College of Engineering

In search of the next generation of engineers, high school teams from across Utah and Idaho competed in the first regional VEX Robotics Competition in the state of Utah. The event, hosted by USU on Saturday, January 9, 2010, offered students the chance to explore the latest technology, learn engineering principles at an early stage of their education, work as a team, solve problems and, in the process, develop leadership skills.

Competitions such as VEX Robotics give students an insight into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. Middle schools, high schools, colleges, and even some elementary schools around the world use the VEX platform because it is accessible, affordable, reusable and scalable. VEX is the fastest growing robotics competition in the world.

Each team designed a robot that had to initially fit inside of an 18-inch cube. It did not have to be cube-shaped, but could expand and morph into any configuration. The robot had to be built using all VEX products, but this did not mean creativity was lacking. The referee commented that the robots each had their own personality. As teams tested their creations prior to competition, they were able to watch the entire process - from idea - to idea on paper - to creation - to implementation on the physical plane. Teams found it exciting to come up with different designs, and interesting to find out which designs that they thought would work, did not.

Following registration teams gathered in the Pit Area for last minute tweaking. Then it was on to the Inspector to make sure all competition requirements were met including, size, VEX parts inspection, construction inspection, and field control check. After passing the 30-point inspection, it was time to begin. Each team had to clean the various size balls off of their side of the VEX Playing Field and move them to their opponent's side, thus the name of this year's competition, Clean Sweep. Points were then added to the team score.

Each team had eight qualifying matches in the qualifying round. After the final qualifying match, finalists chose a team they wanted to form an Alliance with. The winning Alliance for the USU VEX Regional Robotics Competition 2010 was the Design Academy/Wood River High School Alliance. The Design Academy is an after school group that is taught in the College of Engineering at USU. The Wood River High School team is from Hailey, Idaho.

Both teams incorporated design elements on their robots that made moving the balls from their side of the playing field over to their opponent's side more efficient. Tyler Stewardson from the Design Academy incorporated a scoop bucket that gathered the balls from the front, and then released them to the rear. The Wood River team incorporated a scissor lift on their robot. Both of these design elements moved the Design Academy/Wood River Alliance toward their ultimate win.

Following the competition, Rick Tyler, who flew in from VEX Robotics in Seattle, Washington to assist with management of this first regional competition in Utah, applauded Dr. Gary Stewardson, professor in the Engineering and Technology Education Department (ETE) at USU, calling the event flawless and adding, "The future of robotics in Utah looks bright."

The USU VEX Regional Robotics Competition 2010 was sponsored by the ETE Department in partnership with the Rocky Mountain NASA Space Grant Consortium and USU 4-H Extension.

For more information, email Dr. Gary Stewardson or call (435) 797-1802. Click here to visit the ETE Department online. 

                                                     Vex Robot Entry

                                         

                                                              ETE Club Concession Area

                                       

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                                                                   Spectators excited for the
                                                                       competition to begin!

                                                  

                                         
 

                                         

 
                                                                           Qualifying Rounds

                                                                   Some last minute adjustments

                                            

                                                                       Resetting the playing field
                                                                        after a Qualifying Round

                                            

                                                       Alliance Design Academy/Wood River High
                                                         preparing for the Final Elimination Round

The Judges Confer

                                            The Winners

 The Ultimate Prize
Excellence Award

Tournament Champions
Alliance Design Academy/Wood River High
left to right, Tyler Stewardson, Tyler Wolfley
Jason Tracy, John Siegel, Rusty Williams

left to right, Rusty Williams, Jason Tracy
John Siegel, Tyler Wolfley, Tyler Stewardson

                                           

                                                                    Excellence Award Winners
                                                               Brandon Barrows, Michael Luker
                                                                                Cody Herndon

                                                                  
                                                                  Tournament Champion Robots
                                                                           left, Design Academy
                                                                    right, Wood River High School

                                               

                                                                                 
                                            

Writer: Jennifer M. Carroll
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1/11/10