The most advanced technology in competitive robotics today.
The Future of Educational Robotics
Discover how these new technologies work together to expand the possibilities of competitive robotics.
VEX GPS Sensor
Install the Game Positioning System (GPS) on your robot Apply the VEX Field Code to the field interior Track X, Y Position and Heading on the field
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Overview
Commercial Global Positioning System (GPS) uses satellite signals and satellite locations to triangulate a position, but not heading. The newly designed VEX GPS uses a patent-pending VEX Field Code to triangulate both position and heading.
How the VEX GPS Sensor works
The Field Code is mounted around the inside perimeter of the VEX field. That checkerboard pattern in the Field Code is used to identify the location for each individual block in that pattern. Like satellites, this creates hundreds of known locations. To sense the Field Code, the VEX GPS sensor, a black and white camera, is mounted on the rear of the robot and facing rearwards. The camera only needs to see about 17” of the code strip to triangulate a position and direction. VEX GPS is an absolute position system, so it does not drift nor does it require calibration on a per-field basis.
How it applies
Knowing your Robot’s location is critical to path planning algorithms to allow autonomous movement from point to point.
VEX AI Vision System
Explore Artificial Intelligence Detect hundreds of objects simultaneously Determine object type, location, and distance Experience a LIVE view of augmented reality
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Overview
The most common use of Artificial Intelligence is object recognition. Humans take object recognition for granted, but robots need some help. The main reason that most robot competitions use human drivers is the robot’s lack of knowledge of its surroundings. VEX AI uses software and neural networks that can detect the game pieces, goals, and objects that VEX robots want to interact with.
How the VEX AI Vision System works
Many object classification systems are designed to determine the one subject of the image with some certainty, such as a cat with 96% certainty. The VEX AI system is designed to identify hundreds of instances of various objects within an image and locate their screen coordinate. In addition the VEX AI system measures distance to each object using stereo vision. That information is combined, along with the position information from the VEX GPS to locate each object in 3D space.
How it applies
Writing code to sort through the data and make informed and strategic decisions is a key part of Computer Science and competitive autonomous robotics.
VEX LINK Communications
Activate VEX LINK Communications
Communicate from Robot-to-Robot
Send messages and data between bots
Coordinate robot actions
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Overview
The ability of robots to communicate together is critical to autonomous robot operations. Coordinated efforts between robots require knowledge of each other's location, allowing tasks to be divided between robots. Changes in strategy need to be communicated as well.
How the VEX LINK Communication System works
The VEX LINK communication system uses a second VEX V5 VEXnet radio connected to each V5 Robot Brain to establish a robot-to-robot link. Alphanumeric strings can be sent between robots using a “message_link” protocol, similar to text messaging. Large blocks of data can also be sent using a “serial_link” protocol, similar to USB data.
How it applies
VEX LINK is critical to allowing the robot to share the results of their AI object detection and GPS locations. This enables both robots to work with each other's information, essentially giving them two points of view.
Sensor Fusion Map
Locate robots, objects, and goal on the map
Share information from robot to robot
Watch it all in real time via WiFi
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Overview Sensor fusion involves collecting data from multiple sources and combining it in a way to get a better picture of the surroundings.
How the Sensor Fusion Map works
Sensor fusion is used to make a map of the field and the objects on that field. This combines the location of the robot and the relative position of the objects it sees, allowing each object to be accurately located on the field. Objects outside the robot's field of view are stored and time stamped because as time goes by, there is a chance that that specific object is no longer where it was last seen.
How it applies The knowledge provided by Sensor Fusion is the critical first step to determining and executing autonomous robot operations. This wide array of information is also critical to coders who are trying to expand robot capabilities. All of this data is sent via WiFi to your device’s browser so you can watch it all remotely. The WiFI data can include an AI video feed with information overlays, the Sensor Fusion map, and any other information available to the V5 Brain.
VEX AI Competition
Presented by the REC Foundation
Overview
VEX AI, VEX GPS, and VEX LINK, and the resulting Sensor Fusion create an opportunity for students to take their autonomous robots a level up! The VEX AI Competition pushes the boundaries of robotics competitions. The game is separate from the VRC and VEX U competitions.
Here's how it works
Each team brings two robots that they design and build to work as a team. Teams can 3D print and machine parts. Teams can use custom electronics, and there are no motor quantity limits. This game will be open to High School students and College students alike. Game registration will include the hardware needed for that year’s competition to run VEX AI, VEX GPS, VEX LINK, and Sensor Fusion Map.
How to register
The VEX AI Competition Pilot Program will open for registration for university level students in Fall 2020. Stay tuned for more registration updates and reminders for university level.
High School Level: To ensure that high school teams are prepared for this level of competition, they must apply to the program. High school teams will be selected based on experience, interest and geographic location and will be notified later this summer.
Click here to login to RobotEvents.com and access the VEX AI Competition High School Application. If you have any questions, please email VAIC@roboticseducation.org.
It's time to Level Up your skills.
Mechanical Engineering
Design and program two robots that need to work together to complete the VEX challenge
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Teams get to build two robots that work together as a team. That changes the robot design and robot strategy dynamic significantly. Do you build two identical robots, or build two different robots with different skills and capabilities? And now, with 3D printing and machining, there are new skills to be learned and taken advantage of, too
Electrical Engineering
Implement custom robot sensors and circuits
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Need a new sensor that isn't available from VEX. You have choices! Buy one and integrate it, or, even better, build it. Students can design their own circuits to enhance the capabilities of their robot. There are new skills to learn, including schematics, circuit design, microcontrollers, and new sensor technology. The possibilities are real, and the learning potential is too!
Computer Science
Convert your driver skills, your offense and defense, and game strategy into code.
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Just imagine what comes next for your programming skills! You will have to replicate your driver skills in code. That means path planning, object manipulation, and scoring. You will have to write your offensive and defensive strategy in code. That means you need to calculate the score, determine the next best move, coordinate both robots, and execute the plan fast. Finally, and possibly the biggest challenge, is you will have to anticipate and react to your opponent's strategy and changing field conditions... all in code.
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