Well they did it!  Free Range Robotics won the 2010 Vex Robotics World Championship! The Tournament was held in Dallas, Texas and the two New Zealand teams – Free Range Robotics (homeschoolers) and Kristin, along with Shangahi Luwan Activity Center from China, played against another alliance of three from the USA (one of them being a homeschool team who won last year’s championship). They won the first game of the finals by a good margin, and went on to play the second match (the winner being the best of three). It was very tense, as the competition was fierce and the score was close. The judges took an eternity to count up those scores, but the teams were elated to win the second match and at last bring home the ultimate World Tournament Champion 1st Place Trophy.

Free Range Robotics were also presented awards for the World Champion 1st Place in Web Design, World Champion AMAZE Award (for innovative design, engineering and programming), World Champion Energy Award (for team enthusiasm and dedication) and also World Champion 1st Place Division Tournament Champion.

The team were also presented  with a Silver Fern Award. This award originates from the military. It is a prestigious award, given to soldiers who have given significant service to their country. Then Kiwibots had been granted the power to select and award this to certain students for their service to NZ as a representative (in battle) overseas. The team has certainly experienced the sweat, blood and tears of hard battle over these last couple of years! It was great to acknowledge their hard work and dedication.

Interestingly enough there was another  Robotics Competition called  Best Robotics which was held at the same time, and that was won by homeschoolers also.

Hi everyone

Hi everyone,

Today was our first day in Tournament.  We had a bright and early start up at 6am and down to the lobby by 7:30 to catch the bus in to the convention centre. The Sheraton is about 20 minutes walk away from the convention centre, so we appreciated the ride in, as we had our heavy cases of tools and the robots and laptops and so on to carry.

The first part of the day was spent setting up the pit (or booth) with tools and robots organised, and all checked over, banners and flags up, and sorting through the paperwork. We had forms to sign,and check lists to go over, match times and alliance groupings to sort out for scouting.  When you enter the convention centre you walk in on a long rich red carpet pathway which leads to the tournament fields and the team pits. All the teams are organised according to their numbers.  It's really fantastic when you reach the 2900's and see a long row of pits bearing the New Zealand flags.  There are 12 teams here this year.  Last year we were just four pits together.  The New Zealand presence has been much anticipated and the word whispering around the centre is that we are to be feared... one girl said to me "when you go up and down the pit area everyone is terrified of the New Zealanders"  I replied "for good reason".  May as well maximise the psychological advantage!

Hi everyone,

We have arrived safely in Dallas, but are pretty jetlagged. Everyone is feeling foggy.

The flight to LA was great - we were well looked after and the robots were treated carefully.  It was a really full flight, travellers starting to move again since the volcano cloud is moving.

We had a 6 hour stop in LA, so checked in our luggage to the Dallas flights nice and early.  The Southwest airline staff were not happy with the heavy tools and equipment and made us open up our cases.  Picture us sitting in the middle of the line, floor strewn all over, covered in saws, hammers, spanners, electronics parts, batteries, robots pulled out of packaging.....the other people in line were quite loudly commenting "what on earth are they planning to do???"

Free Range Robotics has now officially won the 2010 VEX Robotics Website Design Award!

It is great to see that all our hard work on the website has finally paid off.
This means 2921c is automatically qualified for the 2010 VRC World Championship.
Also included with our prize are is a VEX Robotics Classroom Lab Kit worth US $699

Hi everybody, Shine TV have put together a program about us and are playing the team video (with different music as they can’t play the original due to copyright issues) on Shine TV tomorrow night, and again on Saturday and Sunday.

Homeschool team Free Range Robotics have won the New Zealand National VEX Robotics Championship for the second year in a row. They also scooped more than their fair share of other awards, winning the New Zealand Championship awards for Web Design (www.robotics.org.nz), the Think Award for Autonomous Programming, the Promote award for the best team video, the VEX Essay Award and the runner up for Programming Skills Award.

The VEX Robotics Competition is run throughout the world with over 2400 teams in more than 13 countries. The program was designed to encourage students to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Dr Johan Potgieter, senior lecturer at Massey University School of Advanced Engineering and Technology, who instigated the VEX competition in New Zealand, said  “We have students now coming into engineering who have never thought of doing it… it’s really opened up a lot of opportunities for these kids.”

Each team has to design, build and program a robot to play a specific game. This year’s game is Clean Sweep, and the object of the game is for alliances of two teams (three for the finals) to obtain a higher score than their opponent’s alliance by moving as many balls as possible into the opposing team’s side of the field.

Thanks to everybody who voted for our online design challenge entries!
We finished the first round of voting with the website coming first, the essay coming first, and the video coming second.

The VEX Robotics online competitions are now open for voting.

Submissions will be showcased on the RobotEvents.com Online Challenge website and will be scored by the viewing community. Submissions will be judged on a 50-point scale.

The community voting will determine seven of the ten finalists to be judged for the Award. Three additional submissions chosen by the VEX Advisory Council and the challenge partners will complete the group of ten finalists that move on to the last round of judging. The ten finalist entries will be scored with a weighted system including the community voting scores, scores given by the VEX Robotics Advisory Council and scores given by representatives from the presenting sponsors of the VEX Robotics Competition World Championship. The combined scores will determine the 2010 Award winner.

Please vote for us!

First, register here.
After you have clicked the confirmation link in the email you will have been sent, login to the site.
You will now be able to vote for our entries, which are listed here.

Please give us the highest ratings you think we deserve.

Note: if you have multiple people in you household signed up to vote, the site will say you have already voted and will not allow you to vote again (although technically, you are allowed to). This is so that one person can not vote multiple times. You can, however, create one account at work for yourself, and then get another member of your family to create an account at home.

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Thank you everyone, for your support of our team, Free Range Robotics, in our endeavours at the World Championships in Dallas. This competition had some huge excitement. A couple of highlights were our first two games; Each of these games is played by four teams: two blue teams versus two red teams. We are paired up randomly. In both of the first two games our partners were unable to play, so we played alone against two robots and we won both games. This immediately made our standing with everyone rocket up; it really showed the world what New Zealanders and homeschoolers are made of.

This monday Free Range Robotics were on TV ONE live!

Click here to watch the recording.

TV ONE - Kiwi kids shine in world robotic competition

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They won the World Championship title for Programming Skills where they had to design and programme a robot to navigate over a field and score goals in a one minute period without any human intervention.

Today was a very exciting day! Each team has only 6 qualifying matches to get a chance to be in the quarter finals.
We won all five of our matches today, and we have one more tomorrow. Even more exciting is that Free Range Robotics the Home school team, are coming first on the placing board! This is out of a draw of 140 teams. The other 140 teams that are here in Dallas are playing off each other in a parallel tournament to ours, and the champion team of each division gets to play in the Grand Final. It looks like we have a good chance at the title!
Match one score was, 36 to 30, we had NO alliance partner, as they did not show up at all! So we played against 2 opposing robots on our own. And won!
Match two, 46 to 19, we also had no alliance partner again (their robot was disqualified for being over size just as we set up on the field) but we managed to win convincingly.
Match three 37 to 24.
Match four, 40 to 36.
Match five, 44 to 21
We have our last qualifying match tomorrow which will be followed by the finals in the afternoon.

Vex Robotics Fundraising Concert
In support of the Home School Vex Robotics Team, NZ representatives in the Vex World Finals in USA.

Saturday 25th April 7:00pm.

At Ranui Baptist Church, 464 Swanson Road, Ranui.

Gold coin entrance (A collection will be taken at the conclusion to support the vex robotics team who are heading to America).

Poster

Phone Terry Allen (09) 413 8168 or Craig Paul (09) 833 5350 if you have questions.

You are invited to the

Free Range Robotics Celtic Fundraiser Dance!

Where: Carey Park, 397 Henderson Valley Rd Map
When: Sunday 5th April; 7pm - about 10pm
What: Dancing, Food, Demonstrations of "Free Range" (the robot), Live Music
Cost: $10pp; $35 per family

All to raise money for the Homeschool Robotics team who are heading to America to represent NZ in the world championships!

Be prepared to have fun! All ages welcome.

Please bring: yourself, a smile, and a plate and non-alcoholic drink to share for supper

RSVP: 4th April through the Contact Us form

See you there!

Twelve Auckland teenagers have a date in Dallas next month after manoeuvring their machines to victory in a fast and furious final of a robotics competition on the Albany campus at the weekend.

We won the 2009 New Zealand Championships!!!
And the Champion Programming Skills prize!

Final Game:
Champion Alliance: 52 points
Runner Up: 26 points

Programming Skills Challenge:
Champion: 15 points
Runner Up: 14 points

• 1 motor for the sucker
• 1 motor for the tracks
• 2 motors for the lifter
• 2 motors for strafing (sideways drive) wheel
• 4 motors for the forward/reverse drive

Well we are on our way!

On Saturday the Kiwibots held the first Regional Competition for the 'Clean Sweep' season. With 30 teams taking part it was almost as big as the National Event we held last year! The qualification rounds were hard fought and the elimination rounds resulted in a few 'dark horse' surprises. Three competition fields ment that we were able to run a game every 5mins and our magnificent volunteers kept everything running on time.

We qualified 6 teams to compete in the world championships and hope to add more at the Lower North Island Regional competition and the upcomming Nationals.

Hi Everyone,

Could you all register for the two regional competitions ASAP. Both of these are free so all you have to do is log in and register.

Click here to register for Upper North Island Regional

Click here to register for Lower North Island Regional

We need to get an idea of numbers so we can work out awards, the number of teams that will qualify and numbers at the attending the event.

Hi Everyone,

The registrations for the Regional’s and Nationals are getting some movement which is great, thank you to those of you who have registered!

The National Event at TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre is looking to be an awesome event, while we have been planning the event we have come across a few opportunities for schools to help out and promote their schools.

Hi Everyone,

This information is for all school robotic teams attending the scrimmage this weekend Saturday 30^th – Sunday 31^st January.

Team members competing on the day and direct support crew (coaches, mentors and teachers) will have free entry to the Museum. (We are limited to the amount of free entries we have).

Hi Everyone,

The New Website is now live www.vexrobotics.co.nz same URL but a lot different. Have a look around and send us feedback.

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully the Christmas/New Years break has been treating you all well! I know it’s early in the year but I have a few notices that I need to get out so here goes:

Firstly, there is a two day Scrimmage being held at MOTAT (Auckland) on January 30^th – 31^st (Doors open at 10:00am, games will start at 10:30am – 4pm both days), it will be a normal scrimmage but held over two days with big crowds coming and going.

Hello Everyone,

Massey University Albany is having their annual degree show for Engineering and Food Technology final year projects.

Attached is the invitation for and anyone else who you think might be interested in going.

Hey All,

This weekend is the scrimmage at AVONDALE COLLEGE details on the website http://vexrobotics.co.nz/events.asp , the venue will be open at 9am with a 10am kick off!

THIS COMPETITION WILL HAVE AUTONOMOUS

IF YOU DON’T HAVE AUTONOMOUS DON’T WORRY (IT WILL JUST MEAN THAT YOU DON’T DO ANYTHING FOR THE FIRST 20 SECONDS OF THE MATCH. (REMEMBER TO BRING TETHER CABLES ETC. YOU WILL BE WIRED INTO THE FIELD).

Hi everyone

The next scrimmage for this season is being held this weekend on

Saturday 29 August at Onehunga High School, starting at 10.00am!

Driving directions to Onehunga High School can be found on the website www.vexrobotics.co.nz and the scrimmage will be held in the main school hall, behind the Marae (parking available on street).

As at previous scrimmage events, food and drinks will be able to be purchased all day

(e.g. bacon rolls, hot chips, sausage sizzle, soft drinks etc) so make sure to bring along spare change!

Hi everyone

Hi everyone

Hi All

Greetings VEX Robotics Competition Teams,

Here's an update on the Online Design Challenges, the 2010 VEX World Championship (including College Challenge teams) and some recent events:

One more day to submit Online Design Challenge entries

Tomorrow night (March 5) is the deadline to submit entries for any of the 6 different 2010 Online Design Challenges. We know a number of teams are working feverishly to get their entries done in time - so keep up the great effort, we look forward to seeing your work. All RobotEvents.com members can view and even help judge the online submissions at RobotEvents.com (just click on the tile box for the online design challenge page).

Greetings VEX Robotics Competition Teams,

Here's an update on the Online Design Challenges, program growth and upcoming events, and the 2010 VEX World Championship event, hotel and volunteer information:

Deadline approaching to enter Online Design Challenge submissions

There are still a few weeks left to submit entries for any of the 6 different 2010 Online Design Challenges before the March 5th deadline. Submitting entries is free, and there are some great prizes available (some challenges even qualify the winners for a spot at the 2010 VEX World Championship). You can check out the details for each Online Design Challenge, see the prizes and submit entries at RobotEvents.com (just click on the Online Design Challenge tile on the homepage).

Greetings VEX Robotics Competition Teams,

VEX was truly international this past weekend, as VRC Clean Sweep Competitions were held in Canada and Mexico, along with our first ever tournament in Spain. Congratulations to all the teams that participated. Teams from 5 different countries (Canada, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the United States) qualified for the 2010 VEX World Championship this April in Dallas. Good luck to everyone competing this weekend in Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nebraska and Virginia.

Below is an update on the progress and special attractions at the Championship of the Americas:

Greetings VEX Robotics Competition Teams,

Here's an update for everyone going into the competitions this weekend:

Team Growth and Recent Events

The number of VEX Robotics Competition teams continues to grow, as there are now almost 2,300 official VRC teams. We'd like to congratulate Maryland and Virginia for becoming the 5th and 6th United States to have over 100 VEX teams, joining California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Texas! A number of states are right behind them and are quickly approaching 100 teams (including Georgia, Indiana and Nebraska). Thank you to all the event partners providing so many opportunities for teams to participate throughout the United States and around the world!

Here's a shorter update after another great week of competitions. Things will slow down for the holidays for a couple weeks, but the big news this week is that the Online Design Challenges have been announced.

HONOLULU – Nearly 1,000 middle school and high school students from Hawai‘i, the U.S. Mainland and China will descend upon the Hawai‘i Convention Center this week, December 3 – 5, for the 2nd annual VEX Robotics Pan-Pacific Championship.  The event is free and open to the public.

The team-based robotics competition will put students’ engineering and high-tech skills to the test in three action-packed days of competition with robots created from the VEX Robotics Design System.

Greetings Teams,

It's been an exciting couple of weeks since the last update. More than 200 teams played in 11 different events the past two weeks (in 8 different US states and in Brazil), with many new teams qualifying for the 2010 VEX Robotics World Championship April 22-24 in Dallas, Texas. This next week will see almost 250 teams compete in 7 more events spanning the globe, including the first ever VEX competition in Japan, the Inaugural VEX All-Star Challenge at Disney World, the first VEX Robotics competition in Australia and competitions in 4 additional states (Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana and Massachusetts).

A special note: The Disney All-Star Challenge event is now going to be web cast on Friday and Saturday – the link to the webcast may be found on the home page at RobotEvents.com.

Greetings VEX Teams,

VEX TEAM AND EVENT GROWTH

A few weeks ago we shared that the VEX Robotics Competition program had already grown to over 1300 teams and 150 events around the world. It seems the growth has not slowed down, as the team count exceeded 1600 this past week and even more new events have been added, pushing the total number of VEX competitions to almost 160! This upcoming week there will be 125 different teams participating at 5 more events in California, Florida, Hawaii, Nebraska and Massachusetts. There will be 25 more events in the next 4 weeks - in 13 different states and 4 countries (Brazil, Japan, Colombia and Australia). 10 upcoming events have already filled and are closed for registration now, with a number of other competitions already 80-90% full, so be sure to get your teams signed up soon for any upcoming events you wish to participate in before they fill up.