I've been using the IQ since it came out. In our area (South East Pennsylvania) there was a very strong VEX metal program at the middle school. Since RECF is pushing IQ for middle school, IQ has become more popular.
It's lower cost has made it a viable program with home school / small charter schools.
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Originally Posted by lucas.alvarez96
VEX IQ doesn't really have a solid IDE. You've got two options: RobotC, which is the usual IDE used for programming the VEX Cortex and PIC microcontrollers, and ModKit for VEX IQ, a web-based graphical IDE, which resembles Scratch.
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RobotC is very solid, so I'm not sure what the poster means about not having a good IDE. RobotC works well with the IQ platform. It also works well with the Lego and VEX metal platforms so you have some baseline learning that can go across platforms.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lucas.alvarez96
The problem is that Modkit is extremely buggy, and resembles an alpha product more than a finished software.
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Modkit has been less than a polished product, but it has gotten better in the last release. Having it look like Scratch has been a bonus, since I've run into programmers that already know Scratch, it's an easy transition.
I find that roboteers like to drive and that is the #1 point for VEX IQ, the way that the joysticks are a key component and are integrated well into the platform.
The integrated motor/controllers are very nice. The ability to get good positioning information at the motor is great. This lets roboteers use the motors as rotational devices and / or servos (or switch back and forth in the software).
The IQ design team took a lot from VEX Metal learnings. Large number of IO ports for motors and sensors, a good lineup of sensors that work well. Multiline display panel on the "brain" makes it a good place to put debug information. I also use the RGB LED displays as debug outputs / driver displays. (We've seen recent CD posts about using LED's to tell the driver when things are in position, same concept on the Button/RGB display. )
Mechanical parts are good. Everything is held together with friction pins that are easy to assemble and to take apart. While IQ contests are to be cooperative matches, there is still some banging and bumping. Most robots hold up well and don't come apart.
There is a
VEX IQ Forum that you should check out. There are some videos and there is a entire section on robots that people have built. Online Tech Support is also there.
You might want to post some of your more detailed questions on the forum
One of the forum members has moved ALL of the IQ parts into
LDRAW - Lego CAD program format to make it easy to do drawings of the robots.
So for me, good parts, RobotC, intelligent motors, intelligent sensors, CAD capability with the much lower cost makes IQ my choice for new robotics teams.
I agree with the "if you already have X stick with X" but the OP said there was not a program at the school.
Which brings the last point, VEX has done a lot with classroom materials. I'd check that out to see if it meets their needs.
Good luck! See you on the VEX IQ forums.