Big VEX sale at RadioShack

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Robots_R_Us

How many motors and servos can one Vex microcontroller handle?

Originally Posted by Billfred

2) Eight--how convenient!

Look under the hood of your controller, and you'll see a few more cylinders that you previously thought.

[Gamer930]

Originally Posted by Robots_R_Us

Thanks for the response so far....how about a few more volunteers?

I would like to buy before the Radio Shack sale is over.

RRU

Omni Wheels are nice. Chain and Sprocket kit and/or gear kit is good if you planning on making an attachment of some sort. Metal and Hardware kit if you want to make your robot bigger.

I also have the line following kit and Ultrasonic sensor but haven't tried them yet so will not comment on them.

[Robots_R_Us]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Look under the hood of your controller, and you'll see a few more cylinders that you previously thought.

Would you mind expanding on this comment?

Some of us are looking for hard data to base buying decisions on.

Thanks

RRU

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by Robots_R_Us

Would you mind expanding on this comment?

There is a lot more to the Vex controller than what you can see on the outside. If you feel like hacking some of the IFI code (or if you just know someone who knows what they are doing), then you could unlock the Rx/Tx ports on the controller for use. A great example of something you can do with these ports is hooking up the CMUcam to the Vex controller via the Rx/Tx ports. I don't want to spoil any more surprises, but there are a few more undocumented "features" inside the Vex controller to conquer.

That is the best thing about the Vex kits. You can never really "master" the Vex kits, or reach the end of innovation with them. There is always something new you can try. You can always push the enevelope on what you can try to do with the Vex kits, as there are almost always undocumented features that you can try to hack and control.

[Robots_R_Us]

Would anyone else like to volunteer what they brought at the Radio Shack sale for Vex and why?

We are still waiting for an answer to quantify what to buy and how many.

Being it is on sale doesn't tell us what to buy to anticipate future needs.

Thanks for whatever advice you can offer.

RRU

[Donut]

Try consulting this thread for some ideas.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45660

[Chris_Elston]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

It seems that way, but you click on the powerpack itself and it says it is not in stock - http://www.vexlabs.com/vex-robotics-power-pack.shtml

Don't forget about eBay. I had to get my programming kit this way. It seems out of five radio shacks within 50 miles did not have the programming kit in stock.

I got a good deal on it, more than the sale price, but not anymore than the regular price even after paying $7.00 for shipping.


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[Bob Ward]

Originally Posted by jeffmorris

I think that Radio Shack isn't doing well and plans to close some stores. Is Radio Shack planning to drop VEX Robotics product line? Both Radio Shack and Vexlabs still have some items out of stock. Does the company that makes VEX Robotics run into problems?

I agree. Some stores are closing around me. RS blew it carrying VEX. Their markup is huge and no one wants to pay it. Those are definitely closeout prices. I think VEX is a goner at RS. The only hope for VEX products is online.

[Robots_R_Us]

So...any late minute Vex buys for anyone? the sale is getting to the end.

Anything you wish you had but couldn't find?

Any idea how many of each item one should stock up on at this price?

RRU

[tcj103]

A local Radio Shack employee told me they were re-aligning their stores. Some would be carrying less hobby related items, like resistors, transistors, soldering irons, etc and concentrate more on the consumer electronics items like Ipods and cell phones. Others would continue to carry the hobby items. My feeling is that mall stores would be the ones dropping the hobby items. Argh! Now I have to locate a specific store when I'm looking for some widget!

I also heard at Nationals that Radio Shack is dropping the Vex line, and that Innovation First is picking it up as the supplier for it. Radio Shack sales on the Vex stuff is probably an attempt to clear out existing inventory. I used to work for them many years ago, and I know from then that no stock was ever shipped back anywhere, it just went on sale until it was sold.

I'm thinking of picking up a Vex starter kit and programming kit, just to learn c+ and fool around with it at home.

Ted

[Nuttyman54]

We picked one up last weekend, along with any accessories we could find.

[Steve S.]

Originally Posted by tcj103

A local Radio Shack employee told me they were re-aligning their stores. Some would be carrying less hobby related items, like resistors, transistors, soldering irons, etc and concentrate more on the consumer electronics items like Ipods and cell phones. Others would continue to carry the hobby items. My feeling is that mall stores would be the ones dropping the hobby items. Argh! Now I have to locate a specific store when I'm looking for some widget!

I also heard at Nationals that Radio Shack is dropping the Vex line, and that Innovation First is picking it up as the supplier for it. Radio Shack sales on the Vex stuff is probably an attempt to clear out existing inventory. I used to work for them many years ago, and I know from then that no stock was ever shipped back anywhere, it just went on sale until it was sold.

I'm thinking of picking up a Vex starter kit and programming kit, just to learn c+ and fool around with it at home.

Ted

IFI Did.

[EricRobodox]

IFI is Innovation First. Hence Innovation First, Inc. Unless, 1591, that was a question or shock of unknowing, Vex is now supplied by Innovations First, Inc and RadioShack dropped out. Its primarily due to Radio Shack not making that much money as they three way partnership; IFI, US FIRST, and Radio Shack; caused the profit to split the money. Radio Shack decided to leave the Vex to IFI and FIRST to which IFI became the dominant partner and now main supplier. I saw this coming as IFI had the EDU kits and Vex is just the next generation of EDU. There is a topic or two on this issue i think already on CD.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by tcj103

A local Radio Shack employee told me they were re-aligning their stores. Some would be carrying less hobby related items, like resistors, transistors, soldering irons, etc and concentrate more on the consumer electronics items like Ipods and cell phones. Others would continue to carry the hobby items.

I heard exactly the same thing from two local RS managers. Thankfully, the closer of the two was one of the 'hobby' stores...

I ended up buying one or two of everything but the metal and ultrasonics - you never know what you might like to fool with.

My current summer project is to build and program a small robot (about 1/2 FRC size) to harass the local wildlife. I live on a suburban lot, and have deer, woodchucks, a skunk family and a plethora of chipmunks that I'd like to make life less comfortable for. (The squirrels, I've given up on. They Win).

The idea is to sense movement, determine if it's a critter, then move towards it making noise, all staying within specific boundaries (the lawn). When battery gets low, it finds and connects to a charging port, then goes out again waiting and watching...

The 'sense movement' part is the hardest, I'm working on a combination of motion sensor and IR camera. Unsure if I'll get it to work, but that's no reason to not try.

Don

[David55]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

I heard exactly the same thing from two local RS managers. Thankfully, the closer of the two was one of the 'hobby' stores...

I ended up buying one or two of everything but the metal and ultrasonics - you never know what you might like to fool with.

My current summer project is to build and program a small robot (about 1/2 FRC size) to harass the local wildlife. I live on a suburban lot, and have deer, woodchucks, a skunk family and a plethora of chipmunks that I'd like to make life less comfortable for. (The squirrels, I've given up on. They Win).

The idea is to sense movement, determine if it's a critter, then move towards it making noise, all staying within specific boundaries (the lawn). When battery gets low, it finds and connects to a charging port, then goes out again waiting and watching...

The 'sense movement' part is the hardest, I'm working on a combination of motion sensor and IR camera. Unsure if I'll get it to work, but that's no reason to not try.

Don

Definitely an interesting use of a vex robot.

You could always just use the old motion sensor connected to a pan - tilt AK-47. That should solve the problem for you.