Applying VEX GO

Connection to VEX GO

The City Technology Rebuild Competition brings the fun and excitement of robotics competitions to the classroom, as students use their VEX GO robots to explore different aspects of relief actions that help to rebuild communities after emergencies. The tasks that the Hero Robot needs to complete to earn points in the competition directly relate to activities that relief organizations and communities engage in to rebuild in the wake of a disaster. 

In Lab 1, students build the Competition Advanced 2.0 Hero Robot and drive it using the Drive tab in VEXcode GO to gather medicine from the Dock and deliver it to the Hospital. In the wake of many emergencies, relief organizations mobilize to collect and deliver medicine and medical supplies to area hospitals and emergency services. These deliveries happen in a variety of methods, and through their actions in this Lab competition, students are able to think about how these kinds of relief efforts are coordinated by communities and organizations together. Students are also introduced to the concept of robotics competitions, and share ideas and reflections on skills that will enable them to be good teammates to one another throughout the Lab.

In Lab 2, students will drive the Hero Robot to raise the roof of the Emergency Shelter and deliver supplies to the Shelter from the Fire Station. In a real world relief situation, supplies are often gathered at community hubs, like fire and police stations, and then distributed to those in need. Emergency Shelters are constructed to give safe shelter to anyone in need, who may not be able to safely return to their home right away. The precision required to successfully accomplish these tasks with the Hero Robot encourages students to be thoughtful about how they plan their route and use the arm and claw of the robot. Being able to orient the robot's arm and claw appropriately exercises spatial reasoning and impulse control to manipulate game elements without breaking them. 

In Lab 3, the challenge of raising objects is added to the Field. Students will need to drive their Hero Robots to lift the downed power lines and fallen trees in order to clear the roadways and make them safe for travel. Fallen trees and debris that blocks roadways and makes passage unsafe are a big part of the aftermath of many natural disasters and emergencies. The activities in this Lab will also set the stage for the culminating competition, as students will need to clear these obstacles first in order to navigate to the rest of the tasks on the City Technology Rebuild Competition Field. Students will need to blend precision with good communication, as they seek to accomplish tasks in an efficient manner. In Lab 4, students will add the final element to the Field, and will use their Hero Robots to trigger a landslide and practice clearing boulders from the roadway. By the end of Lab 4, students will have practiced all of the tasks necessary to score points in the City Technology Rebuild Competition. 

In Lab 5, the class will transform into a competition arena where teams will compete to see how many tasks they can complete in a timed match. They will apply what they learned about completing each task, including the precision necessary to do so, as they work with their teammates to plan a strategy and path on the Field that will maximize their score in the competition!