Highland Prep School in Surprise recently announced the addition of VEX V5 Workcell Factory Automation to its state-qualifying VEX Robotics team.

The VEX V5 Workcell is a 5-axis robotic arm with VEXcode software, conveyors, and sensors. The workcell is helping Highland Prep further its mission of preparing students for careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by introducing students to automation manufacturing processes and topics such as palletizing, coordinate planes and construction.

“Highland Prep students will further develop technical and problem-solving skills by not only building a Workcell, but coding it too,” said Nathan Schulz, Highland Prep’s STEM Coach and VEX Robotics advisor.

The team will progress through VEX’s online STEM Labs for the Workcell, including implementing a conveyor belt that is able to sort disks of various colors into corresponding piles. Highland Prep’s VEX Robotics team qualified for the state competition at their very first outing.

The team, under the leadership of Highland Prep STEM coach Nathan Schulz, participated in its first competition on Oct. 23 at Desert Ridge High School in Mesa.

The school will host its own state-qualifying competition on Dec. 11, and the team plans on competing in VEX’s online Factory Automation Competition in February.