INTRODUCTION TO VEX IQ

CONSTRUCTION, PROGRAMMING
AND COMPETITION

RICK TYLER
ROBOT MESH
2018

© 2018 Robot Mesh, all rights reserved

CLASS OVERVIEW – MONDAY

• Introductions
• Lunch planning
• Installing RM Studio
• Review of the VEX IQ platform
• VEX IQ Parts
• Build Autopilot robot
• Using the VEXos Utility
• Hour of Code Exercise
INSTALLING ROBOT MESH STUDIO (RM
STUDIO)

• Open www.robotmesh.com/studio in your browser (preferably Chrome, on

Mac, must be Chrome.)
• Click on “Install the Robot Mesh Connect plug-in for your browser”
• Go back to www.robotmesh.com/studio
• Since RM Studio is browser-based, that’s all there is to it
THE VEX IQ CONSTRUCTION PLATFORM

• Everything based on ½” spacing

• Everything fits with everything else
• “No cut” system – VEX makes multiple
lengths and sizes of parts
• Plug-and-play wiring
• (Mostly) tool-free construction
 THE VEX IQ CONSTRUCTION PLATFORM
Plates Connectors

Beams Motion
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

Color Sensor Gyro Touch LED Distance Sensor

Controller VEX IQ Brain Smart Motor Bump Sensor

VEX IQ VISION SENSOR COMING SOON

• Not quite ready for prime time

• Demonstrate VEX IQ Pongbot
BUYING PARTS, GETTING STARTED
• Classroom use or limited budget – the VEX
IQ Super Kit is a good choice - $330
• Add:
• VEX IQ Foundation Add-On Kit ($80)
• VEX IQ Competition Add-On Kit ($100)
• That is ~$510, and includes what you would
need for a very complete kit, or for a well-
equipped competition robot
VEX IQ FOUNDATION ADD-ON KIT ($80)

• An additional $30 parts bin!

• Key parts:
• 1,000 bits and pieces
• Rotating turntable assembly
• Pulley-and-band power transmission system
• VEX discounts on parts in kits makes this a
good buy.
VEX IQ COMPETITION ADD-ON KIT ($100)

• Key parts:
• 2 additional smart motors
• 2 Omniwheels
• Chain and sprockets
• Additional wheels

• VEX discounts on parts in kits makes

this another good buy
BUYING PARTS: WHAT’S NEXT?

• Once your students get started, they will let you know
what they need
• Colored parts – identify and enhance your robot by
building with one of nine different colors
• Extra batteries and chargers
• More motors
• Additional power transmission (chain, gears, pulleys)
VEX IQ PROGRAMMING OPTIONS
• Robot Mesh Studio
• Includes Python, Google Blockly, Controller Express, Flowol
• Controller Express – maps buttons on controller to Brain ports graphically, fast way to get driver
code
• Flowol – flowchart-based interface which creates executable and editable Python code
• Includes VEX IQ CAD tool that you use to create mimics – programmable, virtual robots of your
own design

• easyC
• Flowchart-style graphical interface
• Modkit
• Event-driven block-based language
• ROBOTC
• Special version of C, Natural Language option
• Modkit and ROBOTC will both be replaced by VEX Coding Studio some time in the
future (Q4?)
STORING PARTS THE VEX WAY

• The VEX IQ Storage Bin and Trays

• Bin with one tray is $30
• Second tray is $10
• One bin comes free with Super and
Foundation kits – you may have two already
• Good solution for lab
• OK for travel, but make sure lids cannot
come off
 THE CURRENT GOLD STANDARD BOX

• Husky 22” Connect Cantilever

Toolbox - $30
• Why this one?
• Strong handle
• Stacks well in the back of an SUV
• Not so big that you cannot carry it
• Essentially kid-proof
A LOT OF LITTLE PARTS

Husky 22” parts storage - $31 The classic “little plastic bin”: Husky 14 in.
(stacks with tool box) Parts Bin Organizer - $5
 OTHER PORTABLE STORAGE OPTIONS

Lots of teams use other brands and types of solutions. These are
popular:
• Stanley 3-in-1 Rolling Workshop - $37
• Stanley 10-Compartment Professional Deep Organizer - $18
MORE STORAGE OPTIONS

As many solutions as there are teachers

• Racks of bins
• Old blueprint, map & type font cabinets
• Purpose-built furniture (Diversified
Woodcrafts Robotics Cabinet shown,
$1,969)
• Wire or wooden racks
• Use your mobile solution in the shop
BUILDING THE AUTOPILOT ROBOT

• See “VEX IQ Build Instructions”

• Go through build steps 1-19 and 102-117
INSTALL AND RUN VEXOS UTILITY
• Go to https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexiq/resources/vexos
• Click on “Download VEXos” for either Windows or Mac OS X
• Plug USB cable into PC and the IQ Brain on the robot
• Turn on the Brain (press thekey) and click “Install” on screen
• If you have a motor or sensor that does not seem to be working, run through
this again.
CONTROLLER EXPRESS

• Wireless driver control

• Getting joystick values and mapping them to
devices on the robot
• Using Controller Express
• Downloading and running code
• Configuring buttons
• Create and try Controller Express program (see
Robot Mesh Curriculum)
HOUR OF CODE ACTIVITY

• www.robotmesh.com/hoc2017
• Should take about an hour
• Understanding Robot Mesh Mimics
• Program either a “mimic” virtual
robot, or a real VEX IQ robot