2012 VEX Robotics competition at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA
“Robot wars” become reality at the 2012 Liberty University VEX Robotics Competition held March 3, 2012. Twenty-seven VEX Robotics teams gathered from Lynchburg and surrounding areas to test their robot designs against the VEX Gateway playing field.
Kim Hansen, High School Teacher and VEX Robotics coach with local EC Glass High school stated:
“The VEX program is an awesome way for high school students to learn basic mechanics and programming of a robot. The robots offer the flexibility of keeping designs very simple while also satisfying the need to build complex robots. Students are challenged with performing specific task and meeting certain design functions. Students stay engaged when working with the robots and pushing their imagination. Most often students will start with basic designs and end up building robots with several working manipulators, different drive systems and an autonomous program.”
The VEX Gateway playing field consists of a 12’X12’ square field filled with strategically placed barrels, balls, and goals. Teams are paired into what are termed “alliances” one red and one blue. Teams compete in a round consisting of two sections a 20 second computer programmed autonomous period followed by two minutes of driver controlled play. Teams score points by scoring their corresponding color barrels and balls in goals. Teams can also earn bonus points with a white or black barrel to double points within a goal or negate the opponents’ points within a goal.
Liberty University Faculty and Liberty VEX Robotics Competition Director, Scott Pleasants, provided closing comments on the event:
“This year’s VEX competition was one of the best. The enthusiasm for the sport shown in robot designs and superior sportsmanship is something all schools should be proud of. The students, volunteers and sponsors of this event should be commended for the event being a success. This is one my favorite STEM outreach programs and we have seen the teams growing in participation each year. We look forward to growing this program next year. Thank you to our teaching community, Liberty Christian Academy for use of their school, Region 2000 and the Future Focus Foundation, not to mention all of our local companies and corporate sponsors that provided the awards. A special thanks to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center for providing an award for SpaceCamp.”
The Future Focus Foundation, the education foundation of Virginia’s Region 2000 Technology Council received several sponsorships from area businesses and organizations to support the Liberty University VEX Robotics Competition. The Foundation would like to thank the following for their valuable contributions:
Sigma Beta Delta | SIMVENTIONS, Inc. | Cisco Systems, Inc. |
Wiley Wilson
