What is the FIRST Vex Challenge?
The FIRST Vex Challenge (FVC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit.
The FIRST Vex Challenge grew out of the existing FIRST Robotics Competition and the FIRST Robovation platform. FIRST, RadioShack, and Innovation First collaborated to develop an improved version of the FIRST Robovation kit. The new kit is significantly upgraded and is called the Vex Robotics Design System.
The ultimate goal of FVC is to reach more young people with a lower-cost, more accessible opportunity to discover the excitement and rewards of science, technology, and engineering.
What does it cost?
The VEX Robotics Design System can be purchased from RadioShack or ordered online from Vex Labs for $299. The kit that is purchased contains over 500 parts to get started. If more metal pieces are needed, other part kits can be ordered.
Who can participate in FVC?
The FVC program is targeted at high school aged students, but OHS has third grade students working on the Vex Robotics Design System. The program will interest students of most ages. FVC is flexible enough in structure that a team can form within the school or home-school environment, as an after-school program, with a neighborhood group, or as part of any youth-based organization.
What is the schedule, and how do I register my team to participate?
Teams register online on the FVC registration web site from mid- to late-August until two weeks before the last tournament in March. FVC reveals the Challenge in mid-September. October and November are the active months when teams prepare their solutions to the Challenge, and local and state tournaments occur October through March.
If you wish to participate in WIRED (Wisconsin Institute for Robotics in Education), you may register here. WIRED will create their own game and objectives, different from the official FIRST game. This year, WIRED is looking at having an eastern league and a western league. The eastern league playing closing to Milwaukee County and the western league playing in Waukesha County.
What is the usual team size?
A team consists of a maximum of 10 students and a minimum of 1 adult team coach. The small-team concept works well with this age group and encourages a closely knit team.
Do team members need to have a science background?
FVC motivates students just becoming familiar with basic concepts in science, math, and technology. The program is able to effectively engage students from various backgrounds, instilling new ideas and concepts in more experienced students, while helping to inspire, motivate, and encourage learning basic principles and skills among students with less experience. Through their FIRST involvement, students will also learn about important, life-long team skills such as planning, research, collaboration, mentorship, and teamwork.
What is the cost for a teams participation in FVC?
That depends, if the team or someone on the team already has the Vex Robotics Design System, the team will not necessarily need to purchase the FVC Bundle Kit. The breakdown for the 2006 season is:
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Possible Expenses:
Travel expenses to a tournament.
Team related items i.e. t -shirts, supplies, snacks, etc.
Entry fee to the Championship Event in Atlanta, if qualified.
Materials for building the low-cost field.