The scoring objects in VEX IQ Robotics Competition Level Up are 3" x 4" Bean Bags.
The primary objectives of the game is to score Bean Bags into Goals. Higher Goals earn more points. A Robot can only carry one Bean Bag at a time, and most Bean Bags have to travel across the entire Field to reach their Goals.
Teams have to devide whether to drive a long path or design their Robot to fit through the narrow shortcuts on the Field.
Key Match Rules
Possession Limit: Your robot can only hold or "plow" one (1) Bean Bag at a time.
Preloads: You get one (1) yellow Bean Bag to start the match in contact with your robot.
Driver Switch: Your two drivers must swap the controller between the 35-second and 25-second marks on the timer.
From VEX Website
Read through the manual for all the rules and regulations of the competition.
Scroll to Appendix B to see a "Student Friendly" version of the manual. This gives an overview of the competition.
Use this AI Bot to help you understand the competition:
For the latest updated version, visit the RECF website.
It is also available in translated versions through the RECF site.
Team will be made of 4-6 students.
Team roles:
Team Leader (engineering Notebook)
Drivers
Coder(s)
Designer(s)
Builder(s)
Students can have more than one role on their team - but cannot be on more than one team.
Driver 1: This student operates the robot for the first segment of the match, specifically until the mid-match switch.
Driver 2: This student take over the controls to drive the robot for the remainder of the match after the switch occurs.
Loader: This student is responsible for adding Bean Bags into the field through the Load Zone for the entire duration of the match.
Loaders: Any Driver who is not currently operating the robot can also act as a Loader.
Coder/Driver: Since these matches are run by code started on the Brain, only one Driver is required to be present.
Builder
Size Limits
Starting Size: Your robot must fit within a volume of 27.9 cm wide x 50.8 cm long x 38.1 cm high. Horizontal Expansion: Once the match begins, your robot can expand to a maximum length of 60.9 cm, but it must still stay within a width of 27.9 cm.
Vertical Expansion: There is no limit to how tall your robot can grow after the match starts.
Motors and Electronics
Brain: You are limited to exactly one (1) VEX IQ Robot Brain.
Motors: You can use a maximum of six (6) VEX IQ Smart Motors.
Battery: You may use one (1) VEX IQ Robot Battery.
Controller: Only one (1) VEX IQ Controller may be used to control the robot.
Building & Parts
Materials: Robots must be built only from official VEX IQ product line components.
License Plates: You must have exactly two (2) License Plates on opposite sides of the robot that clearly show your team number.
Pneumatics: If you use the VEX IQ Pneumatics Kit, you are limited to two (2) Air Tanks and one (1) Air Pump.
Illegal Items: Do not use 3D printed parts, glue, tape (except for labeling)
For more information and updates, visit the RECF website.
For resources and build instructions, you can visit:
The RECF website
The VEX website
Watch this video to help get your started with your build.
To help teams begin, build a Hero Bot. This bot can be used a starting point to later refine and enhance.
For build instructions, go to the vex website.
Teams will need to create and keep an engineering notebook that demonstrates their use of the Engineering Design Process.
It can be either a digital (i.e. Google docs, Google slides) or a physical notebook.
The judges will be looking at these notebooks and scoring them based on this rubric.
Tips, Tricks and Resources:
You can create your own engineering notebook or you can this template.
How to access the template?
1. Open this link
2. Share it with your group.
Digital Notebook Instructions.
Digital IQ Parts
Driver
Watch these videos for instructions to drive:
1- The basebot
2- The clawbot
To learn more, student can complete a Drive Team Training Course.
This course takes approximately 4 hours to complete and can help you to better understand the competition.
Coder
Reading through this article will help you to get started with your coding.
Vex also offers help to get started and tutorials on the different coding languages you can use with your robot.
To practice coding a virtual bot, you can go to: vr.vex.com
Watch these videos for information about coding Vex.