Robotics Engineering Company Showcases Technologically Advanced, Tool-less System Designed to Transform STEM Education for Younger Ages

Maker Faire Bay Area 2013

GREENVILLE, Texas--VEX Robotics, Inc., announced today its support of, and presence at, the Maker Faire Bay Area on May 18-19, where the company will have a booth (#459) to make its consumer debut of VEX IQ - a robotics platform designed to transform STEM learning for young students and teachers. The new VEX IQ platform enables students as young as eight years old to become immersed in the VEX building experience, as they snap together robots using the intuitive, tool-less platform. Additionally, educators can utilize the free VEX IQ Curriculum to help teach students valuable lessons and skills that are needed in today's changing world.

"We are big supporters of the maker movement, and we're thrilled to be a partner of the Maker Faire Bay Area this year with the introduction of VEX IQ," said Paul Copioli, president of VEX Robotics. "We're eager to get our new platform in the hands of students, teachers and makers alike, to show them what we have been working on and get their feedback in real time."

The VEX IQ system was designed to be simple and easy for students to use. Structural pieces snap together and come apart without tools, allowing for quick build times and easy modifications. A variety of gears, wheels and other accessories allows for complete customization of VEX IQ projects and mobile robots.

The Robot Brain takes high-end, powerful technology and simplifies it for educational use while keeping a high ceiling. Up to 12 Smart Port devices can be connected to the Robot Brain, which can then be controlled by built-in programs, or can be programmed via a computer and compatible software program. In addition to using pre-programmed instructions, VEX IQ robots can be controlled by drivers using the Controller.

Free graphical programming software, powered by Modkit, is available for download and allows for custom robot commands, sensor interaction and more. Downloadable ROBOTC programming software for VEX IQ, created by Robomatter Inc. and supported by Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy, allows for programming in the industry standard C language. The free to download VEX Assembler design software, powered by Autodesk 123D, adapts the power of Autodesk's advanced 3D modeling tools, giving students the ability to assemble and test VEX IQ mechanisms and robots virtually. Project Lead The Way, the leading provider of rigorous and innovative STEM education curricular programs used in middle and high schools across the U.S., is also developing an elementary program that will include modules utilizing VEX IQ.

VEX IQ Starter Kits are priced at $249.99 The VEX IQ Super Kit is $299.99. Kits are available for pre-order now and will begin shipping in June.

In addition to transforming STEM education in the classroom, students can use their VEX IQ robots to compete in the VEX IQ Challenge presented by the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation, an extracurricular STEM program for elementary and middle school students (ages eight to 14). The VEX IQ Challenge Game for the 2013-2014 competition season is VEX Add it Up. Add It Up is played on a 4'x8' rectangular field. Two robots compete as an alliance in 60 second long teamwork matches, working collaboratively to score points. The object of the game is to attain the highest possible Alliance Score by Scoring your Small and Large BuckyBalls into the Floor, Low and High Goals, Filling Scoring Rings, and having robots Hang from Hanging Bar at the end of the Match.

For more information on VEX IQ, visit www.vexrobotics.com

For more information on the VEX IQ Challenge, visit www.RobotEvents.com

About VEX Robotics

VEX Robotics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Innovation First International, is a leading provider of educational and competitive robotics products to middle schools, high schools, colleges and robotics teams around the world. The VEX Robotics Design System, winner of the 2006 Best of Innovations Award at CES, was built from the ground up and designed to be an affordable, accessible and scalable platform used to teach science, technology, engineering and math education worldwide. The VEXpro product line, designed for large scale competitive robots, gives robotics enthusiasts superior performance for less cost. The company has over 250 man years of experience supporting educational robotics programs and extensive engineering resources on two continents dedicated to the VEX Robotics platform. For more information on VEX Robotics, visit www.vexrobotics.com.