A Radio Control Transmitter
A Radio Control Transmitter
As far as the electronics go, the kit includes a radio control transmitter and receiver, a servo, three drive motors and a few sensor switches. Not to fear radio control flyers - the transmitters are equipped to communicate on ground frequencies, so there should be no potentially dangerous interference with planes.
Where the fun starts for us is when you start adding accessories. You can buy extras of all of the components in the kit as well as more specialized sensors, chain and sprockets, different gears, a tracked (caterpillar) system, and different wheels. They have pretty thoroughly supplied everything you need to build at least a basic version of most small robotic assemblies.
The thing that really got me is that everything is integrated so well. You don’t need to do anything but design and assemble. Unless you’re used to building by doing everything in CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Machining), this set will allow you to make relatively complex robotic machines in hours instead of weeks or months.
In prototyping, these changes can take days or weeks to implement. With the VEX System, we were making changes in minutes on our PackBot. Motor not powerful enough? Grab another gear or two and shaft the motor to a different hole. EVERYTHING fits. I love this system and the engineers did a great job.