VEX Robotics

Explore & Discover

VEX Robotics competitions happen across Utah every year — middle and high schoolers build robots that compete in arenas, scoring points by completing specific tasks. Start by watching the official VEX Robotics Competition reveal video for the current season on YouTube (search "VEX IQ Challenge" or "VEX V5 game reveal"). Browse vexrobotics.com to see what robots teams actually build. Find a local Utah VEX team by searching "VEX Robotics Utah" — many schools in Salt Lake, Utah Valley, and Davis County have active programs. Check out the Robot Events website (robotevents.com) to see upcoming tournaments near you. You're ready for the next step when you can describe what this year's VEX game challenge is and what a robot needs to do to win.

Learn the Basics

VEX robots are built from metal structural pieces, motors, sensors, and a brain (the V5 Robot Brain or IQ Brain) that you program. Learn the three main subsystems every competitive robot has: the drivetrain (how it moves), an intake or claw (how it grabs game pieces), and a scoring mechanism (how it scores points). Study the VEX curriculum at education.vex.com (free) — specifically the "Foundations" modules. Watch "VEX V5 Build Tips" videos on YouTube from teams like AURA Robotics. Learn to read a VEX parts list and identify C-channels, standoffs, screws, and shaft collars. You're ready for the next step when you can identify the three subsystems on a robot photo and describe what each part does.

Build Your First Project

Build your first functional drivetrain — this is the foundation of every robot you'll ever make in VEX. A drivetrain has two sides of wheels connected to motors that let the robot drive forward, backward, and turn. Follow the official VEX "Clawbot" build instructions at vexrobotics.com/clawbot — it's the classic starter robot that teaches the core concepts. Use VEX V5 or VEX IQ parts if your school has them, or use VEX GO as a lower-cost entry point. Document your build with photos at each stage. Your first robot doesn't need to be fast or beautiful — it needs to drive straight and turn reliably. You're ready for the next step when your drivetrain drives in a straight line for at least 6 feet without drifting.

Experiment & Iterate

Now add a mechanism — a claw, a roller intake, or a lift arm — that lets your robot interact with objects. This is where engineering judgment comes in: every design is a trade-off between speed, strength, and reliability. Test your mechanism by trying to pick up or push a real object (a foam ball, a cube, whatever fits your game). When it fails, ask "why" five times to find the real root cause — this is called the "5 Whys" method used by real engineers. Also start programming in VEXcode (free download at vexcode.vex.com) — write a simple autonomous routine that drives forward, pauses, and turns. You're ready for the next step when your mechanism successfully completes its intended action five times in a row.

Advanced Techniques

Competitive robots need to be consistent, fast, and smart. Focus on three advanced skills: (1) Odometry — using wheel encoder values to track your robot's exact position on the field. (2) PID control — a programming technique that makes motors hit target speeds precisely instead of jerking. (3) Driver practice — the human controlling the robot matters as much as the build. Learn about PID controllers from the free PROS documentation (pros.cs.purdue.edu) or VEX forum tutorials. Watch match footage from the VEX World Championship on YouTube and study how top teams' robots move. Build a simple practice field element from cardboard to drill your autonomous routine. You're ready for the next step when your autonomous routine scores at least one point reliably in five consecutive test runs.

Final Project Showcase

Enter a real VEX competition — or if that's not possible yet, run your own mock tournament with friends. Prepare three things: your robot (reliable and within the legal size and weight limits), your Engineering Notebook (a required document where you log every design decision, test, and improvement — judges score it), and your team interview answers (judges ask why you made specific choices). Your Engineering Notebook entries should cover: the problem you were solving, options you considered, what you built, tests you ran, and what you improved. Search "VEX Engineering Notebook examples" on YouTube for how winning notebooks look. You're ready for the next step when your robot completes a full practice match and your Engineering Notebook has at least ten dated entries documenting your build process.