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Advertorial FeatureThe VEX Robotics Competition UKNational Championships was heldat the Birmingham NEC in Marchand was the 4th year that thecompetition has been held in the UK.The event is the climax of thecompetition season – teamshave been competing in regionalqualifying events to securethemselves a place where theywould compete against thetop 40 teams from all over thecountry.The season began back inMay when teams were given achallenge for which they arerequired to design and build aVEX robot which can operateboth autonomously and byremote control. Robots mustconform to a strict set of ruleswhich govern factors such as thesize and number of motors thatare allowed to be used whichmeans students need to come upwith some ingenious engineeringsolutions. Robots must beconstructed entirely from VEXcomponents which are reusableyear after year so once thecompetition season is completed,the robot is dismantled and theparts used to compete in thenext one.Teams are generally formed ofup to 6 students who will takea number of different roles.A successful team will needstudents to use CAD to designtheir robot, engineers to buildit and a programmer to makesure it operates autonomously. AProject Manager may oversee thewhole process ensuring the workis documented in an EngineeringNotebook which is presented toa panel of judges as part of thecompetition.Independent Schools includingHighgate, King Henry VIII School,Nottingham High School andStowe School are already havingexcellent success with the VEXRobotics Competition.Stuart Sweetman, Head of DesignTechnology at King Henry VIIIschool in Coventry said “Thishas been our first year takingpart in the VEX Competitionand although the learningcurve has been steep the pupilshave risen to the challenge atevery set back. We attendedseveral events, with a variety ofoutcomes, and after every onethe students were buzzing inthe minibus discussing designdevelopments and improvementsto the robot. We will certainlybe back next year ready to takeon the world!” The King HenryVIII team called BotVIII lead anAlliance that made it to the finalsof this year’s competition beingnarrowly beaten by an Alliancethat included System32 fromHighgate School.The Highgate team’s performanceearned themselves a placeat the VEX Robotics WorldChampionships in Kentucky, USAwhere they will compete against400 teams from all over the globe.How competitive roboticssupports learning• Provides a specific design challenge and set of rules which mimic realworld engineering projects• Encourages students to work with students from other schools• Provides motivation for students to write better code to improve theirperformance in competition• Helps students develop teamwork by working in multi-functional groupsBuy a VEX Super Kit and get FREE toolsand VEX Robotics Competition registrationThe VEX Super Kit contains everything you need to start a VEX Robotics competitionteam. All you need to supply is an enthusiastic group of students!Order now for the 2015/16 competition season quoting VEXCOMP15 and you willreceive FREE competition registration worth £70 and a VEX Tool Kit worth £6.99as well as a 90-day trial of the ROBOTC programming software.The competition registration allows you to compete at as many regionalVEX events as you wish where your team can attempt to qualify for theUK National Championships!To find out more about competing in the VEX Robotics Competition,contact chris.calver@rapidonline.comOrder code Description Price70-6478 Classroom and Competition Super Kit £749.99www.rapidonline.com/VEXC H A L L E N G EFOR STUDENTS AGED 8-14FOR STUDENTS AGED 11-18Buy any VEX IQ Classroom Bundle and get FREEVEX IQ Challenge registrations worth up to £220These VEX IQ Classroom Bundles contain everything you need to starta number of VEX IQ Challenge teams. All you need to supply is an enthusiasticgroup of students!Order now for the 2015/16 competition season quoting VEXIQ15 and you willreceive up to 6 FREE competition registrations worth £220 as well as a 90-daytrial of the ROBOTC programming software.The competition registration allows you to compete at as many regionalVEX IQ events as you wish where your team can attempt to qualify for theUK National Championships!To find out more about competing in the VEX IQ Challenge,contact chris.calver@rapidonline.comOrder code Description No. of Kits FREE Reg. Price70-7950 Group Bundle 5 2 £1249.9970-7951 Small Class Bundle 10 4 £2399.9970-7952 Classroom Bundle 15 6 £3749.99Offers valid until 31/07/2015. Orders must be placed by phone or e-mail quoting the offer code at the time of orderwww.rapidonline.com22 Design & Technology