Welcome to Drive Forward News from VEX Robotics.
As the summer heat waves rolled across our Texas HQ, the team at VEX Robotics (here and across the globe) were hard at work, making exciting updates to our products and keeping a close eye on robotics teams worldwide. We’re thrilled to share this summer’s latest advancements and inspiring stories.
Jump in to see what’s new and what’s next as we welcome in a new school year!
- VEX Robotics Teams From Around the World
- VEX Robotics’ Andy Lee on the Evolution of STEM Education in the Asia-Pacific Region
- New Tools and Updates for a Winning Start to Back to School 2024
- Visit Us at IMTS 2024 in Chicago!
VEX Robotics Teams From Around the World
Summer 2024 flew by! We had the privilege of spotlighting some truly incredible teams from around the world across our social media accounts. In case you missed it, here’s a quick look back at some of the highlights:
VEX U – WHOOP / Aggie Robotics (USA)
Since 2018, WHOOP and WHOOP5 from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX have evolved from a small group of reunited robotics enthusiasts into a powerhouse in the VEX U scene. Their accomplishments include winning the Innovate Award at this year’s VEX Robotics World Championship (Worlds) and securing the title of Texas VEX U Tournament Champions three times. With a commitment to innovation and teamwork, they’re poised to keep making waves.
This success is also due to the support from fellow Texas team GHOST from UT Austin, who stepped in with crucial pneumatics parts during Worlds. This act of camaraderie fueled WHOOP’s best performance to date. As they look to the future, they are set on claiming the World Champion title.
VIQRC Middle School – 88700E Baalam Robotics (Mexico)
Since 2014, VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team BÁALAM 2.0 from Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, has inspired their community. Their communication and STEM skills have flourished as they’ve grown from elementary to middle school. Their commitment to sustainability sets them apart, reusing pieces and equipment from their earliest competitions.
Representing their state in the southern region of Mexico, BÁALAM has competed at six VEX Robotics World Championships, where they’ve inspired countless students. Their story is a testament to perseverance and ingenuity as they aim for continued success.
V5RC High School – 46846T INT (Scotland)
Team 46846T INT from Elgin, Scotland is a testament to the power of resilience and innovation. Formed by a diverse group of students representing eight national identities, they’ve overcome challenges, including a critical breakdown of their climbing mechanism just two weeks before a major competition. Their calm, logical approach paid off, culminating in an F-tier climb at the 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship.
Robotics has ignited a passion for engineering among many team members, setting them toward future careers. With a season full of hard-earned achievements behind them, we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next in 2025.
V5RC High School – 34001A IORobot (Turkiye)
VEX V5 Robotics Competition Team 34001A IORobot from Istanbul, Türkiye has come a long way since its formation in 2021. Focusing on growth, both as a team and as individuals, they’ve developed impressive engineering and programming skills. Last season, their robot featured a standout 6-motor drivetrain, a rare achievement that set them apart.
This year, with an influx of rookies, the team’s two senior members took charge of mentoring their new teammates. Their dedication paid off, leading to awards for Sportsmanship and Energy at the VEX Robotics World Championship. As they look ahead, they aim to reach the finals and continue supporting the online VEX community.
One of the best parts of our job is celebrating teams that work hard to build our community, elevate robotics, and teach others. Want your team featured on our social media? Apply here.
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VEX Robotics’ Andy Lee on the Evolution of STEM Education in the Asia-Pacific Region
If you’ve been watching STEM, CS, and robotics education, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, you might want to tune into what Andy Lee from VEX Robotics says. Andy’s been on the front lines and has some pretty cool insights into the challenges and opportunities in this part of the world. Let’s dive into what he shared.
STEM and CS Education: The Challenges
It’s a global thing. One of the significant issues is just how fast tech is changing. It’s tough for school administrators to keep up with the latest advancements, making implementing the most current STEM and CS education practices tricky. Then there is the age old issue of where to find relevant information about educational robotics—many teachers don’t have enough time to get the training they need to teach robotics and other interdisciplinary subjects effectively. Sound familiar? It’s something educators everywhere are grappling with.
Getting Robotics into Schools: One Kit at a Time
Robotics education is picking up steam in this region. There are great resources like VEX Professional Development Plus (PD+), that provide teachers with relevant lesson plans, videos and a personal learning community to help them connect with other like-minded STEM enthusiasts. And it is in 26 languages! According to Andy, the journey usually starts small, with something like “1 Kit, 1 Teacher, 1 Student.” It’s all about taking that first step, no matter how tiny, to learn something new. At times, robotics might be an elective or an after-school club. But here’s where things get interesting: as students get hooked—because, let’s face it, who doesn’t get excited about robots?—administrators start noticing. Before long, they’re looking for ways to bring that same energy into the regular school day. Slowly but surely, robotics moves from being a side dish to a main course in the curriculum.
The Evolution of Robotics Education
It’s remarkable to see how robotics education has evolved. Andy talked about how it often starts as an extracurricular activity, but then—boom!—the enthusiasm spills over into the broader curriculum. It’s not just about having fun with robots (although that’s a big part); it’s about building critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. It’s this evolution that’s transforming how students learn.
Competition Fever
And if you think robotics education sounds exciting, just wait until you hear about the competitions. Andy couldn’t even list all the events happening across the Asia-Pacific region because there are so many! These competitions aren’t just about winning—they’re about giving students a platform to showcase their skills, connect with peers, and push the boundaries of what they can do with technology. This sense of community and friendly rivalry drives a lot of interest in robotics across schools.
Summer 2024: A Season of Learning
This summer, Andy presented at the International Conference for Research in Early Childhood Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, discussing using VEX 123 to teach programming to young learners. He was also in Taipei for the International Conference on e-Learning and Educational Technology, where our own Dr. Jimmy Lin gave a keynote on integrating AI into robotics education hosted by the Chinese Association for Computer and Educational Technology (CACET) . And that’s just scratching the surface. Andy also presented and ran a workshop at the 4th Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in Asia hosted by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) STEM-ED Centre in Thailand and held workshops at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Singapore. Oh, and let’s not forget the grand opening of a new STEAM Engine building at Tenby Schools Penang in Malaysia featuring—yep, you guessed it—VEX Robotics.
Wrapping It Up
Andy Lee’s insights highlight how dynamic the STEM and robotics education landscape is in the Asia-Pacific region. Whether it’s integrating robotics into school curriculums, watching students light up at competitions, or presenting new ideas at conferences, it’s clear that the future of education in this region is looking pretty bright. If you’re interested in where education is headed, keep an eye on what’s happening here. We can learn a lot from their approach, and who knows? It might just inspire some changes closer to home.
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New Tools and Updates for a Winning Start to Back to School 2024
As we continue Back to School 2024, VEX Robotics is excited to introduce fresh resources to ensure your success. Start strong with the new Hero Bots, Swish (VEX IQ), and Axel (VEX V5), crafted to jumpstart your VIQRC and V5RC competitions. Explore the latest features in VEXcode 4.0, designed for IQ, V5, and EXP platforms, and smoothly transition to web-based VEXcode on Chromebooks. Plus, learn how to recover your certifications seamlessly through the updated VEX PD+ platform. These updates will help you and your students excel this school year.
Introductions to Swish and Axel, the 2024-2025 VEX Robotics Hero Bots!
An Introduction to Swish: the 2024-2025 VIQRC Hero Bot
Swish is the designated Hero Bot for the 2024-2025 VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) season, specifically designed for the Rapid Relay game. Constructed using the VEX IQ Competition Starter Kit, Swish is tailored to help teams quickly get into the competition by providing a reliable and easy-to-build robot. The robot’s primary features include:
- A two-motor drivetrain for agility.
- Omni-directional wheels for enhanced maneuverability.
- A catapult designed to launch balls into targets.
Additionally, Swish can pass balls to alliance robots, maximizing scoring opportunities during matches. While Swish is a strong starting point, it allows teams to customize and improve its design for more competitive play as the season progresses. Swish introduces teams to fundamental game dynamics and fosters creativity and innovation through potential modifications, making it a versatile tool for novice and experienced teams. The full guide on the VEX Library provides more details on how to build and optimize Swish, including step-by-step instructions and gameplay strategies.
An Introduction to Axel: The 2024-2025 V5RC Hero Bot
Axel is the Hero Bot for the 2024-2025 VEX Robotics Competition (VRC) season, tailored for the High Stakes game. As an adaptable and beginner-friendly robot, Axel offers teams a quick start while supporting deeper customization for those looking to enhance their competitive edge. The robot features a two-motor drivetrain, omni-directional wheels, and a versatile robotic arm capable of scoring rings on various stakes, pushing mobile goals, and climbing a ladder for additional points. Axel’s design allows new and experienced teams to explore the High Stakes game’s dynamics effectively.
Axel’s build is straightforward, enabling teams to assemble and practice essential game strategies quickly. The robot’s scoring abilities, such as placing rings on wall stakes or moving mobile goals, are central to its performance in High Stakes. Teams are encouraged to modify and improve Axel’s base design, including adding sensors for autonomous functions or refining the robotic arm for enhanced scoring precision. By doing so, Axel can transition from a basic competitor to a formidable robot capable of achieving higher scores and executing advanced strategies.
Overall, Axel serves as an excellent starting point for teams entering the 2024-2025 VRC season, offering simplicity and innovation potential. Whether teams aim to stick with the basic design or experiment with customizations, Axel provides the tools to understand and excel in the High Stakes game.
New Features in the VEXcode 4.0 Update
New Features in VEXcode IQ 4.0
VEXcode IQ 4.0 introduces major updates. Notable additions include Switch Blocks, which enable a seamless transition from block-based to text-based coding on a physical robot, enhanced save and load features for web-based VEXcode, and new accessibility options like Read Blocks Aloud. These updates are designed to streamline the user experience and support beginners and advanced users.
New Features in VEXcode V5 4.0
VEXcode V5 4.0 has new features to enhance the user experience and coding efficiency. Among the most significant additions are Switch Blocks, which allow seamless transitions from block-based to text-based coding, making it easier for users to advance their programming skills. The update also includes an improved save and load system for web-based VEXcode, simplifying workflows on Chromebooks. Furthermore, the AI Vision Sensor has been updated to detect AprilTags and various game elements, aiding in more accurate autonomous functions. Additional accessibility features, such as having Blocks read aloud, customizable speech settings, and high-contrast themes, make VEXcode V5 4.0 more inclusive. The updated Tools Menu now centralizes key functions like API documentation and keyboard shortcuts, enhancing productivity for all users. This release continues VEX Robotics’ mission to provide educators and students with the tools needed for a seamless and innovative learning experience.
New Features in VEXcode EXP 4.0
VEXcode EXP 4.0 offers comprehensive updates designed to elevate the educational experience for teachers and students. This release includes full support for the CTE Workcell, enabling seamless integration of industrial robotics into the classroom. The new Switch Blocks feature allows for a smooth transition from block-based to text-based coding, facilitating advanced learning. Additionally, web-based wireless project downloads enable more efficient workflows by allowing users to connect to an EXP Brain directly from their web browser. Enhanced accessibility features like Read Blocks Aloud, customizable voices, and high-contrast themes make VEXcode more inclusive and user-friendly. The updated AI Vision Sensor now supports AprilTags and AI Classifications, enhancing autonomous capabilities. With these enhancements, VEXcode EXP 4.0 continues to support a wide range of educational needs, from introducing beginners to advanced robotic programming.
Transitioning from App-Based VEXcode to Web-based on Chromebook
Due to Google’s upcoming discontinuation of Chrome Apps on Chromebooks in January 2025, VEX Robotics has developed web-based versions of VEXcode IQ and VEXcode V5 to replace the app-based versions. This change ensures that users can continue accessing the full functionality of VEXcode without interruption. The transition involves manually connecting devices, such as the IQ Brain and Controller, and learning new ways to manage projects and firmware updates within the web-based environment. Although the change may seem daunting, VEX Robotics provides comprehensive guides to facilitate a smooth transition, helping educators and students maintain their programming and robotics activities with minimal disruption. The web-based VEXcode retains all the capabilities of the app-based version, making this shift a necessary but straightforward adjustment for Chromebook users.
How to Recover certifications.vex.com Certificates
VEX Robotics has streamlined its certification process by migrating all certificates from the old certifications.vex.com site to the new VEX Professional Development Plus (PD+) system. As the previous website has been shut down, users need to access PD+ to retrieve their certificates. The process involves:
- Logging into PD+ with the same credentials previously used on certifications.vex.com.
- Navigating to the dashboard.
- Selecting the appropriate certificate for download and printing.
The new certificates are updated with active QR codes to ensure they are verifiable.
We advise getting re-certified for the current season for those holding REC Foundation certificates from prior years. The transition to PD+ reflects VEX Robotics’ ongoing commitment to improving access to professional development resources and maintaining up-to-date certification verification methods. This migration to PD+ enhances the user experience. It ensures that all certification records are centralized, making it easier for educators and participants to manage their credentials efficiently.
By integrating certifications into the PD+ platform, VEX Robotics continues to provide robust support to its community. This ensures that educators and coaches have the tools they need to validate and display their achievements in a streamlined, accessible manner.
For a detailed step-by-step guide, visit the full article on the VEX Library.
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Visit Us at IMTS 2024 in Chicago!
Join us at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2024 from September 9-14 in Chicago. We’ll highlight the VEX CTE Workcell in the educational exhibits at Booth #121548. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how VEX Robotics is revolutionizing industrial robotics education for the classroom!
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With back-to-school in full swing, we’re excited to keep you updated on the latest in robotics education. Thank you for being part of our community and staying connected with Drive Forward News. See you at the end of September!
Here’s what we covered in the last edition of Drive Forward News:
The Joys and Triumphs of Being a VEX Robotics Coach
Building Confidence in Robotics: A Teacher’s Guide to the New School Year
Spotted on Social Media: Summer Builds and Learning Robotics
Reflecting on Our Summer Adventures: June and July Highlights
Catch Jason McKenna at the University of the Philippines Diliman!