http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/
It may look like a motorized Erector set, but there is much, much more there waiting to be explored. The new Robot magazine, described in this article - http://www.robots-dreams.com/2005/10/new_magazine_ou.html - has a detailed article that runs several pages with full color photos and closeups featuring the Vex system and the Mythbusters from television.

The biggest single advantage that Vex offers is standardized components so that a beginning robot experimentor doesn't have to design and machine special parts or circuits. And, like Mindstorms, it's great for prototyping new concepts and ideas. You can find out very quickly if your latest bright idea will fly, or is most hair-brained thought on the planet.

And, if your concept will fly, Vex should prove to be more durable than Mindstorms. I love using Mindstorms to do a quick prototype (http://www.robots-dreams.com/mindstorms/index.html), but with my clumsy fingers and lack of dexterity, the Lego blocks tend to pop apart too easily at exactly the wrong moments. Vex doesn't seem to have that problem.
Given the FIRST backing, I expect that Vex will prove to be extremely popular, especially since Radio Shack is distributing it. Hopefully they'll stock it in all the stores, not just a select few.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/
Lego Mindstorms out of the box has the same problem. Great for beginners, but as you develop more skill it feels limiting.

Thankfully, people were able to reverse engineer the software and develop other programming platforms for Mindstorms. If Vex turns out to be popular then it won't be long before we see other programming alternatives popping up.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/
I am very impressed with it. The MythBusters did a a feature in it on using the Vex Robotics system. Good read.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/
The photos are fantastic.]]>Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/Dec 19th 2005 2:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/23/vex-robotics-starter-kit-and-add-ons/Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM