Curriculum
In order to start doing VEX Robotics, you need to buy the parts. This page will describe what you need to buy based on your needs provide cost estimates if money is a concern. This will be split up into curriculum and competition. There will be a section at the end for ways to pay for VEX if money is hard to come by.
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VEX Store: https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products
Curriculum Costs
For the classroom all you need to buy is kits. Kits are meant for 2-4 people and come with either the Cortex or V5 system.
Cortex (V4) Clawbot KitsProgramming Control Starter Kit: with Sensor
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V5 Clawbot KitsStarter Kit: 4 motors, 2 Sensors, standard clawbot
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Curriculum Recommendation/Conclusion
The first choice you might want to make is which control system to use. I recommend going with the V5 Kit. It's the new system with a more user-friendly electronics and user interface, and the motors and batteries are better. However, there are a few reasons you might choice to go with the Cortex (V4) system. It has a tested and well developed curriculum which includes a wide variety of engineering lessons, even having a section on Inventor CAD. The V5 clawbot has STEM Labs, but in my personal opinion it isn't as good as the V4 curriculum. Of course, you can still use both for either system, it just might be a bit awkward to do so. If it's still hard to decide then do your own research: look through the lessons yourself and browse/ask questions on the forums.
If you are going to go with the Cortex (V4) system then I recommend the Dual Control Starter Kit ($550 per kit, $3,300 for 6 teams). It is $100 more expensive than the Programming Control Kit, but the sum of all the parts is actually cheaper. Also, the curriculum provided by VEX is suited for the dual control kit and driving the robot is much more interactive and easier to do than coding just an autonomous. If you would like to add advanced programming later then you can by the sensors separately.
If you are going with the V5 system then it really depends*. I would recommend the Starter Kit ($650 per kit, $3,900 for 6 teams). It is significantly cheaper than the Super Kit and contains the standard V5 Clawbot with a controller. However, if you want to go into more advanced programming and/or building (not just restricted to the clawbot), and you have the extra money (x2 more expensive), then it might be worth it. You can also buy more stuff later on if you wish to expand your curriculum.
*My school uses the cortex and not the V5 for our robotics curriculum, so I have no experienced it yet.
If you are going to go with the Cortex (V4) system then I recommend the Dual Control Starter Kit ($550 per kit, $3,300 for 6 teams). It is $100 more expensive than the Programming Control Kit, but the sum of all the parts is actually cheaper. Also, the curriculum provided by VEX is suited for the dual control kit and driving the robot is much more interactive and easier to do than coding just an autonomous. If you would like to add advanced programming later then you can by the sensors separately.
If you are going with the V5 system then it really depends*. I would recommend the Starter Kit ($650 per kit, $3,900 for 6 teams). It is significantly cheaper than the Super Kit and contains the standard V5 Clawbot with a controller. However, if you want to go into more advanced programming and/or building (not just restricted to the clawbot), and you have the extra money (x2 more expensive), then it might be worth it. You can also buy more stuff later on if you wish to expand your curriculum.
*My school uses the cortex and not the V5 for our robotics curriculum, so I have no experienced it yet.