Things to do with vex?

[Kashi Chan]

Hey, some friends of mine are gonna chip into buy like 2 sets of vex to just mess around with. hwat are some things we can do with them? (sorry not very creative) in the instruction book theres things like playing soccer, technically we can go 1 v 1 since we're getting two starter sets, but just kinda wondering what else we can do. or anything random we can build just for fun

side note, what different kind of kits are there exactly?

[Billfred]

Well, you can theoretically do anything you want with them.

The challenge they're trying this year in Atlanta is essentially a shrunken FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar.

If you're up for a challenge (and have a few bucks lying around afterward), there's always recreating such classics as Stack Attack or Maize Craze--FIRSTwiki (http://www.firstwiki.org) should have information on both.

[Kashi Chan]

yeah just looking for mini challenges we can do, pretty tight budget since we're funding this ourselves so dont know if we can actually build our own mini fields and such

[Joe Matt]

Quick question: does VEX include Gyros? I think a Segway mini would be a cool summer project....

[Gdeaver]

From what I've seen so far the VEX is a work in progress. The programing part has not yet been reveled. The programing environment will show how far the VEX platform can go. This is a tough problem for the developers. To throw the Microchip IDE and c compiler at a mass marketing effort will lead to low sales. A scripting language like the Lego's will leave the real power of the controller untouchable and risk loosing the advanced user. This summer should show more of the capabilities of the platform. I may be flamed for saying this but, I believe a well done basic interpreter would be a good compromise.

[Billfred]

Or, why not do both? Have scripting for the newer folk, then a way to access the whole schimaymay for that set? Then you get the best of both worlds.

[BrianBSL]

From what I've seen so far the VEX is a work in progress. The programing part has not yet been reveled. The programing environment will show how far the VEX platform can go. This is a tough problem for the developers. To throw the Microchip IDE and c compiler at a mass marketing effort will lead to low sales. A scripting language like the Lego's will leave the real power of the controller untouchable and risk loosing the advanced user. This summer should show more of the capabilities of the platform. I may be flamed for saying this but, I believe a well done basic interpreter would be a good compromise.

I would argue with you on the scripting language. A well written and well intended scripting language/program like WPILib (http://users.wpi.edu/~savage/Rules/Images/framework.pdf) or RoboLab (http://www.ceeo.tufts.edu/robolabatceeo/) can be extremely powerful. WPILib is more like scripting while still using C (with lots of macros and functions that handles all the hard parts of the Microchip PIC interface stuff) and robolab is simple drag and drop. For more info on WPILib, Brad Miller will be giving a presentation at the FIRST Robotics Conference at the championship. If you go to his presentation, you'll be amazed at how simple it is to implement various sensors etc that take much more effort using IFI's code.

[artdutra04]

yeah just looking for mini challenges we can do, pretty tight budget since we're funding this ourselves so dont know if we can actually build our own mini fields and such
Last year, Gus Team 228 held an EDUbot competition in Connecticut called BlockBlitz (http://www.team228.org/index/blockblitz/blockblitz.htm) . The game was played on a FLL table (4' by 8') in 1 one 1 matches. The game used simple playing field pieces (blocks, two ramps), and cost little to build (under $100). Pictures of the playing field, as well as official rules, can be found at www.team228.org (http://www.firsttopsite.com/out.php?id=41).

Here's two pictures of 228's BlockBlitz robot:

http://www.team228.org/index/blockblitz/tournament%20images/DVC00521.JPG

http://www.team228.org/index/blockblitz/tournament%20images/DVC00518.JPG

[Rabid_Llama]

For the root post, there should be challenges updated on the www.vexrobotics.com website periodically, though the one up there right now pretty much blows.

for those of you worried about programming, dont be shocked if you see a C compiler with an optional lego-style programming shell. probably a split-screen of both.

[jamesgecko]

For the root post, there should be challenges updated on the www.vexrobotics.com website periodically, though the one up there right now pretty much blows.

for those of you worried about programming, dont be shocked if you see a C compiler with an optional lego-style programming shell. probably a split-screen of both.
Yeah, it's official. LEGO drag and drop with normal C code and compiler included. Pick whatever you feel comforable with.

[Rabid_Llama]

Yeah, it's official. LEGO drag and drop with normal C code and compiler included. Pick whatever you feel comforable with.


i think that the split screen of both will be awesome for those of us who dont know C very well. Start out with the GUI and keep an eye on the code, then eventually you can graduate to using mainly the code and use the GUI if you need a little help, then just use the C code all by itself. Its going to rock for newbies.

[ForgottenSalad]

I own a lego mindstorms set, and I can definetley say the interface is not very satisfying for someone who's programmed an FRC bot... But I'm glad they came to the comprimise including the C compiler. After messing with the VEX bots at the RadioShack social, I'm hoping to get a VEX kit when I can.

[Lil' Lavery]

Another idea for a competition is the VEX Pit challenge they were running in the vex pit area and the VEX party on friday. It was a bunch of ping pong balls and 2 Nerf footballs that were supposed to be pushed behind lines (end zone thingys) or placed in boxes for even more points. The bots were almost always just the basic "square-bots" with small herding attachments.
Also, according to the VEX people I was talking to on friday the programming module should be realised in August, and it will have multiple ways to program. There is a system similar to the Mindstorms that you create a flowchart with, straight C, and a split screen, where you see what each item that you add to the flowchart does to the C coding.

[fowlerm]

The development software is being created by a company called Intelitek and will be called easyC. You can program using easyC or MPLAB using C18 or assembly. For those of you that have a kit, code can be downloaded to the controller now using IFI Loader if you build a cable. You don't have to wait until August.

[coreyjon]

Hmm..things to do with vex..=) Well while I was not a VEXpert, I did help them out a tad bit, and spent some of my free time bugging one of the experts. Most of the time I was fixin tetras and the I such, but I did managa to learn a lot and come up with some good ideas. I've been building robots too long to stick to the stock bits. The VEX kit runs the motors and the servo's via pwm...what other favorite devices run from pwm signals....mainly victors come to mind. I was thinking about creating a smaller robot, bigger than the VEX kit can produce, but smaller than the standard FIRST robot. I plan on using the inexpensive controllor to my advantage, and use it to run a higher voltage system. Some other things I was thinking about was how about a cvt on a vexbot? How crazy can we get, I plan on starting a team, and I will really be reading the rules closely =)

[IronVulture]

From what I've seen, VEX is really exactly like a crossbreed of Mindstorms and a full blown FRC robot. The programming interface, the customizable but still ready made parts, it goes on and on. About cost of building a field. Honestly, while it may seem like a limited budget places severe restrictions on what you can do, just be creative. All kinds of stuff lying around the house could be used for a field. You could improptu tetras out of dowel rod or weighted straws. Barriers could be made from two by fours or repositioned furniture. Buy a couple ping pong or tennis balls and some cardbard and invent your own game. You'd be surprised what you can make when you get bored.