Revell, Innovation First, Inc., Robot magazine and SolidWorks Corporation, with Grant Imahara, are pleased to announce the Grant Imahara VEXplorer Robot Challenge. Grant Imahara is one of the hosts of Discovery Channel's hit television show Mythbusters. He is a special effects expert who has worked on some of the most famous robots in history, such as R2-D2 and The Energizer Bunny, and is the author of Kickin' Bot, a book that explains how to build your own combat robot. This contest will give 25 robot enthusiasts a chance to compete for a $5,000 scholarship grand prize and various other prizes.

FINALISTS
Click here to send us the URL of your YouTube video.

Steps to enter:

1. Submit an email description to the VEXplorer Contest Email Link that includes a short description of your vision for configuring a VEXplorer kit that will be used in a unique way. Ideally, your idea should not simply copy the stock "hero" design featured on the VEXplorer box—click here to read Grant's review of the VEXplorer for more details on the kit. Title the email subject "Grant Imahara VEXplorer Contest Application." Please include your phone number, postal address, and email. Robot magazine and Grant Imahara will select the contestants. Complete Entries will be judged under the following criteria: (1) originality and creativity (50%); and (2) the nature of the description (how intersting is it, and/or how challanging is it to execute?) (50%). Applications to enter must be recieved by March 24, 2008.

2. The 25 applicants with the most creative ideas will be sent a free VEXplorer to build and use in a unique robot application. Only parts packaged in the VEXplorer unit can be used. Remember, in the contest itself, unique configurations representing an assembled VEXplorer robot design that is other than the “Hero” configuration shown on the package will be given extra points for creativity and functionality. 25 contestants will be selected by April 1.

Steps to compete:

3. Contestants will submit their videos to YouTube by June 1st and confirm by emailing the video link(s), and a short description of the completed robot design, to the VEXplorer Contest Email Link. Title the subject "Grant Imahara VEXplorer Contest." Grant will personally pick the winners by June 5, 2008. Winners will be asked to provide a few high-resolution digital images of their winning designs for publication in the September-October issue of Robot magazine, where winners will be announced.

Grant Imahara will view the videos and select the contest winners based on the following criteria:

• Most creative and unusual use of VEXplorer in the video
• Most creative use of all functional parts in the kit
• Most creative engineering design (The unit's "hero" configuration as shown on the box can be transformed into a very different design by disassembling and reconfiguring the basic modules in the package.)
• Creativity of videography in the video, including settings, camera angles, lighting, etc.

Contest rules include:

1. Grant Imahara will be the sole and final judge. Finalists will be judged on a scale from 1-100 in each of the following categories: (1) creativity and unusual use of the VEXplorer in the video (20%); (2) creativity of use of all functional parts in the kit (20%); (3) creativity of engineering design (20%); (4) creativity of cinematography in the video, including settings, camera angles, lighting, and the like (20%); and (5) optional use of the SolidWorks Student Design Kit software to design the robot prior to building it (20%). Click here for two recent Robot magazine articles on Solidworks and click here for a Solidworks animation. In the event of a tie, a Winner will be selected based on the creativity of engineering design criterion.

2. Revell and SolidWorks reserve, in perpetuity, the right to use the videos in any manner related to the marketing and promotion of VEXplorer.

3. Contest winners must agree that their names and photos can be used by Revell and SolidWorks in promotional and marketing material without further compensation. Winners will have the right to review materials for approval.

4. Entrants must be legal residents of the United States and at least 14 years old to enter.

5. (a)Videos cannot be obscene, defamatory, offensive or unnecessarily violent; (b) Videos cannot involve any activity that is dangerous or destructive to any living thing or that appears unsafe or dangerous; (c) Videos cannot contain trademarks, logos or copyrighted materials of third parties; (d) Videos must not violate any law, rules or regulations; (e) Videos must be no more than five minutes in length; and (f) Videos must not have been previously published, entered in any other competition or contest, and must not violate or infringe the rights of other parties in any manner. In the sole discretion of Sponsors, any Video that does not conform to these rules and requirements will be disqualified and ineligible to win the Promotion.

You can find official contest rules and information on VEXplorer at www.revell.com or by clicking here.

Winners will receive:

• 1st Place: $ 5,000 college scholarship *

• 2nd Place: $ 2,000 college scholarship *

• 3rd prize (10): $200 gift certificates to vexlabs.com

*Payable in the form of a 529 Qualified Tuition Plan.

Employees and their families of Revell, Hobbico, Innovation First, SolidWorks, and Robot magazine are not eligible.

Links

Fundamentals of SolidWorks, www.schroff.com (913) 262-2664
Innovation First (IFI), www.innovationfirst.com (903) 453-0880
Revell Monogram, www.revell.com (847) 758-3200
SolidWorks, www.solidworks.com (800) 693-9000

ABBREVIATED RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.   The Grant Imahara VEXplorer Robot Challenge Promotion begins February 28, 2008.  To enter, submit a short description of an idea for how to use the VEXplorer in a unique way in a video to be created and posted on YouTube.  Submit the description, along with your name, street address, telephone number, date of birth, and email address, via email to Robot Magazine with the subject line “Grant Imahara VEXplorer Contest” by March 24, 2008.  From eligible entrants, 25 semi-finalists will be selected to create their video, and winners will be selected from the 25 semi-finalists.  First prize is $5,000 in a 529 Qualified Tuition Plan.  Void where prohibited.  Promotion open to those 14 years of age or older who are legal residents of the 50 United States with a valid email address.  For complete rules and details, visit www.revell.com or click here.  Co-Sponsors:  Revell, Inc., 1850 Howard Street, Unit A, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007; Solid Works Corporation, 300 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA 01742; and Innovation First, Inc., 6611 Interstate 30 West, Greenville, TX 75402.

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