The 123 Art Ring makes it easy for young students to customize the 123 Robot and enhance hands-on learning with VEX 123. Customizing the 123 Robot with the Art Ring encourages students to be creative as they personalize their robot for coding activities.
Customizing your 123 Robot with the Art Ring
The Art Ring is an attachment designed to enable you and your students to add creative elements to the 123 Robot. It has holes and slots where you can add craft items, like pipe cleaners, paper, or feathers, to turn the 123 Robot into various characters for your coding activities. The holes on the Art Ring are sized so that you can also use pieces from other VEX construction kits such as VEX GO and IQ to customize your robot as well.
For more information on using the 123 Robot, see the Using the 123 Robot VEX Library article.
How to attach materials to the Art Ring
Add your elements to the Art Ring, then snap it onto the top of the 123 Robot.
When using the Art Ring with the 123 Robot, ensure that it is snapped onto the 123 Robot with the white arrows aligned with one another.
The following are some helpful hints for using the Art Ring:
- Use lightweight craft supplies such as: feathers, pipe cleaners, pom poms, or paper. Don’t use heavy materials or attach too many objects that may weigh down the 123 Robot and impede its movement.
- Make sure that materials don’t obstruct the movement of the wheels.
- Don’t cover the Eye Sensor on the front of the 123 Robot.
- Attach materials to the Art Ring with tape, pipe cleaners, or VEX GO or IQ pieces. Avoid using glue or other adhesives in order to facilitate a quick and easy cleanup.
Using the Art Ring Canvas
The Art Ring Canvas is a template that is designed to fit into the slots on the Art Ring. When cut out, the Art Ring Canvas can be taped together in the back, and will fit into the slots on the Art Ring, to sit atop your 123 Robot – turning it into any character or object you wish. Art Ring Canvases can be printed and drawn on, or decorated with other craft materials. Cut along the solid lines, and use the dotted lines as indicators of where the drawing space ends.
There are two formats of Art Ring Canvases.
Watch this video to see how to use the Art Ring Canvas with the Art Ring.
One is designed to sit flush against the top of the Art Ring.
Print the template and cut along the solid lines.
Select the links below to print:
When added to the Art Ring, the drawing on the Art Ring Canvas stands up and wraps around the 123 Robot.
The VEX 123 logo overlaps the cross hatching on the back, and can be taped together to give extra support when attached to the Art Ring.
The alternative gives extra space around the holes on the Art Ring, so that attachments can be added in addition to the Art Ring Canvas.
Print the template and cut along the solid lines.
Select the links below to print:
With the holes exposed, this Art Ring Canvas can be used to create three dimensional characters and creatures.
The additional space around the holes can enable attachments and craft materials to be freely added to your 123 Robot.
The VEX 123 logo overlaps the cross hatching on the back, and can be taped together to give extra support to the Art Ring Canvas.
Examples of ways to customize the 123 Robot
Use craft materials, or pieces from VEX GO or IQ Kits to customize the 123 Robot to fit a theme for coding activities, or have students personalize the robot based on their interests. Use tape or pipe cleaners to attach materials. Avoid using stickers or glue on the Art Ring to avoid time-consuming cleanup.
Animals
Made-Up Creatures
Insects
Cars and Trucks
Boats
VEX Plastic Construction parts found in VEX GO and VEX IQ kits fit into the holes on the Art Ring. Use pieces from the VEX Construction System to add extensions and customize the 123 Robot.