Thursday, April 2, 2009

VEX Robotics

I was rummaging around in some video and pictures archives and ran across some footage from an Artificial Intelligence class I took as a senior in High School. It was based on the VEX Robotics system. Kits included various metal supports and brackets to build a frame, different sized gears, axles, axle bushing, software, tools, variable-speed motors, a servo, different sized tires, a micro-controller with USB-PC interface, IR and bump sensors, and various other bits and pieces. We were given challenges and had to build a robot that would overcome the challenge. The first challenge was to build a tank using the tank tread kit so that it would go over a wooden pallet, a cardboard box, and then push the cardboard box back towards the pallet. Here is the picture of the tank that my team "We Three Freaks" (WTF) built. It is radio-controlled and each motor is on its own channel. This tank was the only one to complete the challenge due to the extra traction provided by the wheel in the back.

Here is a short video of the tank driving over the cardboard box:



I will keep adding to this as I find more videos and pictures! Enjoy!