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Originally Posted by HP42S
VEX-U is great for students who didn't do any form of robotics program before college because it's mostly a pre-fabricated construction set so beginners can handle it. Oh sure you can 3D print an object of some limited dimensions but it's nothing like a real engineering challenge.
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This is a pretty large and bold claim. Have you ever competed in VEXU? How familiar are you with the game year to year? Do you know how the rules for VEXU works? I find it incredibly hard to believe that you're familiar with the competition and think it's "nothing like a real engineering challenge."
Some of the most innovative and efficient designs I've seen produced have come from VEXU. VEXU isn't confined to just the VEX parts like the HS, MS, etc. are, they have plastic parts they can machine (6x6x1 volume total), custom sheet metal (12x12), 2 small 3-D printed parts, 2 large 3-D printed parts, any kind of sensor you want (does not have to be sold by VEX), additional off-board processing, etc. In some ways it makes the student be more creative and innovative with their designs because they are somewhat limited, they can't jsut fabricated everything to be exactly what they need. That in mind, it looks as though these restrictions may lessen in the future.
Another large benefit to VEXU is that in addition to what the college students can learn (and trust me, even students that have done robotics previously can learn a lot), you can help inspire, educate, and mentor high school and middle school teams in the process because VEXU is so similar to the normal VEX competition.
I think before you make such large assumptions about a program you may want to get more familiar with it, participate in it, or at least talk to someone has been through the experience.
-Nick