Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Nice site. Seems to be FIRST related.. what is it though? :ahh: Anybody come across this before?

www.vexrobotics.com

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Here is my SWAG at it: (Scientific Wild $@#$@#$@# Guess)
Vex might be a spinoff competition of FIRST. im guessing teams will only be allowed to use the erector set like KOP and nothing else to build a function device that does a task. Kinda like FLL Except with a bigger set of parts you can do more with. I bet its Auto or manual control ONLY ( Im leaning towards auto control)

But like i said, this is just a guess, I hope its something college students can compete in :D

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Hey, that is cool. Supposedly Vex and First are partners in this new robot competition, and it sounds like it's focused more on autonomous...

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I could be completely wrong here - and I probably am, since FIRST is nonprofit - but the description of the kit looks almost - almost - like a product page.

I'm not saying that FIRST is going to be selling these kits, but you never know... ;)

This could be a possible replacement for FLL too. I know that those involved in FLL on my team (not me, due to lack of time) were talking about a spinoff of the program targeted towards elementary school kids. It's possible that FLL will be aimed at younger kids now, and I could see this kit being given to seventh and eighth graders.

Considering the fact that there's a page up about a competition in Georgia, I think we'll learn more about this Vex at Nationals...and I'm definitely intrigued.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Looks like a sub competition within FIRST, also taking place at Nationals. Might be interesting to watch provided we know what it is! :D

But whatever VEX is, their website is pretty cool :P

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

If im looking at this page and descriptions and everything right on here it almost sounds like the Robovation kits and their launch date is the Saturday at the Championship.... This sounds interesting ;)

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Vex Robotics...sounds like something that Dave Lavery does every day. :D

I'll be very interested to see exactly what this is--if FLL is the little league of the FRC, perhaps this will become the farm teams?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

The website does look pretty cool. How'd you end up finding it...a random search or posted somewhere? As for exactly what it is and how it works I guess most of us will have to wait till April. ;) :D

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Guess who owns the domain..:D One hint - not FIRST (personally anyways, prolly in partnership with FIRST though).
I knew this was coming. It is all crystal clear now.. Logo change, The partnership & now some final product marketing...
It all comes into play eventually.

AHH! :ahh: I need to make it to Atlanta to see this unveiling of VEX.

And yes, I want to know too.. how did you find out about this site?
And, was it supposed to be shown already?

edit: I just want to add that I so called this a couple months ago in the thread about the new logo. Just wanted to point that out, in case anyone cares. It was a guess, but hey.. sometimes a guess is all you got!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

AHA! It is true! However I just can't say, everyone: you have to go look it up for yourselves. I just can't believe it.

Finally something to offer other than just cell phones and cheap RC cars!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

hint: by switching the letters of the company who owns the www.vexrobotics.com owning company/individual, you can produce the name Andy T.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I think that this is connected directly to FIRST, just like how FLL is.

The starter kit (about $299 on the VEX website) seems to be cheap and would be perfect for teams that could not raise enough money for the FRC competition. I also believe FLL will be dropped in the coming years since Lego has major money problems to deal with. I don't know if this is all true but it all makes sense.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

anyone else notice how that robot graphic in the top corner looks like the centaur (Segway ATV)

i am also thinking maybe this is an on site comp where you get the challenge and that day you build and compete.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

i checked the whois and found out that the registrant is radio shack which is interesting becasuse they are a new sponsor of FIRST. this has got to be a new robovation type kit for public sales, maybe all the proceeds from these will go to FIRST



Registrant:
Radioshack
(DOM-1315144)
200 Taylor St.
Suite 5368 Fort Worth
TX
76102 US

Domain Name: vexrobotics.com

Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com


Created on..............: 2004-Oct-01.
Expires on..............: 2006-Oct-01.
Record last updated on..: 2004-Oct-01 10:20:41.

Domain servers in listed order:

DNS1.TANDY.COM 139.60.220.225
DNS2.TANDY.COM 139.60.220.226

MarkMonitor.com - The Leader in Corporate Domain Management
----------------------------------------------------------
For Global Domain Consolidation, Research & Intelligence,
and Enterprise DNS, go to: www.markmonitor.com
----------------------------------------------------------


The previous information has been obtained either directly from the registrant or a registrar of the domain name other than Network Solutions. Network Solutions, therefore, does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Show underlying registry data for this record


Current Registrar: EMARKMONITOR INC. DBA MARKMONITOR
IP Address: 209.216.16.114 (ARIN & RIPE IP search)
IP Location: US(UNITED STATES)
Lock Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
DMOZ no listings
Y! Directory: see listings
Data as of: 08-Jun-2004

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I was amused by the DNS, DNS1.TANDY.COM.

Wetzel

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

AHhhh, looking at the domain whois makes eveything MUCH Clearer. Also for those who think it might be a fake registration SPOILERS: (Select to read)
RadioShacks corp location matches the registration of the website

So a bit of revising of my orginal SWAG:

This may be a replacment to the FLL or a sister compition. What im thinking is a KOP much like a erector set. Open to alot more teams. I bet eveything will be very simmilar to the Mindstorms kits due to the price. Your likely going to be looking Auto only kit. Reason for all of this and the possible partnership: This partcular company has had a good sucess with there x-mod races. For those who dont know: The Xmods are a step up from your average zipzap style car. The races are limited to parts avaible at Radioshack....oopse i just let the cat out of the bag!... in any case, i hope i get a chance to go to nationtals!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

The real news here is the new slogan on the "Go FIRST" Page.




Also, did anyone else notice the copyright statement in the lower right of the page?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I thought it was a scam too. Even that copyright of Innovation One looked really hokey and a ripoff of Innovation First. Aparently the trademark of Innovation One is related to radio shack.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I cant wait to see what this is all about, maybe if Radioshack is going to get involved with FIRST all the kids involved with FIRST can get discounts on stuff at the stores, that would be cool.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Just a thought,

Judging by the domain registration, it seems like this could mean some really heavy national exposure for FIRST...

This could be the breakthrough we have been waiting for to get FIRST into every high school.

Tom

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Ah, but on the Vex website under "Vexview" it says, "The Vex Robotics Design System will give you everything you need to design and construct radio-controlled robotic devices..."

Sounds like a great idea for expanding the FIRST message to schools who can't get large sponsors. And they just have to go to their local RS store to pick up the kit!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

This sounds like that RadioShack announcment that was supposed to happen, about how RaidoShack was going to partner with FIRST to do something (more than just allowing us to buy parts from them that is). Personally, I can't wait. This is really interesting, almost like an add-on to the FIRST program, kinda like Battlebots IQ and how they tie in what they do with school.

FLL won't be dropped anytime soon from what I have seen and heard, FLL is like FIRST x10 in terms of size, spread, and adoption. Don't take my word for it, but I think we'll see FLL in it's current form stick around. Just if they use legos or not, well, that could change.

FIRST-like experience with mass market appeal. What's not to like?
 

All,

Sounds like a cool product and a cool competition. I'm glad that FIRST is in the game instead of on the sidelines. Making it easier for folks to compete in robot competitions is never a bad thing in my book. If I had time, I'd get involved.

JJ

Brandon,

I suppose you might as well start a VEXrobotics Forum now. It will save you the bother later. While you're thinking about it, is there any way to let folks register with VEX team numbers or some other way to designate VEX team association? If TANDY (i.e. Radio Shack) is involved, this could get big in a hurry.

Joe J.

Re: FIRST-like experience with mass market appeal. What's not to like?
 

Alas, the Tandy Corporation of my youth no longer exists. RadioShack, inexplicably without a space, is now the corporate moniker, and their ticker on NYSE is RSH.

*sigh* I worked for Radio Shack (with the space) for five years in my ute. They paid for two college degrees, and I sold CB radios, stereos, and TRS-80 Models 1 through 4. Seems like a fair trade.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

i got the scoop today from some people higher up then me.

the vexrobotics is a kit that assembles quickly and allows you to program. this will be an in between comp between Lego league and FIRST. i was told FLL is going to be moved to a elementary project and vex is going to be middle school while FIRST is still for high school.

the other part of this that is cool is that this kit will be available in every radio shack nation wide.


i trust my source but it is still a rumor till we know for sure

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Greg, this is quite interesting.

From the way your source described it, where would the VEXrobotics kit fit in relation to, say, a Mindstorms or Robovation kit in terms of programmability or build options?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

the way it sounded it sounded like a car kit where the mecanical stuff is there for you and there is more of a focus on the programing

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

As I understand it, its Radioshack mass-marketing the Edubot as a kit for $300.....now all the kids will have one!

Jon

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

This is brilliant and I love it.

But I wonder what they mean by "just like everyone else, only smarter".

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I may or may not know what it is, but I already have one of their cool shirts (which has the FIRST logo on the right sleeve!)!

Greg Needel may be half correct....


No....Im not a mindless pawn.....

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

so will this be team run? or can anybody get a kit and compete?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Here we go again with all kinds of speculation. We can never out guess FIRST. I think we well just sit back and wait. :cool: :yikes:

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Just as long as the cool shirt is part of the kit nothing can go wrong.....

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Oh man! If these hit shelves nationwide, it would be a huge leap for FIRST in terms of main-streaming. Viva La FIRST Revolucion!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

This sounds just like what I had guessed in my first post, and it hasn't been edited and won't be anytime soon. I feel accomplished. ;)

Looking at the webpage, though, it looks like we get to play with the kits at Nationals. This should be very interesting indeed...

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Plans are in place to have a competition at Nationals...we are bringing 3 or 4 teams/groups from SC to participate. Hopefully, these sights will jump to the FIRST Robotics competition next year.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I am 80% sure I know what VEX is. From what I've heard (rumors), RadioShack is going to mass market Robovations or a system similar to it. So VEX, by the looks of it, would be it.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

if you look at the whole thread you will see that he posted/ changed his picture because of this thread. please read the entire thread before you post

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Anyone else notice the bump back of the release clock, by about a week.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

http://www.usfirst.org/Vex.htm

Exciting!

Wetzel

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

www.innovationone.com

It is not up yet, but I have a feeling this will be the new site for VEX stuff.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I've heard rumors of a partnership betweend Innovation FIRST and Radio Shack . Looks like they were true!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

We were interviewed today by a FIRST memeber, about VEX, from what he said, it'd be it's own competitions with much less cost, $1000-2000 for the kit and about the same for entry, he said they'd be available at radio shacks, and have a FIRST flyer in them, to get people into the bigger beefier bots after 1 or 2 seasons with the little guy, sounded neat

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I have read the whole thread, but by the looks of their site, it seems that they are promoting this as a product. like x-mods, or ZipZaps.....

is InnovationOne a rip-off of InnovationFirst, or just a kind of merger?

-Leav

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

http://www.usfirst.org/Vex_Invite.htm

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

We too got interviewed, and I must say, it looks impressive. There are two different types of groups they are focusing on it looks like...

a.) Schools who want to set up one (or more!) teams and then send those teams to regionals/nationals.

b.) Kids getting the kit for Christmas, then competing them in the park, like a mini competition.

From the looks of it, they want to attack the casual segment, along with the giant mega teams who can only have a few students work on the robot. Their idea is to have everyone building these bots. Imagine school wide tournaments!

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Forget kids. I want one. I always thought that Radio Shack was moving away from educational materials when they got rid of all their electronics books. I guess they wanted to shift their line from a more technological point of view. (Boebot, basic stamp, robots)

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

6 students from team 88 were called upon... This guy came to us and said he needed 6 random team members so we got 3 guys and 3 girls... We went in this small room and he showed us the website... We were in a phone conference with 2 other guys (sounded like southern accents too)... It was sweet... They asked us like what we thought and like if it was easy to use and basically help them... It was awesome...

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/events...rent=0&cat=278

http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/events...rent=0&cat=278

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Im confused. Is that the website you guys were shown or was that little confrence related to the Singapore competition.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

So what does Singapore have to do with VEX? :confused: :confused:

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I may just be really greedy, but arn't you supposed to get paid to do stuff like that? isn't this like product testing?
well... if it's for FIRST... :)

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Hey did anyone notice on the vex robotics pages on First that one of the links on the sidebar says its for the 2002 registration page for lego league?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

What does vex have to do with Singapore??
Absolutely nothing!!!!
:p :p

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

That is not the website they showed us... nothing like it at all..

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I thought I would do a product search on the RadioShack website for vex, what I got was a redirect to the vex competition website.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I was just going to post this, but you beat me to it! :rolleyes:

Wishing I could be at Nats to see this VEX stuff, anyone willing to pay my way and attend class for me? :confused:

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

ok from what i know, FIRST is trying out a new type of competition, VEX

u would use the kit and build a robot (durr)

Team 1002 has joined this competition, why? because it sounds KOOL
I think it will be a cool thing, not to hard, but not to easy.

good luck to all the teams doing VEX and all FIRST teams

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Sparky signed up too, hopefully we'll get it too.

*crosses fingers*

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Hmmm The F.I.R.S.T VEX Inovation (http://www.usfirst.org/Vex_Invite.htm) says when they say "No Cost" does that mean the kits and entry fee and all that are payed for???

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

That's what I've understood. The only thing you need to pay for is transportation and a room to stay in.


And food of course.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Thats alot of Freebies!!! 4 kits!!! over $1200 stuff free!!! wish I could do it but it will probobly hack up alot of time in between FRC Regionals and Championship event...

Maybe ill just buy one to mess around with myself...

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I hope they select us to be a team... This would be a great experience... A lot like Edu Bot...

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

The local news ran a story about a robotics competition taking place at Radio Shack's corporate headquarters and it turns out that they were demonstrating the VEX kits. For what I saw it is basically the Edubot kits with better parts and a remote control!

Looked pretty neat! Can't wait to get my hands on a kit :D

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I don't know if it was supposed to be there or not, but I walked into a local RadioShack today looking for limit switches, and low and behold, the only limit switches they had were for VEX. And then I realized that I was looking at a VEX kit! They didn't have the starter kits, but had the controller, some wheel sets, some gear sets, and assorted sensors and switches. $129 for the controller - not too shabby.

This kit might just be the answer to our problems (by "our" I mean the FIRST related club here at MSOE that is working on a special robot prototype for potential future mini competitions in the Milwaukee area...)

Kev

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I don't suppose the controller said what languages it could be programmed with? I'm really, really hoping its not basic (Or else, why use this over the edubot?)

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

From what I have heard...its C.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Looks like something that could keep me entertained when this seasons comes to an end.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

One of the FIRST senior mentors had part of the kit, the controller, etc at the UTC Regional this past weekend, it looks like an amazing piece of equipment, definately better then the Robovation kit(formally Edu Robotics(EduBot))

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

I would have loved to have tried this but kinda missed the registration deadline and the team is already too busy between now and the Championships.

I'll have to check it out nonetheless.

Ellery

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

VEX has been on the FIRST Website for a few weeks now, check out the link below, looks like VEX will be a new FIRST competition.

http://www.usfirst.org/VexQA.htm

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Those links don't work anymore...its all under a subsection

http://www.usfirst.org/Vex/

FAQ is there and answers a lot. Looks pretty neat, but you need a login/password to get the challenge. :(

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Engadget is running the story too, without mention of FIRST.

I wonder who is was submitted by, hmmmm....

http://engadget.com/entry/1234000803037235/

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

just in case y'all have not heard this but coming direct from the
Ta^h^h Riverside Campus if you buy a Vex starter kit and need to return it
the following 8 parts MUST be present to do any return

Handheld controller #12430831
Controller Module #12430815
reciever module #12430823
Servo with clutch
3X Motor with Clutch 12430781
Don't be stupid but the store can RMAC the unit with those parts present

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

What does rmac mean??

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

[IMG][/IMG]

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

They said it is going to have FIRST literature in it with the logo, etc. Any sign of it in there?

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

yes.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

A Radioshack guy was at Palmetto yesterday--there was definitely a (relatively) conspicuous logo on the side with a couple of paragraphs on FIRST.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

RadioShack is an Official Sponsor of FIRST and is sponsoring the FIRST Vex Challange at the FIRST Championship in Atlanta this month. The FIRST Vex Challange is a mid-level robotics competition for high school-age young people. This new level of competition will offer students the traditional challenge of the FRC but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit.

RadioShack's Vex Robotics Starter Kit is available THIS MONTH! The kit includes everything necessary to build a radio-controlled Erector-set-style robot including a pro-level, six-channel radio controller, a programmable micro controller, and hundreds of nuts, bolts, gears, wheels, and flexible metal bars that you can bend into almost any shape and even cut into pieces! The Vex starter kit comes with over 500 parts! Check out www.vexrobotics.com for more info!

A portion of all Vex proceeds goes to FIRST to help support young people's interest and participation in science and technology. For more information on FIRST, visit www.usfirst.org

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

FYI, Looks like the Vex Robotics website is now live.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

The Vex Robotics Kit is now on the RadioShack homepage: http://www.radioshack.com/

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Wow, they are really going all out with this thing. This is really good. Thanks for the news.

New Vex Robotics Website!
 

Hey everyone! Check out the new Vex Robotics website at www.vexrobotics.com. It's got tons of awesome features like Rate-A-Robot, monthly challenges, message boards, cool downloads, and lots more. It's a great place to show off your stuff or share your ideas with others!

Re: New Vex Robotics Website!
 

What about programming the controller? Is it a clone of the IFI mini RC or completely different? I think there are a lot of teams that would consider it as a testbed/training tool but that is a vital piece of information.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Yup. It's in there.
I can't really tell you. The programming module is not available yet.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

There has been some discussion of hooking up one of the vex controllers to a console and trying to offload the onboard code using the microchip programmer.

Re: Anybody seen this? FIRST - VEXrobotics?
 

Hey guys, the Vex programming module will be available in August. Check out www.vexrobotics.com for more information about Vex and its products.