Student teams from across Australia are gathering in Melbourne for the VEX Robotics Australia 2018 Nationals to be held this weekend.
The nationals will feature 45 VRC (high school) teams and 30 VIQC (primary school) teams competing in a series of back to back matches.
Each team is vying for one of the five spots available to Australia to compete at the VEX World Championships to held in Louisville, Kentucky next April.
The nationals, held at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre, attract the brightest minds from schools throughout Australia to help promote STEM education.
The event is presented by the REC Foundation and VEX Robotics, and is sponsored by:
- SMC Pneumatics
- Ford Australia
- Monash University
- AutoDesk
- HEXBUG
- Robomatter
- Rack Solutions
- Innovation First International
“There is an incredibly powerful shift that you will see in students when it comes to their interest and understanding of STEM subjects, through their involvement in VEX Robotics,” said Tony Norman, President of VEX Robotics.
“Not only are these students improving their STEM aptitude and developing computer science skills through programming, but through VEX Competitions, they are learning about different cultures and countries of origin, and they must find ways to problem solve and work together to achieve the greatest possible success. As a result, these students walk away having had a far richer, life-changing experience.”
Opening ceremonies kick off tomorrow at 9am with an introduction from Lee Constable, host of Channel Network 10 science show, Scope
Introducing Rovey the Mars Rover
Event highlights include a presentation by Monash University’s Nova Rover Team, the first Australian student group in the Southern Hemisphere to qualify to compete in University Rover Challenge finals.
The team will showcase Rovey the Mars Rover, a robot designed to inspire students to continue their robotics journey through University and beyond.
Also, Autodesk will showcase product design & VEX Robotics kits live training using Fusion 360 – a cloud-based 3D CAD/CAM tool that helps teams explore design ideas and create models for 3D printing and machining.
Students can quickly modify robot designs, create assemblies, produce photorealistic renderings and fabricate the parts. Autodesk will also demonstrate 3D printing products using Fusion 360.
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