Are the VEX kits worth buying?

Other FIRST Tech Challenge
#7

I’d say so. Be prepared to buy the battery kit for $50 at your local Radio Shack. Also, it seems both kits I know of ended up with the same freq crystals, so he and I are considering getting the 4 crystal set so we can run at the same time.

Several of the parts seem a little on the expensive side, so I have started to look into home-brew parts. I have NO idea if that will be legal on a FRV team, but I don’t really care. Mine will be used for private use, and team prototypes. (Example - the base squarebot uses almost all the shaft collars and bearing plates.) Dr. Joe’s list of McMaster Carr parts is a good start.

I hope that the championship webcast will show some Vex stuff too, or at least I hope to see some pictures. My buddy and I are building triple play robots, with bamboo Tetras. I just wish they would get the programming device out soon.

It’s good to know the local radio shack people.

#8

Standard Hobbyist RC batteries work just fine. In my opinion, you can get much better batteries (3000mA-h NiMH) and a charger from Tower Hobby for about the same cost as the Radio Shack kit.

I know that the rule book recommends using NiCd batteries because they can supply more current with lower voltage drop than NiMH, but again, in my opinion, even with 8 motors it is not that easy to draw that much current from these motors. They are internally protected for overheating which means if you use the motor at anything close the their stall current for any period of time, the breakers are going to turn the motors off momentarily. HEREis a link to the IFI website where they have a table of what currents were allowed on the Isaac system (fore runner to VEX).

Also, the rule book does not apply generally, only to the Atlanta Tourney.

For what it is worth.

Joe J.

P.S. In answer to the question, “Are the VEX kits worth buying?” I have to say, “Yes, undoubtedly.” There are flaws. Improvements can always be made, but it is a very solid concept. One that I am sure will introduce robotics to 1000’s of folks who otherwise would not have the opportunity. Well done, Innovation First, Radio Shack, & FIRST. JJ

#9

The vex kits are available online now, http://www.radioshack.com/category.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&category_name=CTLG_011_011_000_000&Page=1
And I’m considering going out to get one. It looks very cool :slight_smile:

#10

DOH! That’s a great idea! Tower Hobbies is a GREAT place. I’ll have to remind the other VEXers in my area. (Grumble grumble… I’ve only used them for gas powered products, forgot about the battery powered side of the hobby.)

#11

WooHoo!! I am definitely buying one ASAP. :smiley: It sound like everyone is having a great time with them. I would like to wait for the fall to get the improved kit that Lil’ Lavery spoke of, but I need to get one now so I can show it to my school administrators to get things off the ground for possibly starting a VEX team in the fall. Thanks everybody for the feedback.

#12

Hi,
Our team just bought a VEX starter kit and some accessories from Radioshack this week. I took the stuff home and worked with my 9 year-old. We followed the Inventor Book (comes with kit) to build the basic drive unit or SquareBot. My son had no problems building it.

Connecting the controller and plugging into the correct port was difficult for him only because he was unfamilar with these FIRST programming and electrical concepts.

It was a lot of fun. Of course, we had to build an arm to pick up ‘tetras’ so it would be interesting. The default code in the controller was sufficient and can allow for a lot of ideas without needing any programming.

Here’s what you need from Radioshack to get started.

  1. Starter Kit $300
  2. Battery kit $50.

You can do lots of stuff for $350.

Now, lots of add-on kits come from Radioshack. In order to do lots of problem solving exercising such as hanging, picking up balls, stacking, scooping,etc. these add on kits are helpful if you have the money.

  1. Extra hardware $80
  2. Chain drive kits ?
  3. Motor (1) kit $20
  4. Servo (1) kit $20
  5. Gear kit $13
  6. Tire kit ?
  7. Cutting tool ? (need to do lots of cutting of metal for various designs)

Call it about $180 since I don’t know the price of three items above. This now comes to $530.

The robot does have an autonomous mode. This requires a jumper and the user cannot control the robot with the transmitter (I think!). To have fun doing this, one could use various sensor kits.

  1. Programming kit ?
  2. Line sensor kit. ?
  3. Ultrasonic range finder ?
  4. Encoders ?

Don’t know these prices. Bet its around $120 or more. Please let me know the exact values.

Now for a price of $650 plus tax you and your teams can do really complex normal and autonomous things.

Radioshack only listed four items yesterday…although they stock everything in their system. (Do a search for VEX brand to see what’s available).

Oh yeah, if you have an EduRobot kit, you can borrow and use most of the hardware for this VEX robot (brackets, screws, nuts, etc.)

We’ll demo our VEX robot next Monday when are team meets to make preparations for the nationals (we won’t be doing VEX competitions.

I definitely like the stuff. Hope to find low cost substitutes for the add-ons in the future.

Regards,
ChuckB

#13

FVT-42 The Hitchhikers

As part of the RoboEducators (http://www.roboeducators.org/), we are planning to run five Robotics Boot Camps for teachers using the Vex this summer. There will be five of these camps across the US. I will be running mine at my Contra Costa College, where I teach. We will expect these ten teachers to build teams and then compete in a local competition. These teams would naturally also fit in with whatever plans FIRST has for Vex.

Oh, I forgot to answer. Yup, I sure think they are worth buying. My team has gone though dozens of prototypes by this point. It is a wonderful vehicle for exploration and creativity.

#14

White Wolf,
I haven’t gotten a clear answer on programming the VEX controller. What language is the VEX controller programmed in? Can you select a different language (i.e. Visual, C, PBASIC, or other)?

Thanks,
Chuck

#15

The kits at the stores already (yes I have seen personally 2 stores in CT that carry them already) is version .5

(Side note - It was pretty funny seeing the looks we got looking at the kit, not one time, but on 2 separate visits to the same store in one day while wearing FIRST logo plastered shirts and hats, and the second time with a friend riding a Segway in the store with us.)

What is V1.0 gonna bring? Maybe I shall wait till that one comes out till I get one… May take me that long to save up enough to get one anyways, even with the relatively cheap $299.00 price tag for the starter kit…

I want a pair of Vex safety glasses first though, but they do look like child’s sizes… :eek:

#16

FVT-42 The Hitchhikers

Our team got folded in to the Vex world last October at RoboNexus where we participated in a demonstration FIRST competition. Radio Shack was there and showed several teams the Vex box and described the basic system. They swore the team to secrecy, which I am proud to say, the team quite nicely honored. I ended up signing a non-disclosure statement with Radio Shack because I was looking to partner with them (and FIRST) in a National Science Foundation grant to use Lego-League, Vex, and FIRST.

Through RoboEducators, I will soon take a leap down the rabbit hole and learn a bit more about what is on the Vex horizon. I currently only know a minuscule amount more than the rest of our Vex community.

I’ll ask what can be told to this forum, so folk don’t have to resort to the Delphic oracular techniques of old. I can understand Radio Shack wanting to preserve their business opportunities by carefully managing the flow of Vex info. I certainly also know the value of advance knowledge for optimizing education (as well as the delight of just knowing stuff.)

#17

Being a member of the buisness portion of WildStang I have not been really active in the building of our FIRSt robot but have joined the vex team. I think it is really cool. I like to see it as advanced legos. In many ways it is like if Legos and Erector sets were bread together, Vex would be born. It is fairly easy (it has to be if I can do it) but still has its challanges. Over all I would reccomend it. It has taught me some basics of engineering and design.

I know it already has its own section at the local Radio Shack in Woodfield Mall.

#18

Version V1 will have many features that .5 doesnt have. It will probably be programmable, and even if they arnt in the starter set, there will be a plethora of new and cool parts (wheels, ect.). But V.5 has everything you need to make a simple bot that works well.
If your just using it for personal use, Id recommend buying the starter set- $300
Battery Pack and charger-$50
1+ Motors- $20 each

That will allow you to build a 4 WD, or a 2 WD bot with a servo and up to 2 motors (if 2WD) for other features such as arms, ect.

#19

extra metal ($70?) would help too, espectially if you plan on cutting some of it.

#20

I can not wait to get one! It drives PWM’s, and im surprised that I seem to be the only one who is planning on building a decent sized bot (not out of the parts that come with it), and using the ability to drive pwm systems to run a high voltage side of things…like cim motors via victors… :smiley: . I will probably buy the starter kit and build the robots and get used to the system (more than I already am, I kicked butt playing with 'em down in atlanta) then move to a larger chassis and really push what it can do. I have been drawin up plans, and ideas since I got the first email about VEX, and I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with. I already know that I will be able to interface just about whatever I want, as long as I can figure out the pin-out’s it shoudn’t be too hard. There is so much stuff out there that works with PIC’s. I can’t wait to explore what is possible. I also plan on starting a vex team for next years comp, while at the same time mentoring a FIRST team, all along with work, and college, I love challenges.

#21

I personally haven’t been able to get alot of hands on experience with our robot so this kit is the next best thing im definently getting one.

#22

The current v.5 controller is porgrammable - look here

#23

When will the V1 be relased?

Will it also be 300 dollars, for all these extra features?

#24

I would also like to know when the V1 will be released. Thanks

#25

Probably not. They will probably sell the new parts as add on modules.

#26

I think these are an excellent bridge between FRC and FLL, it sticks with the simple complexity of legos (yes it’s an oxymoron, but it describes lego perfectly), while advancing into working with custumizable parts. I personally am looking into buying a set, and I think the kit is a great resource for FRC teams, as well as a good introduction to creating specificly modeled parts for teams in between FLL and FRC. I looked at them quite a bit at nationals, and we’re working out the details of having them at IRI (don’t quote me there, I don’t know the specifics). I hope someone starts a VEX team near me!