Introducing VEX AIM

991 Views 01/12/2025
By Education team @ nooby.tech

The VEX AIM Robot is now available, and we’re thrilled to show you what it can do! VEX AIM provides everything needed for engaging, interactive computer science learning in your classroom. VEX AIM turns abstract computer science concepts into visible, tangible outcomes so students can see their code come to life. With its AI-powered vision, advanced movement capabilities, and rich customization options, VEX AIM is designed to make coding accessible and engaging. Whether your students are just beginning their coding journey or are ready to tackle more advanced programming, AIM provides a flexible and interactive learning experience that supports growth at every level.

AIM MAKES CS LEARNING ACCESSIBLE AND POWERFUL

AIM is intentionally easy to get started with, while supporting students as their understanding of computer science grows.

Drive First

The AIM Robot can be controlled by the One Stick Controller, so students can drive the robot before coding it. The built-in Drive program lets students control the movements of the robot with the joystick and buttons to drive, kick, play sounds, and see features like the LEDs in action. Driving the robot to complete a task allows students to experience how the robot interacts with its environment in order to accomplish the goal. Before ever trying to code a project, students can easily drive the robot to solve the challenge, seeing first hand the steps needed to accomplish the task. Then when they move to coding, they have a physical model to build their computational model from.

BEGIN WITH BUTTON CODING

The button-based programming system of the VEX AIM robot allows students to code movements and shooting actions using the robot’s touch buttons or the One Stick controller. This provides an introduction to fundamental sequencing, allowing students to code the robot without needing additional devices.

BUILD UP TO BLOCKS

After exploring the robot’s movements and shooting actions via its touch buttons or One Stick controller (button-based programming), students can then program the robot using VEXcode AIM Blocks. They can now explore the necessary code blocks to execute the actions they’ve manually programmed or programmed via the buttons, building upon this experience to construct a more complex computational model and explore advanced programming concepts.

TRANSITION TO TEXT WITH SWITCH AND PYTHON

When students are ready, they can begin to explore programming with Python thanks to the “Switch Block” functionality. This allows students to switch between block programming and textual coding, using the most effective method. Students can first convert a block into a “Switch Block” to discover the Python commands that make it up. This feature allows them to take control of their transition from the block to text, thus enhancing learning and understanding.

This scaffolded approach ensures that students of all levels of coding expertise can benefit from hands-on CS learning.

Engage Students with Exciting Game-Based Coding Activities

Picture your students coding their robots to play an interactive soccer game with multiple robots, or competing in a robot barrel race! The AIM Robot has a three-wheeled holonomic drivetrain that allows it to move in any direction, and a built in gyro and accelerometer for moving with precision. A magnetized kicker on the front of the robot can grasp, kick, or place objects like Balls or Barrels across a Field – or even to another robot! These unique robot features open the door to a host of exciting game-based activities.

The easy-to-use touchscreen interface makes setting up the robot and starting projects quick and easy, in multiple languages.

And, six individually codable LEDs circle the AIM Robot’s perimeter. Students can use the LEDs for debugging projects by providing visual cues, or for creating fun, dynamic light shows or interactive feedback systems.

Teach Essential AI Concepts in a Hands-On Way

The AIM Robot’s built-in AI Vision Sensor provides an easily accessible way to build student understanding of fundamental AI concepts, such as computer perception. The AI Vision Sensor can detect pre-trained objects, such as the Balls and Barrels that come with the Kit, and even other AIM Robots. It can also detect colors, combinations of colors, and AprilTags. There are limitless possibilities for creative coding with this powerful sensor – a robot delivery service, an interactive vending machine, or navigating through an imaginary city are all within reach.

VEXcode AIM introduces AI with prebuilt behaviors that abstract out the complexity of using an AI-powered sensor, so that students can leverage the power of the sensor in an approachable way. Students can code the robot to Turn to ball then Get ball, and see how the AI Vision Sensor is working to accomplish the task. Then, when they are ready, they can explore exactly how the robot is using sensor data to accomplish that task.

Boundless Opportunities for Creative Expression

AIM’s colorful touchscreen offers students a myriad of ways to add expression and personality to their robots. The AIM Robot can flash a starry-eyed smile when it scores a goal in robot soccer, or sport a grumpy face when it misses, using the numerous emojis included in VEXcode.

An extensive library of built-in sounds can be added, furthering students' ability for creative expression through coding. Custom sounds and images can be uploaded and used in projects as well. The possibilities for social-emotional learning and storytelling that AIM opens up extends the cross-curricular reach of the robot, allowing teachers to integrate CS into subjects across the curriculum.

AIM’s touchscreen adds to the inexhaustible variety of creative coding possibilities. Students can create projects to print or draw on the screen, create touchscreen interfaces for games, start projects from the screen, and much more.

Source: VEXcode VR

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