New Radio Shack Vex Robotics kits
posted Mar 23rd 2005 3:00AM
All right, robot hobbyists, get ready to share your enthusiasm with your kids, your students, or perhaps cater to
the kid inside with Radio Shack's new Vex Robotics Design Systems. The kits, available next month at Radio Shack
outlets nationwide, will offer a competitively priced Erector-set-style robotics environment, including a pro-level
radio controller, programmable micro controller, and over 500 parts for assembling autonomous bots. Designed to fill
the gap between entry-level kits of the Lego Mindstorm variety and expensive, top-level kits, the $299 Vex Robotics
systems will come with a manual aimed at educators to help encourage students' interest in engineering and robotics.
After the release of the product, Radio Shack plans to roll out a host of add-ons, programming modules and sensors to
expand the possibilities beyond the standard kit.
[Thanks, Billfred]
For $299 the thing had better be able to at least vacuum my carpet - or beg for money.
i'm sure after its intial release, we'll see an enormous amount of guides, including a photovoric vacuum-bot
that's really neat. radio shack seems to be making some good decisions lately, catering toward robot hobbiests and electronics educators.
i've coached a number of young lego-league robotics teams and it just amazes me how accessible robotics has become for the average squirt. it's going to be neat seeing this next generation do for robitics and physical systems what programmers of this generation have done with software and virtual systems.
How is this set different from the Lego Mindstowms set? Mindstorms seems the be the one to beat...
Stuff people have built with Mindstorms:
http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/community/halloffame/default.asp
And the Mindstorms 2.0 Product page:
http://mindstorms.lego.com/eng/products/ris/index.asp
While I love Mindstorms, I do find that the Lego-block construction is less that sturdy. The "Erector Set" foundation should be more durable - and will allow you to simply "bolt something on".
where i work, we're getting these units today or tomorrow. I'm so excited, I can't wait. I'm just wondering exactly why the hell they are being sent to a store in the ghetto.
oh well. I can't wait to play with it.. but I'll have to buy one to do so. oh well. :)
Hey I bought mine at the Radio Shack "Crossroads in Bellevue" those guys over there know what's going on and have many in stock but they are right next door to Microsoft so who knows how long they will be in stock.
Just picked up a 'VEX' at RadioShack Last night...
I was glad to see robot parts on a pegboard at a local mall store...
Documentation is lacking, and full of errors, but all in all in, if your a geek you'll figure it out… The remote control is why the system costs $299, this isn’t a cheep-o RadioShack Car Remote, This is a Futaba-like 6 channel transmitter with nice receiver unit, top of the line… This things just like the old erector set, lots of parts, nuts, bolts and the wrenches you need, all it the box..
I Built a Hero back in the 80’s (still have ‘em running) and I also have OWI, Abio, HexCrawler, MindStorm and others, so I couldn’t pass this one up.
I am using LEGO robotics components to teach elem. & middle school children. I continuously look for other options. That is not saying the lego robotics not sophisticated. The feasibility and low cost of lego components and the high scalability of the programming software robolab has made lego robotics kits as my major teaching tools. The programming software is gui-based, large range of progressive levels. It can be used by an 8 years old, or even a sophisticated engineerer or post-graduate. Just amazing.
Now, when I first read VEX, I was so excited and jumped to the read the official web site and the spec. Well, where is the programming environment??? Honestly, in order to build something as simple as my walking line tracking & light seek 6-legs bug with VEX, it will cost me more than $600.I am just talking about the hardware components, not the software yet.
I have not given up yet reading about VEX yet. Can anyone provide a more insight comparsion between lego robotics kits vs VEX kit... parts + cost.