Slashdot Mirror
Vex Pics from FIRST/LEGO/Vex Robotics Competition
antispam_ben writes "Last week's Slashdot article linked to CNN's coverage of the LEGO League robotics competition. LEGO League was only part of the event. I gave a short description and links to the original FIRST Robotics, LEGO League, and new Vex Robotics competitions in this comment. New from the local robotics mailing list is this page of pictures from the Vex competition."
FIRST things first, I am a student in FIRST robotics. Any comments that Radio Shack is attempting to make money off of FIRST is blatently wrong. FIRST is sponsored by Radio shack (as mentioned before) and even has its own award at the competition, the Radio Shack Innovation in Control Award, which my team won in Phoenix. If anybody honestly thinks that Radion Shack is in FIRST for any other reason than to spread the mission of FIRST (as shown on usfirst.org), they are wrong.
Please do not comment on something that you know nothing about.
The Vex programming system is coming out in August-September, along with chain-sprockets, better sensors, pneumatics, and other goodies. The programming system will feature Lego-style drag-and-drop, pure C, and a side-by-side mode that shows both at the same time. The current release is version .5, probably rushed to be available to teams for the FIRST challenge competition a couple of weeks ago. Right now, yes, it's an expensive RC set. In a few months, it should be what it's designed to be: a bridge between lego snap-em-together and full-scale weld-that-sucker robotics.
LEGO Compeitions are great. We hold a number of local ones for HS and grade school students (Rules + Pictures) and they always draw media attention and a HUGE turnout.