VEX CTE: Design an Educational Industrial Robotic Arm

This paper introduces VEX CTE, an educational industrial-like six-axis robotic arm that can be controlled and programmed through four distinct methods, catering to users of all programming abilities, from novice students who have never experienced an industrial robotic arm to advance programmers. VEX CTE can be programmed by: (1) Direct manipulation with a virtual teach pendant; (2) Direct connection programming using block-based programming, $\mathrm{C}++$, or Python. (3) Programming as a system with the VEX EXP Brain using blockbased programming, $\mathrm{C}++$, or Python. By offering a range of programming approaches, VEX CTE accommodates users at their current skill levels, while providing mechanisms to advance from basic to more sophisticated and powerful programming techniques, as well as from simple to more complex robotic arm setups. Supporting four distinct programming approaches, which span from single arm to multisystem configurations including conveyor belts, VEX CTE is a novel addition to the ecosystem of tools designed to introduce novices to career and technical education practices.