Group: Miguel Liu, Matthew, Christian, Brandon, Alex

Vex report

Introduction:
Robotics in education is super important because it gets students thinking critically and
creatively. It combines science, tech, engineering, and math (STEM), making learning way
more fun and relatable to real life.Working with robots helps students learn to collaborate
and communicate better since they often team up to build and program. Plus, it boosts their
technical skills and gets them ready for future jobs in a tech-heavy world. Robotics can be
found everywhere—from elementary schools to high schools and even colleges. Programs
vary from basic coding and engineering to high-stakes robotics competitions, so there’s
something for everyone, no matter what level you're at.

2. Introduction to VEX IQ Robot

Hardware Components

Motors:
VEX IQ robots usually have DC motors that help them move around. They let you control
how fast and in what direction the robot goes, which is pretty cool.

Sensors:
These robots come with all sorts of sensors, like distance and color sensors, plus
gyroscopes. These help the robot understand what's going on around it and do stuff on its
own.

Brain:
The VEX IQ Brain is like the robot's brain, handling all the programming and control. It takes
input from the sensors and sends commands to the motors, making everything work
together.

Purpose in Education and Robotics:

VEX IQ is all about making STEM learning hands-on and exciting. It lets students design,
build, and program their own robots, which helps them connect what they learn in class to
real-world stuff. Plus, it encourages teamwork and friendly competition, pushing students to
think outside the box and get creative.
3. Understanding VEXcode IQ

VEXcode IQ Interface and Main Features:

VEXcode IQ is the software used to program robots in VEX IQ. The interface is very easy to
use because it has an easy-to-use interface, especially for beginners. It is capable of two
ways of programming: block coding drag-and-drop and text-based coding. Currently, the
latter option is supported by Python and C++. Herein, the main parts of this interface are
going to be introduced:

● Toolbar: It's at the top, it has options for saving projects, uploading code into the
robot or even selecting types of programs - blocks or text.
● Code Area: Here, you can build your code either by dragging building blocks or by
typing texts.
● Device Manager: It is the part that displays sensors and motors that have been
connected in the middle and serves to configure the above.
● Output Console: This is where messages will be returned or even errors about your
code with the use of debugging if needed.
● Help Section: Contains quick hints and tutorials to guide you in the process of
coding.

Block Coding vs. Text-Based Programming:

● Block Coding: This would be the visual programming by dragging and dropping
ready-made blocks. It's ideal for beginners because syntax errors, such as a
forgotten semicolon, are avoided.

● Text-Based Coding: This utilizes programming languages, such as Python and C++.
While this gives more flexibility and control, it necessitates prior knowledge of syntax
and structure. While block coding has simplicity, text-based coding allows for
advanced features like writing your own functions and handling complex logic.

4. Programming Fundamentals

Key Programming Concepts

1. Loops: Loops offer the opportunity for repetition of actions. For instance, a "for" or
"while" loop could have the robot continue to drive forward some predetermined
number of times or until a sensor triggers it to stop.
 2. Conditionals: These utilize "if" statements when making decisions. For example, the
robot would check if something was in front of it and then decide to stop or turn.
3. Functions: These are reusable chunks of code to implement a certain functionality.
You can declare a function like driveForward() that will make your program easier
and you can call this function whenever you want.

Applying Concepts to Control Robot Movement and Behavior:

• Loops can be used when you want the robot to constantly go through sensor data checks
to change course. For example, you may want to use one to keep moving until it detects an
obstacle.
• Conditionals can help the robot react to its environment. If a distance sensor detects that
something is close, the robot may want to stop or change direction.
• Functions allow you to break down the overall task of the robot into smaller, more
manageable pieces. For example, you can write one function for how the robot moves and
another function for the act of picking up an object.

These concepts, put together, enable you to create code that's fast but responsive; code that
makes the robot react intelligently with its environment.

VEX IQ for scientific method experiment

VEX IQ can be an effective tool for students to learn how to automate data
gathering, promote teamwork, and deepen the learning of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics. Because the VEX IQ has sensors and motors that
are good for repeating tasks, it can allow for experiments to give feedback so it can
increase in accuracy.

5. Advantages/Disadvantages of VEX IQ during STEM

experiments

Advantages of VEX IQ in STEM Experiments:

● Hands-on learning: Helps to visualize physics concepts about force and motion as
the students will be able to see theory in action. Examples include testing how weight
changes a robot's speed.

● Flexibility in Design: The ease with which robots can be modified allows students to
run a different type of experiment, such as changing wheels to learn about friction.

● Teamwork and Coding: It allows members to work together and helps teach the
basics of programming, hence making experiments interactive and incorporated into
technological skills.
 ● Immediate Feedback: This lets one make instantaneous changes and learn via a
process of trial and error in real time.

Disadvantages of VEX IQ in STEM Experiments:

● Cost: Buying kits is costly for some schools.

● Learning Curve: New users spend so much time setting these up and hence waste
much time meant for the experiments.

● Lack of Precision: It will not be as ideal for those advanced topics in physics that
take a high degree of precision.

● Battery Dependency: The longevity of the batteries may interfere with longer
experiments, thus breaking continuity.

6. Data collecting methods

Measuring for a VEX IQ experiment may be done through the following methods:

1. Timing: Use the VEX IQ built-in timer through the VEXcode IQ to identify how long
it takes for something to happen. Examples could include the length of time it takes
for the robot to travel across the floor, or for the robot to complete an activity. The
time may then be recorded in the "Brain" of the robot, or stored for future use in
analysis.

2. Sensor Readings: VEX IQ robots contain a number of sensors, such as distance,

color, gyro, and touch sensors that may be used to take the readings of the
environment of the robot or the position. Example:

Distance Sensor: A sensor that measures the distance to objects, useful for tracking
movements or detecting obstacles.

Color Sensor: Detects colors or light intensity helpful in following lines or

distinguishing between objects.

Gyro Sensor: it measures rotation, allowing for either tracking the turns or
stabilization of the robot.

Touch Sensor: actual contact is detected, and this can be used to detect collision.
3. Display automatically logged data from sensors in VEXcode IQ at periodic
intervals. In the real-time display, record the data to download later and analyze to
track variables continuously, such as distance or velocity.

4.Visual Recording: Where the exact measurement of movement or timing is crucial

in a project, a person could resort to video recording along with frame-by-frame
analysis for recording even minute motion and interaction with other variables.

7.Recording and analyzing the results

Data and results can be recorded by:

● Students can keep records of all observations and sensors of results from
runs and note down any mistakes or anomalies that occurred during the
experiments.

● The results of previous experiments can be used to plot a graph which can
help with identifying the trends and pattern for higher accuracy

● Having a debate if the data matches their hypothesis and consider changes in
environmental conditions that might have affected the experiment.

Conclusion

In short, VEX IQ offers an interactive alternative to most other ways of teaching the
basics behind robotics and programming. When you learn about robot design,
programming logic and how data is collected it also provides that hands on approach
students need for real time critical thinking and problem solving. With experimenting
through trial and error they learn how robotics can become a solution to real-world
problems.

References

1.www.vexrobotics.com. (n.d.). VEX IQ - VEX Robotics. [online] Available at:

https://www.vexrobotics.com/iq.

2.Quora. (2019). What are the good and bad things of using Vex Robotics when
using it to learn robotics? [online] Available at:
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-good-and-bad-things-of-using-Vex-Robotics-wh
en-using-it-to-learn-robotics.
3.Vexrobotics.com. (2019). VEXcode Install IQ - VEX Robotics. [online] Available at:
https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexcode/install/iq.

4.Vex.com. (2024). VEX 123 STEM Labs - Coding Fundamentals. [online] Available
at: https://education.vex.com/stemlabs/123/coding-fundamentals.

5. VEX Library. (2023). Data Logging with VEX Brain/Sensors (Python Version).
[online] Available at:
https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/20680920316948-Data-Logging-with-VEX-Brain-
Sensors-Python-Version [Accessed 26 Oct. 2024].