I teach computer science in a secondary school in Ireland and i would like to introduce Robotics. My students are between 12 and 18 years of age. Would Vex IQ be suitable for all these age groups or should i go for the more advanced one? Thank you
Well, it depends on some other variables. Is your school giving you a lot or little funds? How many students do you have? What do you aim to teach your students? Other than that, here are some resources from the vex website:
Vex IQ
https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/9834425896980 (edu resources)
Products - VEX Robotics (kit pricing)
Vex V5:
https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/9834349433236 (edu resources)
V5 Kits & Bundles - Products - V5 - VEX Robotics (kit pricing)
There are also a plethora of resources on this forum. Welcome to Vex!
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I think that you should definitely go for VRC, if thats what you mean by “more advanced”. As far as I know, IQ is for elementary and middle schoolers, and VRC is for middle and high schoolers. However, VRC has you build bigger and more complex robots, bigger field, etc so the cost will be higher, but it will be able to fit all your students.
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Thanks very much for the replies. My budget is approx €8000 - might be flexible depending on value for money.
Is Vex VR for virtual robots only? I am only stsrting to learn about it.
Yes, it is for virtual robots only (no physical stuff except a computer)
How many roboteers in total will you try to teach? How many in each classroom session?
What are your goals on the mechanical side? Simple drive bases, arms, and grippers?
What are your goals on the programming side? Motion with limit switches and rotation counters? Computer vision?
How much mechanical experience do you have?
How much computer science experience do you have? C, C++, use of advanced libraries, etc.
How much computer science experience do your beginning students have? Same for the senior classes?
What kind of desktop devices do the students have? PC, Mac, Chromebook?
Thanks
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For that age range I would suggest VEX EXP or V5. Do you plan on your students doing VEX Robotics Competiton (VRC)? Or just classroom. If its just classroom, go with EXP. For competition you will need V5. The programming and sensors are same, but V5 has more advanced radio, controller, more ports, and can handle 11W motors. (EXP has 5.5W motors which is fine for the classroom).
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Some good advice here.
Drop us a line via [email protected] and we can arrange a time to talk through the various options.
Thanks v much for all the replies. I just realised I seem to be confused between Vex VR ( virtual robotics) and VRC (Vex Robotics Competition).
To give some context, my college degree is electronic engineering, but I changed career to teaching 15 years ago. However, I don’t have much of a mechanical background. I have some coding experience (Python etc.) from teaching Computer Science.
Id like to introduce robotics as a fun hands on way to learn Coding but also to get the students interested in robotics as a possible career path etc.
Thanks so much for all the detailed responses.
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Hi Sean,
Using VEX VR is a great way to get started on the programming side, I highly recommend it.
For physical hardware, I’d suggest the VEX IQ platform. As an education platform it really can’t be beat. The robots are easy to build / rebuild. You students with limited mechanical skills will be able to build a robot in 60-90 minutes. There are plans for a basic sensor bot that can be quickly built. There is also some courseware to help with your lesson planning.
There is no cutting, drilling, bending needed, the IQ suite of parts pretty much covers anything you need to build. (But since you are not doing competitions you could cut parts if you really needed. )
There is a a full range of sensors, the IMU is built into the brain, the motors come with built in rotation sensors, there are add on sensors (like the vision sensor) for more advanced programming. You can program everything in Python which is what your current CS program uses.
What to purchase? I’d start off with 12 of the competition kits. This gives you the biggest set of parts for each roboteer. I’d then buy about $1000 of the add on parts that VEX sells (multiple pack of the odd length beams, the different corner kits, flat plates, standoffs, gear sets, sliders, etc.) Having a wide set of components makes it easier to build things on the fly. (I also talk to the Europe sales arm on getting discounted versions of the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 game elements, both games were fun and had an amazing amount of VEX parts in them. )
I’d then spend the rest of the money on storage. While I use a different version, these storage trays Storage Trays for VEX V5 and VEX IQ Robot Parts - Robosource.net - Robosource.net
are well designed. Robosource make a rolling table that holds 21-24 of the trays, but one of your local builder could help you with building something that fits your classroom.
Good luck with your project! Write back about what you ended up buying and how it is going.
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Definitely go for VRC
Hi, care to say a few extra words on why? You are pretty new here so I don’t know your background.
Vex IQ is designed for middle schoolers and elements school students. I started using VRC equipment in middle school and had no problems but I’ve been able to grow with the capabilities of the system. Also, if OP decided to compete in robotics, OP will need VRC.
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Thanks very much Foster. That is a very comprehensive explanation.
When you say competition kits, do you mean Vex IQ can be used as a competition kit?
Thanks again
Sean
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Yes. Vex IQ is made for 4-6 graders. It would be pretty simple for middle schoolers to do IQ, since the builds aren’t too complex. I started VRC in 6th grade and didn’t think it was too difficult for me.
Yes, VEXIQ kits are used in competition for elementary and middle school aged roboteers. I don’t remember the exact age (offhand) but it’s about 13 years old. So your classes would be to old for VEXIQ competitions and would need to build with the what VEX calls the V5 kits.
VEXIQ kits come in two flavors, a classroom version with 4 motors and a set of parts and a competition version that comes with 6 motors and some additional parts to build a more complicated robot. I suggested the bigger kits because the number of parts double and I’m thinking you are not going to get a second big bite of the budget.
What I’m trying to do is balance the mechanical build for you and your classes. The VEXIQ system snaps together and would be in the Lego Technic class. I don’t know if they sell kits like this in Ireland (VEX Robotics Single Gear Racer | HEXBUG) but it’s a cheap way to look at how things go together.
This discussion is part of why I asked that stack of questions a few posts ago. Knowing the other parameters drive the direction to go.
The competition VEXIQ kits are $650 USD, the similar V5 competition kits are $1900 USD. So there is a pretty big difference in price. Which is why I asked about the number of students if it’s 20, then a dozen VEXIQ kits keeps you at 2 students per robot. If it’s only about 12 then four V5 kits would let you keep a 3:1 ratio and still stay in your budget. (As someone that deals with schools here, the budget is always the limiting function)
From an engineering standpoint things like the gears are the same size, the hole spacing is 1/2 in both systems. So it’s an easy transition if you end up with roboteers that want to compete, just get them the right level of hardware.
Hope this helps. The note from Chris to contact EUSales is a good idea, they can also talk you through what we are talking about here.
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I will always stand by the fact that the majority of middle schooler should partake in vex iq in middle school. Even me, who finds vex iq not as challenging I still just do both. I really depends but most likely vex iq.
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Thanks very much for all the replies. Based on your advice and advice from the agent here in Ireland, it looks like we are going to go for the Vex V5 kits as the Coding with Python is a priority for us. I am also waiting on a call from the EU sales team tomorrow to go through all the options.
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Cool, welcome to VEX VRC!!! Hope it works out, post us a note in March to tell us how it is going. I think your students are going to be very excited,
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Actually, one last thing I’m unsure about. If I get a set of Vex V5 kits, would there be any value in also getting the Vex VR license separately to have the option to also run an online class with virtual robots? Does having actual robot kits make the virtual robots redundant or do teachers sometimes use both? Thanks Sean