VRC
VRC, also known as the VEX Robotics Competition, is an annual robotics competition targeted at students in schools across the world. In summary, teams build small robots designed to complete simple tasks, such as throwing balls or picking up cubes. Annually, robots go to the competition to test their ability to complete certain tasks.
Official information for the current VRC competition can be found here
VRC, also known as the VEX Robotics Competition, is an international company that facilitates VEX robotics competitions. There are three types of VEX Robotics Competitions, each of which are annual and targeted to a different age group. VEX IQ is targeted to Elementary and early Middle School Students. VEX EDR is targeted to Middle and High School Students. VEX PRO is targeted to High School Students. Of these VEX competitions, El Segundo High School participates in VEX EDR.
VEX EDR is mainly targeted to Middle School and High School Students. Robots in VEX EDR are composed of metal beams, each of which are connected together through the use structural support, which includes but is not limited to screws, bolts, nuts, nyloc nuts, gussets, and beams. The metal beams and parts, similar to VEX IQ ABS Bricks, are manufactured for the sole purpose of the competition. The gamut of usefulness of VEX EDR parts substantially surpasses those of VEX IQ Parts partly because VEX EDR parts can be harnessed more effectively by High Middle School Students (7-8) and High School Students rather than Elementary School Students and Low Middle School Students (6). Dynamic mechanical parts and sensors of VEX EDR are more realistic to industry than mechanisms of a similar function on VEX IQ; however, the continuity of VEX EDR parts compromises its real-world form. The photographs below shows the similar look and feel of the parts. The shades of red, green, grey, and light black are easily identifiable to the VEX EDR competition, distinctly different in shape and color to the VEX IQ and VEX Pro parts. El Segundo High School currently participates in the use of VEX EDR parts; however, El Segundo Middle School does not.
| VEX EDR Bumper Switch | VEX EDR Ultrasonic Sensor | VEX EDR LED Light | VEX EDR Motor (393) | VEX EDR Robot |
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VEX PRO is designed for High School Students and higher education. Similar to VEX, the frame is composed of metal; however, the metal is stronger and more durable. The various static and dynamic VEX PRO parts are the most similar to equipment used in contemporary STEM fields, compared with VEX EDR and VEX IQ. Photographs of VEX PRO Equipment can be seen below this paragraph. The parts do not exactly match up with VEX EDR parts, but there are some similarities in the functioning of the parts. There is no such thing as a VEX PRO competition; however, the VEX PRO parts can be used in competitions such as the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), which the high school does participate in.
| VEX PRO Motor (Sim) | VEX PRO DC Motor | VEX Wheel, Gear, and Motor (3D Render) | VEX PRO Robot |
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In the three various competitions, students learn how to use life-long skills that are not important in just STEM based activities, but activities that are across all disciplines. Such skills include
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Communication
- Beams
- Gussets
- Attachments
- Wheels
- Motors
- Servos
- Gears
- Sprockets and Chain
- Tank Tread
- Shafts
- Light Sensor
- Line Sensor
- Bump Switch
- Limit Switch
- Ultrasonic Sensor
- Potentiometer
- Flashlight
- Battery
- Motor Controllers
- LED
- Access the website https://www.autodesk.com using your favorite Internet Browser
- Search "free software downloads" on the top search bar
- Click on "Free Student Software Downloads | Autodesk Education Community"
- Under Featured Products, click on "Inventor Professional"
- Then, choose the version of Autodesk Inventor you wish to download in addition to the operating system and the language. Please note that the computers at the lab have Autodesk Inventor Professional 2014 and Autodesk Inventor Professional 2016. If you choose a different version, the files you create on the different version of the Autodesk Inventor program may not be compatible.
- Once you download the program, open the file and follow the instructions