The following descriptions, examples, and images may help clarify the intent of the VEX V5 Robotics Competition robot inspection rules. Understanding these details and edge cases is recommended for inspectors at all events, particularly Signature and Championship Events.
Rule R5: Robot Sizing
Robots must fit in a sizing box. Robots moeten <SG1>kunnen halen en elke wedstrijd beginnen in een volume dat kleiner is dan 457,2 mm (18") lang bij 457,2 mm (18") breed bij 457,2 mm (18") hoog.
Rood vakje voor <R5>: De officiële maatvoeringstool [de On-Field Robot Expansion Sizing Tool] is opzettelijk vervaardigd met een iets grotere tolerantie. Therefore, any contact with the sizing tool (i.e., a “paper test”) while being measured should be considered a clear indication that a Robot is outside of the permitted size. This tolerance also provides a slight “leeway” for minor protrusions, such as screw heads or zip ties.
Rule R12: Motor Limits
- Robots may use any combination of VEX V5 Smart Motors (11W) (276-4840) and V5 Smart Motors (5.5W) (276-4842), within the following criteria:
a. The combined power of all motors (11W & 5.5W) must not exceed 88W.
b. V5 Smart Motors, connected to Smart Ports, are the only motors that may be used with a V5
Robot Brain. The 3-wire ports may not be used to control motors of any kind.
Motor comparison images for (left to right) 11w V5 Smart Motor, 5.5w V5 Smart Motor, and legacy (not legal) EXP motor.
Rule R13: Battery Limits
Electrical power comes from VEX batteries only. Robots may use one (1) V5 Robot Battery (276-4811) to power the V5 Robot Brain.
No other sources of electrical power are permitted on the robot, unless used as part of a non-functional decoration per R8e. There are no legal power expanders for the V5 Robot Battery.
Regel R17: Robots worden gebouwd op basis van het VEX V5-systeem
Robots mogen ALLEEN worden gebouwd met officiële VEX V5-componenten, tenzij anders specifiek vermeld in deze regels.
R17c
There is a wide range of discontinued VEX V5 products that are still legal for use in competition. These are listed at https://www.vexrobotics.com/v5-discontinued.html.
Regel R19: Robotveiligheid
Robots must be safe. The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed:
- Those that could potentially damage Field Elements or Discs.
- Those that could potentially damage other competing Robots.
- Those pose an unnecessary risk of Entanglement with other Robots or the Net.
- Those that could pose a potential safety hazard to Drive Team Members, event staff.
Check that robots have no sharp or jagged corners that could cause harm to people, or to the field and its elements (nets, etc.).
Regel R20: Legale niet-VEX-onderdelen
Certain non-Vex components are allowed. Robots are allowed the following additional ”non-VEX” components.
R20a
Any material used as a color filter or a color marker for a legal sensor, such as the VEX light sensor or the VEX vision sensor.
Images of the light sensor and the vision sensor.
R20b & R20c
Any non-aerosol-based grease or lubricating compound, when used in extreme moderation on surfaces and locations that do NOT contact the playing field walls, foam field surface, Discs, or other Robots.
Anti-static compound, when used in extreme moderation (i.e., such that it does not leave residue on Field Elements, Discs, or other Robots).
Check robots for grease and/or excessive anti-static compound on any parts that might touch field tiles, elements, or walls.
R20d
Hot glue when used to secure cable connections.
Check for signs of hot glue used for other purposes. For example, teams may hot glue nuts inside the cavities of flex wheels used for flywheels as a work around to add weight without using the official flywheel weights.
R20e
An unlimited amount of non-elastic rope / string, no thicker than 1/4” (6.35mm).
Measure with calipers as needed. Note that for 2023-24 there is no minimum thickness for string.
R20f
Commercially available items used solely for bundling or wrapping of 2-wire, 3-wire, 4-wire, or V5 Smart Cables, and / or pneumatic tubing are allowed. These items must solely be used for the purposes of cable / tubing protection, organization, or management. This includes but is not limited to electrical tape, cable carrier, cable track, etc. It is up to inspectors to determine whether a component is serving a function beyond protecting and managing cables and tubing.
Some examples are shown below.
R20g
Rubber bands that are identical in length and thickness to those included in the VEX V5 product line (#32, #64 and 117B).
#32 is 3”x1/8” when not stretched under load. #64 is 3-½”x1/4”. 117B is approximately 7”in diameter. Rubber bands may come in different colors, and all colors are legal. Some legal examples are shown below.
R20u
Pneumatic components with identical SMC manufacturer part numbers to those listed on the VEX website.
View this article for an official list of legal pneumatic parts.
R20j
Zip ties that are identical in length and thickness to those included in the VEX V5 product line (4” or 11” long).
Examples of zip ties that don’t match those in the VEX product line:
Examples of Illegal Materials
The first image below is an industrial bearing not sold by VEX (violates rule <R11>).
The 2nd image is non-VEX anti-slip matting (black, but too large). Anti-slip matting must be black in color, and no single piece can exceed a size of 12”x15” per the VEX product listings.
5" Flex Wheels are not legal for use in V5RC.
VEX 2.75in single-roller omni directional wheels (276-2165, shown in the 3rd image below) are considered legacy/discontinued products, and are not legal for use in V5RC.
Regel R23: Legale niet-VEX-bevestigingsmiddelen
Certain non-VEX fasteners are allowed. Robots may use the following commercially available hardware:
R23a
#4, #6, #8, M3, M3,5 of M4 schroeven tot 2,5” (63,5 mm) lang en M2,5 x 8mm schroeven.
Houd er rekening mee dat regel R23a geen legale/illegale materialen voor schroeven specificeert.
R23b
Shoulder screws cannot have a shoulder length over 0.20” and a diameter over 0.176”.
R23c
Any commercially available nut, washer, standoff, and / or non-threaded spacer up to 2.5” (63.5mm) long which fits these screws.
Het rode kader voor regel R23 geeft aan dat niet-VEX-bevestigingsmiddelen geen extra functionaliteit mogen bieden bovenop de standaardonderdelen, en dat het aan de inspecteur (en via hem de hoofdscheidsrechter) is om te beslissen of een specifiek onderdeel functionaliteit toevoegt.
The first image below shows a legal plastic standoff. The second shows a pair of 1" washers legally used as part of a robot's expansion mechanism.
Regel R24: Decoraties
Decorations are allowed. Teams may add non-functional decorations, provided that they do not affect Robot performance in any significant way or affect the outcome of the Match. These decorations must be in the spirit of the competition. Inspectors will have final say in what is considered “non-functional.” Unless otherwise specified below, non-functional decorations are governed by all standard Robot rules.
To be considered “non-functional,” any guards, decals, or other decorations must be backed by legal materials that provide the same functionality. Als een robot bijvoorbeeld een grote sticker heeft die voorkomt dat scorende objecten uit de robot vallen, moet de sticker een achterkant hebben van VEX-materiaal dat ook voorkomt dat de scorende objecten eruit vallen. A simple way to check this is to determine if removing the decoration would impact the performance of the Robot in any way.
Putting laminated or otherwise "hardened" images on pieces of non-skid changes the behavior and functionality of the anti-skid matting that it is attached to and should NOT be allowed.
R24a: Anodiseren en verven
Anodizing and painting of parts is considered a legal nonfunctional decoration in most regions.
R24b: Kleine camera's
Small cameras are permitted as non-functional decorations, provided that any transmitting functions or wireless communications are disabled. Unusually large cameras being used as ballast are not permitted.
R24c: VEX-elektronica is GEEN decoratie
VEX electronics may not be used as non-functional decorations
A team may not mount a 2nd VEX V5 brain, or any other electronic part in the VEX Robotics line of parts, as decoration.
R24d: Decoraties kunnen geen veldelementen nabootsen
Decorations that visually mimic Field Elements, or could otherwise interfere with an opponent’s Vision Sensor, are considered functional and are not permitted. The Inspector and Head Referee will make the final decision on whether a given decoration or mechanism violates this rule.
Any items that appear similar to current VEX field game elements will not be permitted as decorations (e.g., vision sensors for this season’s game may be looking for green/red/blue triballs and red and blue goals/match load zones).
R24e: Interne stroombronnen
Internal power sources (e.g., for a small blinking light) are permitted, provided that no other rules are violated and this source only provides power to the non-functional decoration (i.e. does not directly or indirectly influence any functional portions of the Robot).
Power sources for decorations can’t affect the rest of the robot.
R24f & R24g: Decoraties die feedback geven
Decorations which provide feedback to the Robot (e.g., by influencing legal sensors) would be considered “functional,” and are not permitted.
Decorations which provide visual feedback to Drive Team Members (e.g., decorative lighting) are permitted, provided that they do not violate any other rules and serve no other function (e.g., structural support).
Rule R28: No Modifying Electronics or Pneumatics
No modifications to electronic or pneumatic components are allowed. Motors (including the internal PTC or V5 Smart Motor firmware), microcontrollers (including V5 Robot Brain firmware), cables, sensors, controllers, battery packs, reservoirs, solenoids, pneumatic cylinders, and any other electrical or pneumatics component of the VEX platform may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.
R28a
Teams may make the following modifications to the V5 Smart Motor’s user-serviceable features. This list is all-inclusive; no other modifications are permitted. Where applicable, the components listed below (in the specific applications listed below) are permissible exceptions to R11.
- Vervangen van de tandwielcartridge door andere officiële cartridges.
- Removing or replacing the screws from the V5 Smart Motor Cap (276-6780).
- Removing or replacing the threaded mounting inserts (276-6781).
- Esthetische/niet-functionele etikettering (bijv. stiften, stickers, verf, etc.).
R28b
V5 Smart Motors (11W) must use an official VEX V5 gear cartridge. For the purposes of this rule, the gear cartridges found within the V5 Smart Motor are considered “part of the motor.” Therefore, any physical or functional modifications to official gear cartridges is not permitted. 11w V5 Smart Motors may only use official VEX motor cartridges.
Custom cartridges for 11w Smart Motors (including 1:1 options that were legal for Spin Up) are no longer legal for use in competition.
R28c
For the purposes of this rule, the gear cartridges found within the V5 Smart Motor are considered “part of the motor”. Therefore, any physical or functional modifications to official gear cartridges is not permitted.
Illegal Motor inserts: Inside of a motor cartridge that was altered with zip ties.