VEX IQ Robotics

The VEX IQ Robotics Competition for elementary and middle school students is open to teams of two or more kids who build a robot to compete in local competitions. While it's really exciting and fun, it's easy to feel overwhelmed due to the open-endlessness, and that's what we're going to hep you with.

Every year, a new game is released (you can purchase the current game elements here), played on a 6 foot by 8 foot field. You'll need a VEX IQ Super Kit, which contains all the pieces that you will need to snap together and build a robot for competition!

Step 1: Build the Drive Base

The first step to building a competitive robot from your Super Kit to compete in a competition is to build the drive base. Use the instructions included with your Superkit to build this Drive Base (it's super-easy) and then we'll start adding on parts for the Clawbot!

Great  job! You have now built half of your drive train. The video below will show you how to build the other half.

Now you have to halves of your drive train. Play the video below and learn how to connect them together, add on the brain, and pair your robot with your controller.

Congratulations! You have completed the Drive Base for your robot. Drive it around, learn how to control it, and come back to the next video when you are ready to add an arm and claw.

Step 2: Building the Clawbot

Now we're going to add pieces to your drive base to build the claw bot. The next five videos will walk you through it, step by step!

Your robot now has giant pieces sticking up from the front; the uprights for your arm! To learn how to attach some supporting members and a sensor along with some gears, click the video below.

In this next video you are going to learn how to put a rack on the back of your robot to store game objects when you are carrying them.

Now that you have your rear rack built and installed on your robot, it is time to build the arm and claw. The claw is great for picking up and moving objects around your house, or game elements from some VEX IQ challenges. Check out the video below to get started.

Now you have finished building the arm and claw, and you now have a completely built Clawbot! Now you need to learn how to control it, how to change settings on the brain, and some other quick tips on how to make your robot work even better.

2020-21 Vex IQ Game: Rise Above

VEX IQ Challenge Rise Above is played on a 6’ x 8’ rectangular field configured as seen above. Two robots compete in the Teamwork Challenge as an alliance in 60 second long teamwork matches, working collaboratively to score points.

Teams also compete in the Robot Skills Challenge where one robot takes the field to score as many points as possible. These matches consist of Driving Skills Matches, which will be entirely driver controlled, and Programming Skills Matches, which will be autonomous with limited human interaction.

VEX IQ 2021-22 Game: Pitching In

VEX IQ Challenge Pitching In is played on a 6’ x 8’ rectangular field configured as seen above. Two robots compete in the Teamwork Challenge as an alliance in 60 second long teamwork matches, working collaboratively to score points.

Teams also compete in the Robot Skills Challenge where one robot takes the field to score as many points as possible. These matches consist of Driving Skills Matches, which will be entirely driver controlled, and Programming Skills Matches, which will be autonomous with limited human interaction.