New team help needed

VEX V5 Robotics Competition
41

Just so you know, our setup is a little overkill.

V5 Comepetition Super Kit: 1500
All field components (Perimeter, tiles, game elements); 1530
Extra motors and axles: 50
Sensors (Sensor kit + Gyro): 140
Aluminum Structure kits + extra plates: 200

42

Since the kids are funding themselves, we can’t afford the super kit and perimeter kit. So we are opting for only the basic $500 kit

43

if possible i would at least recommend the competition starter kit because that at least has aluminum.

44

Yes, I believe the competition starter kit is $500

45

Are you sure? I think you are talking about the classroom super kit. The Competition starter kit is 900.

46

Yes, I have even seen VRC teams mentoring VEXU teams in VEX.
In response to your additional question:
I am sorry, but $500 will not cut an entire season in robotics. STEM is expensive, we all would consider $3,000-5,000 a season to be an affordable price for robotics, which is why VEX is drastically increasing in popularity due to its affordability. I would highly advise finding other means of funding other than draining parent’s wallets as it would seriously limit their capabilities with such a frugal amount of funding.

47

I feel like they could suffice with 1500, but they have to plan everything in advance so that they do not cut anything that they need to and they should also only buy exactly what they need .

48

Sorry, I meant the $500 field kit here

I am getting the $900 competetion starter kit here

Do you have a link from where to get the motors from?

49

Here is the motor link

50

Thanks, it gives me several items below such as gear cartridges, cables etc. Do I need any of those for my 4 additional motors?

51

I don’t know how many cables come with the competition starter kit, but if it is enough then you should be good with just the motors unless you want higher or lower rpm motor cartridges.
The 100 rpm ones are useful for components that need a lot of torque like a arm
THe 600 rpm ones are useful for components that need speed like a flywheel.

52

In VRC, do the kids program from scratch or are libraries provided on GitHub?

53

None of those. I personally use VEXcode v5 Text. Its basically c++ with all of the vex libraries preinstalled and has download functionality to the v5 brain. You can also use the same system except with block coding (Its in the same link). You could also use Robotmesh studio or pros.
Link: Robot Mesh Studio
Link: Pros
Link: VEXcode

54

There are example documents that are provided for all VRC’s coding platforms.
Considering that the students are 8th graders I would suggest that they program from VEXCode Blocks: VEXcode Blocks - VEX Robotics
There are many tutorials on VEXCode Blocks, in fact the VEXRobotics Youtube Channel just uploaded videos on VEXCode blocks tutorials.

55

There are a number of programming solutions available - if your kids are transitioning from FLL you may be particularly interested in VEXcode V5 Blocks, which provides a scratch-like environment compatible with the competition control system.

RobotMesh Studio also provides a graphical programming environment (Blockly), and can translate the Blockly code you write into python, which can be quite useful when transitioning from graphical to text-based programming.

56

RobotMesh studio would be my second recommendation, as it also provides its own convenient and easy-to-use CADding software known as “Mimic”

57

I was thinking of giving the kids the option to program using text so C, C++ or Python would be good.

I don’t see RobotC mentioned in your recommendations?

Sounds like Vex Studio, Pros and RobotMesh use C++ or Python.

58

RobotC doesn’t work with Vex V5. It only works with cortex which is the old version from 2010.

59

Do experienced teams mentor new teams in VRC?
We are northern VA.

60

I do believe that it is actually against the rules to play on one team and mentor another, but I may be wrong. I heard that asked at a drivers meeting last year.