Please note that our teams for the fall have already been assigned. Contact us directly if your student would like to join.
With a more complex robot and more complicated games, this is where the kids imagination really blossoms. At this level we help a little less and point the kids more to resources that they can use to realize their ideas. We still help and use these teaching moments to give the kids a deeper understanding of mechanics and engineering. VEX runs for both the Fall and Winter sessions and requires a commitment to both sessions. VEX teams are comprised of 4 members either formed by request or assigned by us. We will do our best to put teams together that will compliment each other's strengths. VEX requires programming in RobotC. We will be on hand to help them advance their ideas both from a programming perspective as well as a building perspective. The engineering notebook is a must in VEX again. Also, during competitions the children will be interviewed to describe how the robot came to being, why the kids made their decisions and what plans they may have to improve their robot going forward. With almost 6 months of building and competing, you will find most robots go through various iterations as the children continually try to improve through the season. Don't worry, the kids will not be on their own. We will be there to guide them and push them, helping them advance their programming skills, research problems, and building techniques and solutions. Introduction to RobotC is a minimum requirement. This class is typically offered in winter and spring session. This program runs for 6 months. September through February—and beyond if you make it to Worlds!(Primary meeting with team 3 hours per week. Additional 3 hours lab time available each week, no charge.)
Introduction to Vex (Spring/Summer)
This course is It is a preparatory course for students moving up to a VEX Competition team. The course is required to join a competition team in the fall.
Students will learn the basics of constructing a VEX Competition robot. They will work to construct a drive train, lift, and object manipulator using aluminum. Best practices of robot construction will be introduced. While onsite, students will be cutting metal with drills, rotary tools, jigsaws, and band saws. This is a true lab and students will need to adhere to safety procedures/behavior. All power tool usage will be directly supervised by an adult.
Introduction to C++ for VRC (Winter/Summer)
This is the language used in High School robotics competitions, both VEX and FTC. (see our competition page for more info) If you are thinking about competing in robotics at the high school level, RobotC is a must. Students begin working in C, learn basic syntax, spacing, comments, embedded data types, and conditional statements and how these relate to the robot. Then we move on to various loops and, finally, to functions, passing variables by value.
Intermediate C++ for VRC (Spring/Summer)
In intermediate C++ we will deep dive on PID control for lifting and motion. We introduce filtering of sensors, driver assist macros, field odometry, and pathfinding. We may introduce PROS, version control with GIT. Please note that students shoud have one year of VRC competition and will be expected to learn some trigonometry.
Introduction to CAD for VRC (Spring/Summer)
Beginning Computer Aided Design (CAD) will introduce students to Computer Aided Design. Students will learn how to use the CAD program Fusion 360. They will learn how to manipulate and use parts and assemblies. The course will concentrate on Computer Aided Design (CAD) for Vex Robotics, but students will learn the basics of CAD for designing robots and other real world objects.
Club Vex (Fall)
Vex Club is for High School Students just starting out in robotics or for those who want to continue in robotics but don't have the time to devote to a competition team. This is a 6 month program that runs from September to February. Students will work in pairs building and programming a robot to the current Vex Robotics Competition Game. This is an instructional class where students will learn programming and mechanics as well as learning resources to bring their robotics to the next level. Classes are limited to 8 students per class and ensures plenty of time with instruction and oversight. Students who do well in this class will be considered for a VRC (Vex Robotics Competition) team next year if they are interested. We can think of nothing better to teach kids about robotics than to give them a real challenge to try and conquer. To give students a taste of competition, we will have an in-house competition at the beginning of February with the winner going to a State Qualifying VRC Event. If the team qualifies for state championships we'll even take you there too! This is a great day that celebrates the end of the competition season and gives one team bragging rights and a few other perks for the following season.
