Two Types of Challenges
Using loops to control the Clawbot with the Controller has allowed the driver to navigate a slalom. Practicing driving the Clawbot is a useful task which can help you prepare for one of the challenges in the VEX Robotics World Championship.
There are two types of challenges the teams will tackle. In the Robotic Skills Challenge, teams try to score as many points as possible with their robotic build in two types of matches. Driving Skills Matches are entirely driver controlled and Programming Skills Matches are autonomous with limited student interaction. The drivers of the Driving Skills Matches switch halfway through the match and so, it is important that both teammates practice driving and come up with strategies for scoring more points.
The second type of challenge is the Teamwork Challenge, in which two robots compete in the challenge as an alliance in 60 second long matches, working together to score the most points.
Teacher Toolbox
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Competitons
Each year, students can design and build a robot to play against other teams in a game-based engineering challenge presented by the Robotic Education and Competition (REC) Foundation. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels leading to the VEX Robotics World Championship each April.
The VEX IQ Challenge is played on a 6’x8’ rectangular field. Teams program their robots to move around the field grabbing, tossing, and placing game pieces in scoring zones in order to earn the most points.
There are a number of videos of VEX IQ Matches available on YouTube by searching for "VEX IQ Matches." Students should see a few matches to get a sense of how they proceed. You are more likely to find previous years' games shown in the videos but they can still be a valuable experience for what students should plan for.
Extend Your Learning
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A Driving Skills Challenge
Have students imitate the Driving Skills Challenge by setting up an obstacle course for students to navigate around that includes six objects as obstacles. This should be more challenging than the slalom course because the objects may be different sizes and placed in a different pattern.
Score students by giving them a point for each obstacle they can navigate around without touching. Give additional points for the amount of time it took the driver to complete the course.
The course should be designed so that there is a designated start and finish location. Time is measured by starting each driver at 5 points and then deduct 1 point for every minute the driver used.
This scored game will start to get students into the mindset of a competition, and how they can be efficient and precise with their robot. Whichever student completes the course with the most amount of points, wins!