[EricH]

Originally Posted by squirrel

The vEx system was named long before IFI bought it

Oh? Really?

Back in about 2003, there was a system, developed by FIRST and IFI jointly, called "EduBot". It featured a smaller IFI controller and the metal patterns that are now used on the VEX robots. The idea was that FRC teams could use it for small-scale prototyping and the like without needing a big (by comparison) IFI controller. Yes, I've played with it.

In 2005, the VEX system came online, with the FVC pilot being thrown into the mix. IFI did the development again. The result was a much cleaner version of the EduBot, and a very successful pilot (the teams played the 2004 game with modifications).

Fast forward to 2008. FIRST switched away from VEX for Tetrix and FVC became FTC. IFI went on to launch the VEX Robotics Competition (VRC).

I'm pretty darn certain that IFI did not have to buy VEX. Now, as for why they named it that, I'd go with "puzzle, perplex, baffle" as the definition--and if you have a hard time solving a problem, it VEXes you, or at least it does me.