May 6 2013
Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced support of several VEX® robotics tournaments in Arizona.
This provides opportunities for teams who qualified for the 2013 VEX Robotics World Championship, which was held April 18-20, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif., and was presented by the Robotics Education & Competition (REC) Foundation. The challenge, called the VEX “Sack Attack,” pitted team alliances against each other to score points by dumping sacks into their alliance troughs during a two-minute match. As a result of Microchip’s sponsorship grants, 20 Arizona rookie teams were created in 2013 and two new playing fields were donated, allowing more events and more teams to participate. More than 700 teams from 24 countries and 15,000 students competed in Anaheim, and teams from Cave Creek, Ariz., took home awards in the “Create” and the “Autodesk Design” categories.
Steve Sanghi, President and CEO of Microchip Technology Inc., was inducted into the STEM Heroes Hall of Fame for his work in promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math throughout the years of his involvement with various robotics programs, including VEX, FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the Microchip Academic Program. “I am honored to be included among this esteemed group of individuals who recognize that it is our responsibility to prepare the next generation of engineers, innovators and scientists, so they can define new technology and create a stronger economy,” said Steve Sanghi upon receiving this accolade.
VEX Robotics and the REC Foundation also announced a new program at the World Championship event, called VEX IQ and the VEX IQ Challenge, which will bring robotics to the elementary-school level. This makes VEX available to students in elementary school through college.
Source: http://www.microchip.com/