[Yaaarc] Vex is coming back - IFI/Revell partnership

[Keith Mc. (Route-To YAR)]

Vex is coming back!

Robotic Trends' online mag elist today indicated that IFI has recently
cut a distribution deal with Revell/Monogram. (Revell is one of the
LARGEST suppliers of injection molded styrene model kits in the world,
available at toy locations everywhere - hobby stores, Meijer's, etc...)

According to the other links, Revell will handle marketing and
distribution, while IFI still retains creative design control.

Initial shipments of the next (new and improved) revision of the
Vex Kit are planned for the summer of 2007. They are shooting for
much better price point than before. (IMHO, at launch this new
deal ought to GREATLY increase Vex's availability.)

It looks like they're going to make some specialized hardware to
simplify standard assemblies easier. For example, check out my compiled
links below for more info, and some cool pics of the new gripper hardware.

Links:
http://www.botmag.com/articles/revell_vex.shtml
http://www.roboticstrends.com/displayarticle930.html
http://www.revell.com
http://www.revell.com/News_Viewer.news1+M581667a4cb7.0.html
http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2006/11/expanded_vex_ro.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

Chief Delphi threads on the new venture:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49755
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49779

- Keith Mc.