VEX RoboCamp
Date: July 7 - 11, 2014
Time: 8:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
# of Members: 11
VEX RoboCamp was a week-long program where the members of Whitney’s VRC team taught students the basics of designing, building and programing using VRC parts. Overall, the students learned how to build and program the basic VRC robot, squarebots. Following, we were introduced to and had to prep for a new game that the VRC team had created themselves. For this year’s session, we had 11 teachers and 26 students.
On Monday, we started off with an introduction and the basics of robots. We administered a diagnostic test to evaluate how much the students knew about the general robot mechanism, such as gear ratios, and specific terms used for VEX robotic, such as 4-bar lift. We explained the concept of Gracious Professionalism, among other robotics morals. We introduced the building side of robotics with a parody of Frozen’s “Do You Want to Build a Snowman.” We showed the students what type of robot they would be making and what kind of tools they would be using, including allen wrenches and a nut starter, to build to make their visions a reality. We also explained the different essentials of a robot’s structure, including screws, nuts, gussets, c-channels, and standoffs. After structure, we went to the moving part of the robot, such as the types of motors, axles, and wheels. After introducing the power subsystem, we explained two logic systems, PIC and Cortex, giving the students a chance to play with the two systems and determine which they preferred. With this knowledge, the students were ready to start their own robot.
On Tuesday, the students were taught a bit of programming, introduced with a parody of “Let It Go.” The students learned about how to program basic drive train sensors with RobotC. After wrapping up all the lessons, the students played games to review all the dense material. Finally, it was time to introduce the real game. The students were told the rules of our game, dubbed “The Control Tower.” The Control Tower consists of 30 3-inch bucky ball and four rings (both from VEX IQ’s Add It Up game) used to earn points on two different goals. To provide a starting step for the students, we identified the three basic sections of a robot: the drivetrain, the arm, and the intake.
Over the next two days, the students designed, built, programmed, and tested their own robot. Along the way, the students were expected to show teachers their progress so that we could monitor whether they were going on the right track. In addition to these check ups, we provided bits of advice to the different teams to ensure that everyone’s robot would be functional by Friday.
On the last day, the students made final touch-ups on their robot and trained for the competition. For the competition, each team had eight qualifying match to determine ranking. From there, similar to FIRST competitions, the top four teams selected another team to create alliances for the playoffs. To wrap up the tournament and RoboCamp, each student received an award, whether it be for overall effort, Gracious Professionalism, programming excellence, or any other category, and a parting gift. Students left RoboCamp much more knowledgeable about robotics and full of special memories.
Time: 8:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
# of Members: 11
VEX RoboCamp was a week-long program where the members of Whitney’s VRC team taught students the basics of designing, building and programing using VRC parts. Overall, the students learned how to build and program the basic VRC robot, squarebots. Following, we were introduced to and had to prep for a new game that the VRC team had created themselves. For this year’s session, we had 11 teachers and 26 students.
On Monday, we started off with an introduction and the basics of robots. We administered a diagnostic test to evaluate how much the students knew about the general robot mechanism, such as gear ratios, and specific terms used for VEX robotic, such as 4-bar lift. We explained the concept of Gracious Professionalism, among other robotics morals. We introduced the building side of robotics with a parody of Frozen’s “Do You Want to Build a Snowman.” We showed the students what type of robot they would be making and what kind of tools they would be using, including allen wrenches and a nut starter, to build to make their visions a reality. We also explained the different essentials of a robot’s structure, including screws, nuts, gussets, c-channels, and standoffs. After structure, we went to the moving part of the robot, such as the types of motors, axles, and wheels. After introducing the power subsystem, we explained two logic systems, PIC and Cortex, giving the students a chance to play with the two systems and determine which they preferred. With this knowledge, the students were ready to start their own robot.
On Tuesday, the students were taught a bit of programming, introduced with a parody of “Let It Go.” The students learned about how to program basic drive train sensors with RobotC. After wrapping up all the lessons, the students played games to review all the dense material. Finally, it was time to introduce the real game. The students were told the rules of our game, dubbed “The Control Tower.” The Control Tower consists of 30 3-inch bucky ball and four rings (both from VEX IQ’s Add It Up game) used to earn points on two different goals. To provide a starting step for the students, we identified the three basic sections of a robot: the drivetrain, the arm, and the intake.
Over the next two days, the students designed, built, programmed, and tested their own robot. Along the way, the students were expected to show teachers their progress so that we could monitor whether they were going on the right track. In addition to these check ups, we provided bits of advice to the different teams to ensure that everyone’s robot would be functional by Friday.
On the last day, the students made final touch-ups on their robot and trained for the competition. For the competition, each team had eight qualifying match to determine ranking. From there, similar to FIRST competitions, the top four teams selected another team to create alliances for the playoffs. To wrap up the tournament and RoboCamp, each student received an award, whether it be for overall effort, Gracious Professionalism, programming excellence, or any other category, and a parting gift. Students left RoboCamp much more knowledgeable about robotics and full of special memories.