A few things I’ve been noticing about VIQRC, in particular, since that’s the program I work with kids on:
Hexbug line of toys, long a nice source of legal parts for VIQRC competition, and a nice introduction to the VEX product line, seems to have been quietly discontinued. Existing stores are clearing inventory. If you still want some of those sets, you have to go to eBay.
Color options for all VEX beams and components were removed from the vex store post-COVID with no warnings - now everyone has to live with greys and blues. Hardly a way to be inviting to young kids who can be particular about the color of their robot.
VEX Worlds seems to be failing to attract sponsors? Last year they had Google, NASA, Tesla, Kettering, the U.S. Navy, Mathworks, Texas Instruments, USAF Special Warfare, Magikid Robotics Lab, OnShape, Dallas Sports Commission, and the US Army. This year none of those. Zero are featured on the event page - only Northrup Grumman.
Obviously, cutting down from 760 => 420 capacity at Worlds, and then raising prices from $1200 => $1800.
Last Worlds ES had teams from 28 countries. So far, this year we have 19 in ES, excluding USA. Last year we had teams from Philippines, Spain, Tunisia, UAE, 5 from the UK, 3 from Ireland, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia. So far, none of those countries are represented in ES. The team list isn’t final, of course, but Worlds-qualification events in those countries are done, and there’s not a lot of time left for those international teams to say “yes” and make arrangements, etc. Maybe I’m premature on this concern…
A counter-point: Last year there were about 5500 registered teams in ES (per World Rank data). This year a bit over 7000. On the face of it, that looks like nice growth of 27%+.
Soooo, it just feels like overall VIQRC as a program is at best, stagnant? Am I way off base? Reading too much into these tea leaves?
I’m not interested merely because I’m curious: I have young kids who are starting robotics, and I don’t know if I should continue to invest in and hitch my wagon onto a program that’s basically in decline. And don’t get me started on the “clone wars” and for-profit programs making it challenging for G2-focused school teams to compete, particularly on the West coast where the clone invasion seems most intense - that’s a whole different way the program is withering and no longer serving its educational mission.
Just curious if anyone has other perspectives or data points to share.
I’m relieved that the sponsor list remains strong. Since they’re sponsors, it seems to me that page owes it to them to actually show some recognition. Perhaps just a simple oversight.
RE: Spin Master
Didn’t know about that - I only have uncommon knowledge. But the fact remains that a key source of alternative VEX legal parts is basically drying up, and a product line that introduced my own kids to the world of VEX is basically gone.
RE: Smaller event
I didn’t hear that from any teams I’ve spoken to…but I get that there’s different perspectives on that. Thanks for the pointer to that discussion thread.
I miss the color parts, and I’ve been stocking up on Hexbug kits (I posted a picture of my collection in another thread). But on the positive side, the game elements come in color. Last year had a ton of colors, this year lots of black and red. VEX has released the advanced corners for purchase by the bag.
In my area there is a huge amount of growth in the program. The reality is that worlds is expensive (flights, food, hotel, swag) for a family to go. I think it’s hard to wrangle elementary school roboteers for that period of time. So I don’t plan to go to Worlds with teams. But I’m ever expanding the pool of roboteers that get to be part of the program.
So this may be a good spot for me to say “we are fighting over pie when there is more pie than anyone can eat” At 7000 teams VIQ is 0.005 percent of elementary / middle school students. There are 100’s of thousand of students that could benefit from the program.
Full disclosure, I’m part of STEM Robotics, we are a non profit. And while my current title is Chief Roboteer for a long time it was Robot Evangelist. I don’t care how roboteers get into the program, just that they do. Teachers are a scarce resource, they are stretched into multiple directions. The schools in my area do it for 24 weeks and it’s a slog. So if the access is via a $300-500 program it’s fine. In the same 22 weeks I pay $440 for yoga and that’s only 1 hour a week, and I’ve never seen a World Karma Championship. Piano, tennis, skiing, karate all have an expense. I have a grand-munchkin that plays hockey, you want to talk about eyeball bleed levels of cost, hockey leagues are it.
In a few days I’m going to close off one school districts season. The 64 teams played in a total of 10 events (all robots played in 3 events) and are going to the Extravaganza on the 16th. We will have 11 fields (one from each cluster of teams) food, music, Borus the inflatable Robosaurus, 275 of the robosaurus squeeze toys, 1st to 5th place trophies and a hand full of non performance awards. Oh and cookies.
Each team will play 10 matches and be in the finals (yes over 360 matches in 6.5 hours) Because the school frowns on indoor fireworks, the event only costs about $2.5K to pull off. You can do that, it takes some time, planning and volunteers.
I’m not sure what you are alluding to. I’m going to go for the concept of “dad built robots”. Please look here
Some amount of Adult mentorship, teaching, and / or guidance is an expected and encouraged facet of VEX competitions. No one is born an expert in robotics! However, obstacles should always be viewed as teaching opportunities, not tasks for an Adult to solve without Students present and actively participating.
I’m against dropping parts on a table. I consider myself to be a mentor, I teach robotics. I do a lesson on gears. I do a lesson on build techniques. I do a lesson on bases, on arms, on claws, on … Nothing in G2 says I can’t, in fact they encourage it.
I’ve become a Ben Lipper fan. I signed up for his free kickoff session. It was a ton of roboteers and a handful of adults / mentors / coaches. The entire session was fully within the confines of G2. His videos are that way also. You can sign up for free for his email blasts. He will send your team pictures of the things his group are building. This year the popular robot at the beginning of the year was Linq (a robot designed by VEX design engineers) with a simple roller mechanism on it. There has got to be over a dozen other videos by roboteers on how to build a better roller. All of this information is free and easy to find.
With a fixed part set, designs are going to converge. The difference are going to be how well they are built, any code to use the sensors and how well teams drive. I have a team that built a Linq-Ben, used two push buttons on the stock driver program and now their arm stops in the right position to scoop and score. They learned how to drive the wheels off of it and are having fun.
(This is not directed at Joe the original poster) I say this alot:
If the reason you are doing this is only worlds, I feel sad for you and your roboteers. This program has so much to offer than a 3 day visit to Dallas.
@joebotics Stick with the program, I think it it will be of value to your children. I like VIQ much more than the Lego programs. Being able to compete with another robot and drive is a huge win with roboteers I’ve talked to.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. Your perspective as a mentor and leader in a non-profit helping to educate kids in robotics is invaluable. Keep up the great work.
It’s great that there are pockets around the world where private robotics organizations like yours are finding ways to fill in the education gaps and grow and attract families. I agree that the opportunity is significant, and the need and demand is strong.
If your considering starting robotics absoulutely. Its taught me and so many other kids planning, organazation, communication, building, coding, writing, math, etc.
Here in Wisconsin, we have more VIQRC teams than ever before. So it definitely in not in decline. I would echo that if you are basing your perception on World’s, in my opinion, you are missing the point of the program. It is the Education, the problem solving, teamwork, conflict resolution, working toward a common goal and more are the things that the students gain from being involved on top of the designing, programming and building the robot. If I never had a team qualify for Worlds and they accomplished the things above, I would consider them very successful.
But the fact remains that a key source of alternative VEX legal parts is basically drying up, and a product line that introduced my own kids to the world of VEX is basically gone.