VEX Robotics Expands Into Elementary With Launch Of VEX IQ

VEX News
1

**VEX Robotics Expands Into Elementary With Launch Of VEX IQ **
Technologically Advanced, Tool-less System will Transform STEM Education for Younger Ages

GREENVILLE, Texas, April 19, 2013 – VEX Robotics, Inc., announced today the launch of VEX IQ, a robotics platform designed to transform STEM learning for young students and their teachers. Students as young as eight can jump right in and snap robots together using this intuitive, tool-less platform while educators can utilize the free VEX IQ Curriculum to help teach them valuable lessons and skills that are needed in today’s changing world.

“The VEX IQ platform is truly a revolution for STEM education at younger ages,” said Paul Copioli, president of VEX Robotics. “We’ve taken our years of experience in educational robotics and created a simple, powerful and flexible platform for students and teachers alike.”

The VEX IQ system was designed to be simple and easy for students to use. Structural pieces snap together and come apart without tools, allowing for quick build times and easy modifications. A variety of gears, wheels and other accessories allows for complete customization of VEX IQ projects and mobile robots.

The Robot Brain takes high-end, powerful technology and simplifies it for educational use while keeping a high ceiling. Up to 12 Smart Port devices can be connected to the Robot Brain, which can then be controlled by built-in programs or programmed via a computer and compatible software program. In addition to using pre-programmed instructions, VEX IQ robots can be controlled by drivers using the Controller.

Free graphical programming software, powered by Modkit, allows for custom robot commands, sensor interaction and more and is included in every VEX IQ Kit. ROBOTC for VEX IQ, created by Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, allows robot programming in C. The VEX Assembler powered by Autodesk 123D adapts the power of Autodesk’s advanced 3D modeling tools, giving students the ability to assemble and test VEX IQ mechanisms and robots virtually.

VEX IQ Starter Kits are priced at $249.99 The VEX IQ Super Kit is $299.99. Kits are available for pre-order now and will begin shipping in June.

In addition to transforming STEM education in the classroom, VEX IQ will be used in the VEX IQ Challenge presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, an extracurricular STEM program for elementary and middle school students (ages 8 to 14). The power of the VEX IQ system combined with the REC Foundation’s years of experience inspiring students through robotics competitions is giving younger students more affordable access to the inspiration, excitement and learning that comes from participating in a STEM challenge.

For more information on VEX IQ, visit VEX IQ - VEX Robotics

For more information on the VEX IQ Challenge, visit RobotEvents.com

2

Will there be a world championship for Add It Up?

3

There was one this year (dubbed pilot program), so I would go on a limb to say yes. Also, I vaguely remember somebody saying we’ll see all of you here next year (implying inclusion of VIQ).

On a completely unrelated note, I’m hereby calling VEX IQ VIQy (Vicky). Why? No reason other than it’s easier to say.

4

wow, this is Vex DOING IT RIGHT!
did you see those 8? year olds with those robots?..
now imagine them 10 years later doing full on HS Vex…

i swear, vex is funded by some mastermind organization that will harvest all the brilliant engineers they shaped :wink:

5

I think this is awesome! We are planning to do a presentation on robotics to our local school district. We home school because the local district is very poor and sub standard. My wife has agreed to let me buy 2 of the $299 kits and a playing field to donate to the elementary school to try and get them started this year. We did so much stock piling this year we should have very little to buy for ourselves this year so I think that would be a good way to focus our efforts. I think we can find sponsors to cover the registration and travel costs as well. Given the number of Greenville, Texas teams that are involved there should at least be a couple of events they could participate in without a long drive.

I think this is a great product that will really help get kids started into robotics. Given the fact that most of the kids in our district come from poor uneducated families this may be the only spark that gets that fire going.

6

Seriously though, some of those robots looked better than mine.

7

Does the new VEX Assembler work with regular VEX components also

8

Currently, only VEX IQ parts are listed in VEX Assembler.

9

Our team captain has set up a weekly STEM program using this system and it is great! The only problem for our purpose is how easily it falls apart, especially with 2nd-5th graders handling them! But spending a few minutes putting it back together is definitely worth it!

10

And our most of our team mentors the elementary kids, I think VEXIQ is also a really great opportunity for the older VEX students to get involved. I wonder if PLTW has intention on making a program based in this too?

11

Does this mean there are plans to expand it? (I hope so…)