Extending the Hands-On Experience Through VEX

Robotics CompetitionNancy McIntyre

Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

PLTW schools that are using VEX, seeking education materials and

information, should consult their PLTW websites and resource people first and

use the general VEX resources as a supplement.

Education Resources for VEX Robotics Design System (Middle & High School)

- Autodesk VEX Robotics Curriculum:

http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com - Standards Mapping Details for Autodesk VEX Robotics Curriculum:http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/teacher-materials/standards-matching-and-accreditation

- Autodesk VEX Robotics Course Syllabus (and other teacher materials) – download from: http://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/teacher-materials

Developing a Team

• Team identity• Team Name• Logo• Team Colors• Team Motto

• Jobs on the team• Develop a leadership

program • Drive Team• Pit Team 

• Designers - CAD Autodesk Inventor

• Engineering Notebook

• Programmers• Scouts• P R people• Website Design• Video production

The Game Toss Up

• http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Toss_Up

Gathering Ideas from Everyone

Brainstorming

Mindmapping Freemind.com

Engineering NotebookProject Management

Organization

Game theory

Brain storming

Initial Design Process

Testing

Improvement Process

Programming

Building TipsHow to work with VEX parts

• Tools• Basic assembly • Components and their function

Construction tips for competitive robotics• Keps nuts vs nyloc nuts• Support structures• Focus on quality of construction• Screw Difference• Loading of motors and the build up of heat• Remember to keep things organized

Developing CAD

Autodesk Inventor• # 1 Learning Interface• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-vSc79XsO8• # 2 Mate and Flush Constraints • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5O8JMMQmK0&feature=rel

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• # 3 Tangent Constraints • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnugr7qLOcc&feature=relm

fu• #4 How to Rotate Gears Wheels and Sprockets • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLKPI212rfc&feature=relmfu • #5 How to Rotate an Arm• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3-lfvn7Fuc&feature=relmfu • #6 How to Cut Parts• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyM8UYEmAg8&feature=rel

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•  • Inventor Tutorial:• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aFv4H2n_PQ&feature=rela

ted

• Simulation Guide Demonstration• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mChsz8esv_E&feature=fvwr

el

• VEX CAD Files:• http://www.vexforum.com/wiki/in

dex.php/VEXCAD

•  • VEX Autodesk Education

Community • http://students.autodesk.com/?n

d=vex&tagent=VEX-2012-LA-4-13-2012

•  • Student Spotlight on VEX and

Morgan Montalvo • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v

=xlI-PYvGwlM&feature=player_embedded

Global Skills Program

Robot Skills Challenge In this challenge teams will compete in sixty (60) second long matches in an effort to score as many points as possible. These matches will be entirely driver controlled. The playing field will be set up identically to that of a normal VEX Sack Attack tournament match.Programming Skills Challenge In this challenge teams will compete in sixty (60) second long matches in an effort to score as many points as possible. These matches will be autonomous with exceptions for minor human interaction. The playing field will be set up identically to that of a normal VEX Sack Attack tournament match.

Online Challenges 2013/ 2014 Season

a. The Autodesk Sustainable Design Challenge is an online, skill-based challenge being run by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF.) Sustainability is about using engineering and science to reduce human environmental impact.

b. FUTURE Foundation Build a VEX robot to deliver trophies to award winners at robotics tournament awards presentations. Think of your robot as the helper that makes presenting trophies a fun and exciting part of the awards ceremonies. It is up to you to figure out how this would work, but it should be useful, creative and interesting.

c. Robotics Essayd. Team Educational Videoe. Team Websitef. Game Design /Animationg. Promote Award

Involving Parents and Professionals

• Invite team parents to an evening presentation on the scholarships

that are available for students who are interested in studying in the STEM fields

• Encourage parents of students from all grades to attend.• Enlist the help of the guidance office.• Invite a local university admission officer to help explain the process.

Show off the Scholarships Allow them to drive old robots.Teach how to build structures using your robots.

• When people ask how they can help….Driving Cooking Frequent Flyer MilesSewing Shopping Business Contacts

Resources

Robotics Education & Competition Foundationhttp://www.roboticseducation.org/

VEX ROBOTICSWWW.VEXROBOTICS.COM

ROBOT EVENTSWWW.ROBOTEVENTS.COM

VEX Forumwww.vexforum.com

Event Partnerwww.vexrobotics.com/vrc_epdocs

Toss UPhttp://www.vexforum.com/wiki/index.php/Toss_Up

VEX Curriculumhttp://curriculum.vexrobotics.com/

Thank you for your time and interest

Nancy McIntyre

Robotics Education & Competition Foundation

Nancy_mcintyre@roboticseducation.org

805-428-1528