Greetings VEX Community,
The VEX Robotics Community continues to set new records – there are now over 3,300 VRC teams and December saw 20 different Qualifying Tournaments in a single weekend! Events are filling up at a record pace so we are constantly adding more - check Robot Events often for new events! Contact us if you would like to host an event!
Please pass the following notes on to your team members:
**PROJECT LEAD THE WAY PARTNERSHIP WITH VEX ROBOTICS **
Have you heard? Project Lead The Way (PLTW) has partnered with VEX Robotics. VEX Robotics will be the exclusive robotics platform for PLTW and PLTW schools will have access to VEX Robotics Competitions! Read all about it here.
2011 VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REGISTRATION IS FILLING UP
Once you have qualified for the World Championships by winning a local tournament, winning a skills competition or winning the Excellence Award, you will automatically be enabled for the Worlds registration (after your Event Partner enters the awards in the database) – just go to RobotEvents.com and sign up.
IMPORTANT: Your spot will only be held for 4 weeks, so be sure to complete the event registration in that time – don’t delay! We’ll see you at Disney in Orlando on April 14-16. Note that there are THREE divisions you can register for this year – Middle School, High School and College.
**2011 VEX ROBOTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – GET A $250 DISCOUNT **
About 90% of the teams registered so far have opted to use one of the fantastic hotel packages – a good indicator of what a great deal it is! The hotel packages offered are a tremendous value PLUS you get a $250 discount on the registration fee. Go to RobotEvents.com for details!
**US NATIONAL ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIP **
Need a high level competition to help you get ready for Worlds? The come join the best teams in the US at the 1st US National Championship in Omaha Nebraska on March 10-12, 2011. This is hosted by the CREATE Foundation and promises to be an experience to remember. United States teams are qualified for this event by achieving any of the following at official VEX local/regional events: Winning Alliance, Finalist Alliance, Skills Challenge 1st or 2nd place, Excellence Award winner. Once qualified, you can register for High School, Middle School and Grade School competitions at the US National Championship. Details are here or on RobotEvents.com
**2nd ANNUAL MID-ATLANTIC ROBOTICS CHAMPIONSHIP **
We are excited to announce that registration is open for the Second Annual VEX Robotics Mid-Atlantic at the Shipley Arena in Westminster, MD on March 4th and 5th. No qualification is necessary and teams from outside the Mid-Atlantic Region are welcome and encouraged to attend. High school teams will have two days of intense competition in two divisions of up to 50 teams per division. Middle school teams may register to compete in a one-day (March 5th) Middle School Division. Space is limited, register today! For details visit www.midatlanticvex.org or contact teams@midatlanticvex.org.
**ONLINE CHALLENGES – EARN AN INVITE TO WORLDS **
Create an entry for the Online Challenges and submit them right from your computer and you may qualify your team for the World Championships and win prizes! You can create a video, design a robot, design and build something out of VEX components, create a game animation, build a website, or create an educational video. Go here for details and maybe we’ll see YOU at Disney! The submission deadline is in February, so it’s time to get started now.
**VEX ROUND UP GAME MANUAL UPDATE – Scoring, Pinning, etc **
Make sure you are using the latest game manual – the most recent version was just published LAST WEEK – there have been updates on scoring, pinning, etc… You can find the most recent game manual information here.
**UPGRADE INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS ALMOST OVER **
Option 1: Trade in your PIC Processor and Transmitter and get a $200 discount on the new VEXnet System Bundle.
Option 2: Convert your VEXnet upgrade system to VEX Bucks. Trade in the old upgrade for a $50 coupon to be used on any VEX order.
Packages must be received by Dec 17, 2010 so don’t delay. Go here for details.
**NEW VEX PRODUCTS ANNOUNCED **
Base Plate 30x15 – Two plates per package – great for mounting projects on or as large structural pieces on larger robots!
Winch and Pulley Kit – Create block and tackle systems – available in January – will be legal for VEX Round Up!
**CORTEX USER GUIDE UPDATED **
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Cortex – Analog conditioning, LED codes, setup, using dual controllers, default user code and jumper setting, debugging, joystick calibration, etc, Check it out here.
**VOLUNTEER AT WORLDS **
A quality robotics event needs volunteers to help make it successful, and the VEX Robotics Competition is no different. Regardless of the size of an event or where it is held, additional volunteers provided by able teams always make a huge difference. If teams that have enough teachers, mentors or parents involved feel they can provide even one volunteer for events they attend, this would make a big impact, would help insure that events are sufficiently staffed and would also prevent existing volunteers from being overworked. This is true at small to medium sized local events as well as the VEX World Championship. Please consider becoming one of the hundreds of caring people that want their teams to experience the best event ever. It doesn’t just happen, WE NEED YOU! If interested and able, sign up to volunteer for the VEX World Championship here.
**NEED IDEAS OR HELP? **
VEX, Intelitek, CMU, RECF, and hundreds of students and mentors participate in the VEX forum regularly. If you are looking for help, ideas, or inspiration, check out www.vexforum.com today. Being a regular contributor on the forum is a great first step to winning the new Inspire Award!