wireless operation in the pits.

  WiFi (also known as 802.11) is a reliable and well used communication method for quickly sending data back and forth. As with any wireless technology, it can be reliable only if it is implemented well. Innovation First has developed and filed patents on a robust WiFi competition architecture that will be safe, reliable, and secure.

  The reason a new communication system was selected is to make it easier to run problem free competitions. The reason WiFi was selected due to its cost, reliability, security, compatibility with all PC's, and the number of simultaneous communication paths that can co-exist. Additional benefits to the new WiFi system include wireless operation in the pits. Home and classroom users will also have the option of robot-to-robot communication, PC-to-robot communication, driving from the PC, wireless programming and real-time wireless debugging.

  The use of WiFi should help revolutionize robotics competitions. Teams & event organizers using VEX will now have access to features that they only dreamed of in the past.

• Will the VEX 75MHz transmitter still work?
  

  Innovation First will continue to sell and support the current 75MHz system. This is still a great system for existing classroom use, home use, and small competition use. Only the VEX robots competing in future VEX sanctioned competitions will be required to use WiFi via VEX 1.5 or VEX 2.0.

• What is the VEX 1.5 WiFi "upgrade" kit? When? How much?
  

  Innovation First is developing a WiFi control system for use in future VEX competitions. This will replace the 75MHz crystals now in use. The upgrade is based on proven USB WiFi adapters. The 75MHz VEX transmitter will simply get a new battery door with the new WiFi electronics integrated into it (shown below). The 75MHz robot receiver will be replaced with a new receiver (shown below). There is no change to the VEX Robot Controller.

  Programming options for the WiFi upgraded VEX controller will not change. Any programming tool you use now will still work with the 1.5 system.

  Exact cost will be released soon. Availability is expected by August 2008.

  

• What is VEX 2.0?
  

  Future VEX systems will ship with WiFi features built in. These systems will have the same functions and features as an upgraded system.

  Programming options for VEX 2.0 controller will not change. Any programming tool you use now will still work. The VEX 2.0 controller will continue to be available with a PIC microcontroller.

  Exact cost and availability will be released soon.

• Will event organizers need a new Field Controller for future VEX competitions using WiFi?
  

  Yes.  The current field controller is not compatible with the WiFi system.  IFI will be offering an exchange program for those organizations who already have field controllers for use with the 75 Mhz system. We will also be offering the new field controllers for purchase at the same retail price as the old ones. The legacy 75MHz Field Controller will need to be used for non-WiFi events.

  Cost for new WiFi Field Controllers will be the same $199. Availability will be released soon.

• New mechanical products announced at 2008 VEX World Championship.
  

  Tank Tread Upgrade Kit - available now. more info

  VEX Legs (off road all terrain wheel) - available soon.

  Double wide 60 tooth gear with metal shaft socket - available soon.

  Double wide 36 tooth gear with metal shaft socket - available soon.

  Double wide 12 tooth gear with metal shaft socket - available soon.

  12 tooth metal gear - available soon.

• New Sensors announced at 2008 VEX World Championship
  

  Potentiometer - available now. more info

  VEX Optical Shaft Encoder with Quadrature available now. more info

  Accelerometer - available soon.

  Compass - available soon.

  Gyroscope - available soon.

• What is VEX Quick Start?
  

  VEX Quick Start is a free web application that allows VEX users to quickly change the controls of their robot without programming. The graphical interface is designed for Middle School and older students. Within minutes you can configure a variety of control options including: 2-stick tank drive, 1-stick arcade drive, configure buttons, reverse motors, control servos, add time delays, adjust joystick response curves, use digital inputs, and even control pneumatics all without programming. Configurations can be saved online and shared.

  Beta testing will start soon. Availability is targeted for August.

• What is the VEX Pro "Qwerk" Controller
  

  See the press release at http://www.vexrobotics.com/docs/Vex_Qwerk_4-17-08.pdf

  Exact cost and availability will be released soon. Programming options will be explained in a later release. We do not expect the VEX Pro controller to be legal for most Middle School and High School competitions. VEX Pro will be an option primarily for college competitions.

  Conceptual image shown below:
  

• What is the VEX LCD?
  

  VEX has announced the future competitions will feature multi-team Alliance competitions, single-driver challenges, and fully autonomous challenges. To support fully autonomous operation, VEX will be releasing an LCD module. The module connects to the Tx and Rx ports on the VEX Controller's digital I/O. New user code will be supplied to control the LCD with simple "print" style commands.

  Conceptual image shown below:
  

• VEX Protobot and VEX Tumbler
  

  VEX has a new basic starter design called the Protobot. This robot is designed to be a good place for new robot builders to start. The Protobot is the upgraded replacement for the "squarebot" previously found in the VEX Inventor's Guide. The robot has 4-wheel, 2-motor drive train. The design also features an arm with greater than 180 degrees of motion. A basic roller claw at the end of the arm is designed to pickup single tennis balls.

  A second more basic example robot is the VEX Tumbler. This robot features a simple 4-motor, 4-wheel drive. This robot can be driven right-side-up or up-side-down. It is designed to climb up flat surfaces and "flip over" onto its back.

  Complete step-by-step graphical assembly instructions for both of these robots will be provided.

  

• Explain VEX Mini?
  

  New VEX metal and motion parts are coming soon.  These new parts are smaller and based on a 1/4" hole spaced pattern, current VEX parts are based on a 1/2" hole spaced pattern.  These new 1/4" pitch parts will allow smaller mechanical features to be constructed with the VEX platform, and are compatible with the existing VEX metal and motion parts.  These parts will be available as accessory parts as will also be available in kit form.  These VEX accessory parts will be designated as "1/4" pitch" parts, not "VEX Mini" parts.  This will allow you to build smaller robots, or add small manipulators and features to your larger existing VEX robot.

  VEX RCR Mini Kit:  The new smaller metal and motion parts will launch as a consumer product sold under the VEX "RCR" product line.  This VEX RCR Mini kit will be non-programmable, use a single channel radio, and motors without internal speed controllers, which is standard on "RCR" products. 
  A VEX EDR Mini kit is planned for early 2009.

  All VEX mechanical and motion parts ( 1/2" pitch and 1/4" pitch) will be legal for competition use.