Here's good news for students interested in robotics. Maybe you've seen other students in robotics contests on TV.

Innovation First, Inc. (IFI) and Autodesk announced they teamed up to co-develop a new curriculum to be included in the popular VEX Robotics Design System Classroom Lab Kits.

“Studies have shown, and teachers have told us, that they need hands-on activities in the classroom to help students get engaged in all the important subjects of STEM,” said Jason Morrella, senior director of education and competition at Innovation First. “We’re excited that powerful educational tools like the VEX Robotics Design System and Autodesk Inventor software can help change the way students think about the design process and prepare for many of the incredible opportunities and careers that are waiting for them.”

The curriculum uses Autodesk Inventor software, also used by professional robotics engineers throughout the world.

The VEX Robotics Inventor Curriculum will be incorporated into the VEX Classroom Lab Kits this spring. This will provide a custom way for teachers to offer robotics education that’s flexible enough to be applied at multiple grade levels, including secondary and post-secondary education.

These curriculum designers complied with STEM education standards. This curriculum contains a set of 18 module units, each containing its own lesson, concept and activity.

These units bring together VEX Robotics designs and Digital Prototyping, a practice used by manufacturers to optimize and validate their ideas before actually creating a product, helping to remove time and costs from the product development process, and get the “right” product to market faster.

Here're company drafted summaries of their market positions, including in education. They provide key words to include in proposals teachers prepare for support from administrators and board of education members.

About Innovation First, Inc.
Innovation First, Inc., a privately held corporation, was founded on the belief that innovation very early in the design process is necessary to produce simple and elegant product designs. Innovation First, Inc. began producing electronics for unmanned mobile ground robots, and is now an industry leader in the hobby, competition, education and toy markets. The company’s award-winning VEX Robotics Design System, VEXplorer, HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures, and IFI Robotics span the education, consumer and business-to-business markets. Innovation First’s staff are unmatched in their experience in supporting and running educational and competitive robotics competitions. Leveraging the company’s core competency in electrical and mechanical engineering, the RackSolutions division works closely with all major computer OEMs to provide custom mounting solutions and industry-wide rack compatibility for data installations of all sizes. With an advanced in-house metal fabrication plant, distribution center, and offices located together in a 13 acre complex in Greenville, Texas, the company is poised to continue on a rapid growth path. Please visit www.innovationfirst.com for additional information.

About Autodesk Education
Autodesk is committed to supporting students and educators by providing powerful 2D and 3D design software, innovative programs and resources designed to inspire the next generation of professionals to experience their ideas before they're real. By supporting educators to advance design education and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills, Autodesk is helping prepare students develop for future academic and career success. Autodesk supports schools and institutions of higher learning worldwide through substantial discounts, subscriptions, grant programs, training, curricula development and community resources. For more information about Autodesk education programs and solutions, visit tp://www.autodesk.com/education.

About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is the world leader in 2D and 3D design software for the manufacturing, building and construction, and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD software in 1982, Autodesk has developed the broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art digital prototyping solutions to help customers experience their ideas before they're real. Fortune 1000 companies rely on Autodesk for the tools to visualize, simulate and analyze real-world performance early in the design process to save time and money, enhance quality and foster innovation. For additional information about Autodesk, visit http://www.autodesk.com.

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