VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay: Game Manual PDF

Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. 2024 - 2025 Game Manual Version 1.1 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Table of Contents Prefix Changelog.................................................................................iv Quick Reference Guide..........................................................v Section 1 Introduction............................................................................... 1 About the Game Manual - A Note from the GDC........ 2 Updates...................................................................................... 3 The Q&A System..................................................................... 4 Section 2 Field Overview.......................................................................... 5 General Definitions................................................................. 6 Game-Specific Definitions................................................ 11 Scoring...................................................................................... 15 Scoring Examples................................................................. 19 Safety Rules............................................................................21 General Game Rules............................................................21 Specific Game Rules............................................................28 Section 3 Inspection Rules....................................................................33 ii Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Section 4 Tournament Definitions...................................................... 41 Tournament Rules.................................................................42 Section 5 - Robot Skills Robot Skills Challenge Definitions.................................48 Robot Skills Challenge Rules............................................49 Appendix A - Field Overview iii Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Prefix Changelog Version 1.1 - August 6, 2024 Added Grey Boxes throughout the manual to highlight significant Q&As pertaining to individual rules Updated to clarify intent for Loading Rapid Load Balls Updated to clarify that Referees can clear Balls from the Goal Wall after they’ve been Scored, but not before Version 1.0 - June 25, 2024 Rewrote the blue box in to clarify intent Added a new bullet to to state that Robots may not begin a Match in the same Starting Zone as an Alliance partner Robot Updated Figure SG-4 to clarify intent Updated to clarify that Rapid Load Balls may not contact the Goal Wall or the Floor outside of the Starting Zone before being retrieved by a Robot (i.e., bounced into Targets) Updated to exclude non-functional decorations Minor typo / formatting fixes Version 0.2 - June 4, 2024 Added Loader as a new definition Updated to correct Robot size Updated to clarify Robot expansion Updated the caption of Figure SG-4 to clarify intent Added two bullets to to clarify that using grease, oil, graphite, lubricants and tape is not legal Minor typo / formatting fixes Version 0.1 - May 3, 2024 Initial Release iv Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Quick Reference Guide Scoring Rules All Scoring statuses are evaluated after the Match ends All Scoring statuses are evaluated visually by a Head Referee Scored Goal criteria Cleared Switch criteria Pass criteria At the end of a Match, an Alliance cannot receive points for more Passes than Goals Rapid Relay is designed to be scored in “real-time” Safety Rules Stay safe, don’t damage the Field Students must be accompanied by an Adult General Game Rules Treat everyone with respect VIQRC is a Student-centered program Use common sense The Robot must represent the skill level of the Team Robots begin the Match in the starting size Keep your Robot together Don’t damage the Field Drivers drive your Robot, and stay in the Driver Station Hands out of the Field Handling the Robot mid-Match is allowed under certain circumstances A Team’s two Drivers switch controllers midway through the Match Specific Game Rules Pre-Match setup Robot expansion is limited Keep Balls in the Field Using the Loading Station Loading during the Rapid Load Period Retrieving Balls from the Pickup Zone v Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Robot Rules One Robot per Team Robots must represent the Team’s skill level Robots must pass inspection Starting configuration Prohibited items VEX IQ product line Non-VEX IQ components Decorations are allowed Officially registered Team numbers must be displayed on Robot License Plates Let it go after the Match is over Robot Brain Motors Batteries Firmware Modification of Parts Pneumatics There is a difference between accidentally and willfully violating a Robot rule. Tournament Rules The Head Referee has final authority on all gameplay ruling decisions Head Referees must be qualified The Drive Team Members are permitted to immediately appeal the Head Referee’s ruling The Event Partner has final authority regarding all non-gameplay decisions Be at your Match on time Robots at the field must be ready to play Match replays are allowed, but rare Disqualifications Timeouts Be prepared for minor field variance Fields and Field Elements may be repaired at the Event Partner’s discretion Teamwork Matches Ending a Match early Practice Matches may be played at some events, but are not required Qualification Matches will occur according to the official Match Schedule Each Team will be scheduled Qualification Matches as follows Teams are ranked by their average Qualification Match scores Teams playing in Finals Matches Finals Match Schedule vi Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Robot Skills Challenge Rules Standard rules apply in most cases Scoring Robot Skills Matches Robot Skills Field setup Loading differences Skills ranking at events Skills rankings globally Skills Match Schedule Handling Robots during an Autonomous Coding Skills Match Starting an Autonomous Coding Skills Match Skills Stop Time Robot Skills at League Events vii Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Section 1 Introduction Overview This section provides an introduction to the VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) and VIQRC Rapid Relay. VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay: A Primer VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay is played on a 6’x8’ rectangular Field, set up as illustrated in the figures throughout this game manual. The primary objectives of the game are to Pass the Balls between Robots, score Balls through Targets, and Clear Switches. Balls are introduced to the field through the Loading Station or, during the last 15 seconds of a Match, a Rapid Load Zone. Points are awarded based on how many Goals are Scored, how many Switches have been Cleared, and how many times the Alliance successfully Passed the Ball before scoring it. In the Teamwork Challenge, an Alliance composed of two (2) Robots works together to score as many points as possible in a sixty (60) second Match. Teams may also compete in Robot Skills Matches, where one (1) Robot tries to score as many points as possible with a slightly different set of rules. See Appendix B for more information. Note: The illustrations in this section of the Game Manual are intended to provide a general visual understanding of the game. Teams should refer to official field specifications, found in Appendix A, for exact field dimensions, a full field bill of materials, and exact details of field construction. Figure O-1: Starting configuration of the Field for a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay Match. 1 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual About the Game Manual - A Note from the GDC This Game Manual and its appendices contain everything there is to know about this season’s game, VIQRC Rapid Relay. It is intended to be a resource for all Teams, Head Referees, Event Partners, and other members of the VIQRC community. The rules contained in the following pages can be thought of as “constraints” that define this game, just as engineers begin any design project by defining their constraints. At the beginning of a season, “constraints” are all we have. We don’t know what the winning Robot, best strategy, or most-frequently- violated rule will be any more than you do. Isn’t that exciting? When exploring a new game, please approach this Game Manual with that mentality of looking at rules as “constraints.” The Game Manual and its appendices contain the full and complete list of constraints that are available for a competitor to strategize, design, and build their Robots. Obviously, all Teams must adhere to these rules, and any stated intents of these rules. However, beyond that, there is no “right” way to play. There are no hidden restrictions, assumptions, or intended interpretations beyond what is written here. So, it is up to you, the competitor, to find the path through these constraints that best suits your Team’s goals and ambitions. Figure O-2: Starting configuration of the Field for a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay Match. 2 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Updates This manual will have a series of “major” and “minor” updates over the course of the season. Each version is official and must be used in official VIQRC events until the release of the next version, upon which the previous version becomes void. The latest version of the Game Manual can always be found at: https://link.vex.com/docs/24-25/viqrc-rapid-relay/GameManual. Known major release dates are as follows: May 3, 2024 Version 0.1 Initial game release May 14, 2024 N/A Official Q&A system opens Minor typographical errors or formatting issues found in June 4, 2024 Version 0.2 the initial release; very few rule changes are expected May include gameplay or rule changes inspired by input June 25, 2024 Version 1.0 from the official Q&A system and the VEX community August 6, 2024 Version 1.1 Clarification / minor update May include gameplay or rule changes Sept 3, 2024 Version 2.0 inspired by early-season events Oct 8, 2024 Version 2.1 Clarification / minor update Dec 3, 2024 Version 2.2 Clarification / minor update May include gameplay or rule changes January 28, 2025 Version 3.0 inspired by mid-season events May include gameplay or rule changes pertaining April 2, 2025 Version 4.0 specifically to the VEX Robotics World Championship In addition to these known major updates, there may also be unscheduled updates released throughout the season if deemed critical by the GDC. Any unscheduled updates will always be released on a Tuesday, no later than 5:00 PM CST (11:00 PM GMT). These updates will be announced via the VEX Forum, automatically pushed to the VIQRC Hub app, and shared via VEX Robotics / REC Foundation social media & email marketing channels. Game Manual updates are effective immediately upon release; it is every Team’s responsibility to be familiar with all rules and updates. There are no “grace periods” if an update prohibits a previously legal part, mechanism, or strategy. Note: REC Foundation Regional Support Managers will contact Event Partners involved with multi-week league events that “cross over” an unscheduled update. If a rule change impacts their event (such as a Robot which previously passed inspection no longer being legal), these cases will be reviewed individually depending on the context of the event and the rule that has changed. Exceptions may also be available for non-US championship events that occur within one (1) week of an update. These are the only possible “grace period” exceptions. 3 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual The Q&A System When first reviewing a new robotics game, it is natural to have questions about situations which may not be immediately clear. Navigating the Game Manual and seeking out answers to these questions is an important part of learning a new game. In many cases, the answer may just be in a different place than you first thought—or, if there is no rule explicitly prohibiting a gameplay strategy, then that usually means it is legal! However, if a Team is still unable to find an answer to their question after closely reviewing the relevant rules, then every Team has the opportunity to ask for official rules interpretations in the VEX Robotics Question & Answer System. These questions may be posted by an Adult via the RobotEvents account that is associated with that Team. All responses in this Q&A system should be treated as official rulings from the VEX Robotics Game Design Committee, and they represent the correct and official interpretation of the VEX Robotics Competition Rules. The Q&A system is the only source besides the Game Manual for official rulings and clarifications, and is functionally an extension of the Game Manual. Like Game Manual updates, Q&A rulings are effective immediately upon release. The VEX IQ Robotics Competition Question & Answer System can be found here. Before posting on the Q&A system, be sure to review the Q&A Usage Guidelines 1. Read and search the manual before posting. 2. Read and search existing Q&As before posting. 3. Quote the applicable rule from the latest version of the manual in your question. 4. Make a separate post for each question. 5. Use specific and appropriate question titles. 6. Questions will (mostly) be answered in the order they were received. 7. This system is the only source for official rules clarifications. If there are any conflicts between this Game Manual and other supplemental materials (e.g., Referee Certification courses, the VIQRC Hub app, the HTML version of the Game Manual, etc.), the most current version of the Game Manual takes precedence. Similarly, it can never be assumed that definitions, rules, or other materials from previous seasons apply to the current game. Q&A responses from previous seasons are not considered official rulings for the current game. Any relevant clarifications that are needed should always be re-asked in the current season’s Q&A. 4 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Section 2 The Game Field Overview The VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay field consists of the following: Three (3) Balls ‫ە‬ Two (2), one per Robot, that can be used as Preloads ‫ە‬ One that begins outside the Field, to be used by a Loader One (1) Goal Wall ‫ە‬ Four (4) Targets ‫ە‬ Four (4) Switches that begin the Match “un-Cleared” (i.e., parallel with the Goal Wall) One (1) Pickup Zone One (1) Loading Station One (1) Load Zone Two (2) Starting Zones Figure FO-1: Starting configuration of the Field for a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay Match. 5 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual General Definitions Adult – Anyone who is not a Student or another defined term (e.g., Head Referee). Alliance – A pre-assigned grouping of two (2) Teams that are paired together during a given Teamwork Challenge. Alliance Score – Points scored in a Teamwork Challenge Match that are awarded to both Teams. Disablement – A penalty applied to a Team for a safety Violation. During Disablement, a Team is no longer allowed to operate their Robot, and the Drivers will be asked to place their Controller on the ground. A Disablement is not the same as a Disqualification. Disqualification – A penalty applied to a Team for a rule violation (see for more details). If a Team receives a Disqualification in a Match, the Head Referee will notify the Team of their Violation at the end of the Match. At the Head Referee’s discretion, repeated Violations and/or Disqualifications for a single Team may lead to its Disqualification for the entire event. Driver – A Student Team member who stands in the Driver Station and is responsible for operating and controlling that Team’s Robot. Up to two Team members may fulfill this role in a given Match (see ). Driver Station – The region behind the Field where the Drivers must remain during their Match unless legally interacting with their Robot. The Driver Station is represented by the orange line in Figures O-1 and O-2. Drive Team Members - The two Drivers and one Loader who participate in a given Match as represen- tatives of their Team. Field – The entire playing Field, being six (6) field tiles wide by eight (8) field tiles long (totaling forty-eight (48) field tiles), including the Field Perimeter. Field Element – The Field Perimeter, Floor, PVC pipes, and VEX IQ elements which comprise and/or are attached to the Field. Field Perimeter – The outer part of the Field, made up of four (4) outside corners and twenty-four (24) straight sections. 6 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Floor – The interior flat part of the playing Field, made up of the forty-eight (48) field tiles that are within the Field Perimeter. Game Design Committee (GDC) - The creators of VIQRC Rapid Relay, and authors of this Game Manual. The GDC is the only official source for rules clarifications and Q&A responses; see Section 1. License Plate – A physical component on the Robot that displays the Team’s VEX IQ Robotics Competi- tion number. The License Plate must have a length and height of 3.5” x 1.5” (88.9mm x 38.1mm) and must not exceed a width of 0.25” (6.35mm) per. Loader - The Student(s) on the Team who Load Balls into the Field during a Match. An Adult cannot be a Loader on a Team. Loaders cannot also be a Driver in the same Teamwork Challenge Match. (See and ). Match – A set time period, consisting of Autonomous Periods and/or Driver Controlled Periods, during which Teams play a defined version of Rapid Relay to earn points. See Section 3. Autonomous Period – A time period during which Robots operate and react only to sensor inputs and/or commands pre-programmed by the Students into the Robot control system. Driver Controlled Period – A time period during which Drivers operate their Robot. Autonomous Driver Controlled Match Type Participants Period(m:ss) Period (m:ss) One Alliance, on one Field, made up of two Teamwork Challenge None 1:00 Teams, each with one Robot One Team, with one Driving Skills Match None 1:00 Robot Autonomous Coding One Team, with one 1:00 None Skills Match Robot Robot – A machine that has passed inspection, designed to execute one or more tasks autonomously and/or by remote control from a human operator. Student – Anyone born after May 1, 2009 (i.e., who will be 15 or younger at VEX Worlds 2025). Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year. Students are the individuals who design, build, repair, and program the Robot with minimal Adult assistance. 7 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Elementary School Student – Any Student born after May 1, 2012 (i.e., who will be 12 or younger at VEX Worlds 2025). Elementary School Students may “play up” and compete as Middle School Students. Middle School Student – Any eligible Student that is not an Elementary School Student. Team – Two or more Students make up a Team. A Team is classified as an Elementary School Team if all members are Elementary School Students. A Team is classified as a Middle School Team if any member is a Middle School Student, or if the Team is made up of Elementary School Students who declare themselves as “Playing Up” as Middle School Students by registering their Team as a Middle School Team. Once a Team has competed in an event as a Middle School Team, that Team may not change back to a Elementary School Team for the remainder of the season. Teams may be associated with schools, community/youth organizations, or a group of neighbor- hood Students. In the context of this Game Manual, Teams contain three types of Student roles related to Robot build, design, and coding. See and for more information. Adults may not fulfill any of these roles. Builder – The Student(s) on the Team who assemble(s) the Robot. An Adult cannot be a Builder on a Team. Adults are permitted to teach the Builder(s) associated concepts, but may never work on the Robot without the Builder(s) present and actively participating. Coder – The Student(s) on the Team who write(s) the computer code that is downloaded onto the Robot. An Adult cannot be a Coder on a Team. Adults are permitted to teach the Coder(s) asso- ciated concepts, but may never work on the code that goes on the Robot without the Coder(s) present and actively participating. Designer – The Student(s) on the Team who design(s) the Robot to be built for competition. An Adult cannot be a Designer on a Team. Adults are permitted to teach the Designer(s) associated concepts, but may never work on the design of the Robot without the Designer(s) present and actively participating. Violation – The act of breaking a rule in the Game Manual. Minor Violation – A Violation which does not result in a Disqualification. ‫ە‬ Accidental, momentary, or otherwise non-Score Affecting Violations are usually Minor Violations. ‫ە‬ Minor Violations usually result in a verbal warning from the Head Referee during the Match, which should serve to inform the Team that a rule is being Violated before it escalates to a Major Violation. 8 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Major Violation – A Violation which results in a Disqualification. ‫ە‬ Unless otherwise noted in a rule, all Score Affecting Violations are Major Violations. ‫ە‬ If noted in the rule, egregious or intentional Violations may also be Major Violations. ‫ە‬ Multiple Minor Violations within a Match or tournament may escalate to a Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. Score Affecting – A Violation which improves an Alliance’s score at the end of a Match. ‫ە‬ Multiple Violations within a Match can cumulatively become Score Affecting. ‫ە‬ When evaluating whether a Violation was Score Affecting, Head Referees will focus primarily on any Robot actions that were directly related to the Violation. ‫ە‬ Determining whether a Violation was Score Affecting can only be done once the Match is complete and the scores have been calculated. Some rules include Violation Notes in red italicized text to denote special circumstances or provide additional clarifications. If no Violation Notes are found in a given rule, then it should be assumed that the above “default” definitions apply. To determine whether a Violation may have been Score Affecting, check whether the Violation directly contributed to increasing the score of the Match. If it did not increase the Alliance’s score, then the Violation was not Score Affecting, and it was very likely a Minor Violation. See the following flowchart for more information. 9 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Figure V-1: The process for determining Violations. 10 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Game-Specific Definitions Ball – A yellow padded, roughly spherical object, with a diameter of approximately 5.9” (150mm) and a weight of approximately 4.2 ounces (120g). Figure B-1: A Ball. Cleared – A Switch status. See. Figure C-1: A Cleared Switch. Goal – The act of having Scored a Ball through a Target. See. Goal Wall – A gray and yellow structure, built out of VEX IQ parts, that is attached to the Field Perimeter and the Pickup Zone pipe. The Goal Wall contains four Targets and four Switches. Figure GW-1: The Goal Wall. 11 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Load – The act of legally introducing a Ball into the Field. See. Loading Station – The gray structure, built out of VEX IQ parts, that is attached to the Field Perimeter opposite the Goal Wall. The Loading Station is intended to receive Balls from a human Loader and randomly send them left or right into the Load Zone. Figure LS-1: The Loading Station. Load Zone – An area of the Field containing the Loading Station, bound by the Field Perimeter and the inside of the second solid black line from the edge of the Field (marked by two yellow VEX IQ beams).The Load Zone is an infinitely tall 3-dimensional volume; “reaching over” the black line without contacting the Floor would still constitute being partially in the Load Zone. Figure LZ-1: The Load Zone. Pass – A Ball/Robot status used for scoring. See. 12 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Pickup Zone – An area of the Floor underneath the Goal Wall, bound by the Field Perimeter and the yellow PVC pipe that runs the length of the Field. The Pickup Zone refers to the Floor itself; it is not a 3-dimensional volume. See. Figure PZ-1: The Pickup Zone. Preload – A Ball that is loaded into a Robot prior to a Match. See. Rapid Load - A form of Loading which takes place during the Rapid Load Period. Rapid Load Period - A period of the Match in which Balls may Loaded directly into Starting Zones, instead of the Loading Station. See rules and. Scored - A Ball/Goal status. See. Starting Zone – One of two areas of the Field where Robots may begin the Match. Starting Zones are infinitely tall 3-dimensional volumes, bound by the inside of the Field Perimeter walls and the inside edges of the black lines marked by yellow VEX IQ beams. See Figure SZ-1. Figure SZ-1: A depiction of the Starting Zones. 13 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Switch – One of four blue VEX IQ disks, and their supporting structures, found inside of Targets. Switches can be Cleared by Balls. See. Target – One of four square holes in the angled face of the Goal Wall through which Balls can be scored. Targets are approximately 6” square and bordered by yellow VEX IQ beams. Figure S-1: A depiction of the Goal Wall. Switches are highlighted in Purple, while Targets are highlighted in Red. 14 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Scoring Each Goal Scored 1 Point Each Cleared Switch 1 Point Each Pass - 0 Cleared Switches 1 Point* Each Pass - 1 Cleared Switch 4 Points Each Pass - 2 Cleared Switches 8 Points Each Pass - 3 Cleared Switches 10 Points Each Pass - 4 Cleared Switches 12 Points * Maximum of four per Match. See clause C of. All Scoring statuses are evaluated after the Match ends, once all Balls, Field Elements, and Robots on the Field come to rest. This rule’s intent is for Driver inputs and Robot motion to cease at the end of the Match, when the Match timer reaches 0:00. A pre-programmed routine which causes Robot motion to continue after the end of the Match would violate the spirit of this rule. Any Scoring which takes place after the Match due to Robots continuing to move will not count toward the score and is a Violation of this rule. It is expected that many Rapid Relay Matches will have last-second “buzzer-beater” moments. The key moment occurs when the timer display shows 0:00. At many events, a buzzer sound will also play at T=0:00; however, the field timer display takes prece- dence in the event of any audio discrepancies. If a Ball is released from a Robot before this moment, it will be allowed to finish its path and the score will be calculated once it comes to rest. However, if it is released after this moment (i.e., the Robot was still moving past T=0:00) it will not count and the Team will receive a Violation as described below. In cases where a last-second scoring attempt is “too close to call,” Teams will generally be given the “benefit of the doubt” and the score will be counted. Violation Notes Because scoring that happens after the Match is not counted, all Violations of should be recorded as Minor Violations. If a Team receives three Minor Violations within the same event, all future Violations at that event will be considered Major Violations and Disqualifications. This count does not reset for any reason within an event (e.g., Qualification vs Finals Matches, one of the Team’s “dropped score” Matches, etc.). All Scoring statuses are evaluated visually by a Head Referee, to the best of their ability within the context of a given Match/event. 15 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual a. Referees and other event staff are not allowed to review any videos or pictures from the Match. See. b. If there is a concern regarding the score of a Match, only the Drive Team Members from that Match, not an Adult, may share their questions with the Head Referee. See. An Alliance Scores a Goal once a Ball is no longer in contact with a Robot and has fully passed through a Target (i.e., from the “outside” of the Goal Wall structure into the “inside” of the Goal Wall). Effectively, this should correspond with the Ball falling through the Goal Wall and landing in the Pickup Zone, and that “land in the Pickup Zone moment” can be used for most scoring needs. However, in the event of any jams or other malfunctions, the Ball is still considered Scored even if it does not touch down to the Pickup Zone. See. A Switch is Cleared once it has been struck by a Ball and is no longer parallel with the front face of the Goal Wall. Robots may not Clear Switches by contacting them directly (i.e., without it being part of the process of scoring a Ball through that Target). Please don’t over-think this rule. While there are known edge cases in which a Switch has been Cleared without scoring a Ball through the Target (or a Ball has been Scored through a Target but the Switch is not Cleared), they are rare. Switches must be Cleared as part of normal gameplay, and by Balls, not Robots or humans. Beyond that, there are no restrictions on what type of Robot action, mechanism, strategy, or technique is used to Score Balls and Clear Switches. If there are ever more Cleared Switches than Goals scored, it may be an indication that there has been a Violation of this rule, or that a scoring or field assembly/reset error has occurred. It may also just mean that a Ball bounced back out of a Target after a Switch was Cleared. Violation Notes: All Violations of this rule are inherently Score Affecting, and therefore Major Violations. Violations of this rule should be rare, as Robots should never be designed to contact Switches directly. Significant Q&As 2023 - Referees should not “fix” the state of switches during a match 2033 - If a Ball becomes stuck in a Target or Switch, it should be cleared by a Robot An Alliance receives credit for a Pass once both Robots independently contact a Ball before it leaves the Field. 16 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual a. For the purposes of this rule, “independent contact” refers to a moment where only one Robot is contacting the Ball. If both Robots are contacting the Ball, this is not considered a Pass. b. Each time a Ball is Loaded, it is treated like a new Ball. Any previous Robot contact and/or Pass tracking is “reset.” c. A Ball can count for a maximum of one Pass each time it is Loaded through the Loading Station. d. Balls that are Rapid Loaded directly into a Starting Zone are not eligible for Passes. Note: If a referee sees a Pass occur and they are uncertain if it should be counted, Teams should receive the “benefit of the doubt” and the Pass should be recorded. This Note is primarily intended to apply to clauses “C” and “D” of this rule, e.g., if a referee is uncertain whether or not the Ball had been Rapid Loaded. Significant Q&As 2046 - A Ball can contact the Floor during a Pass 2050 - A Ball Loaded through the Loading Station during the Rapid Load Period is eligible for a Pass 2053 - Preloads are eligible for Passes At the end of a Match, an Alliance cannot receive points for more Passes than Goals*. a. The point value per Pass is determined at the end of the Match, based on how many Switches have been Cleared. See the table at the beginning of this section for details. b. All Passes should be recorded during the Match, regardless of how many Goals have been scored at the time the Pass occurs. See. c. *If no Switches have been Cleared at the end of the Match, the maximum number of points that can be received for Passes is four (4). The only way this can occur is if Balls are repeatedly Passed and then sent out of the Field without being Scored. Rapid Relay is designed to be scored in “real-time” as the Match is being played. Passes and Goals should be recorded at the time they occur. The preferred method to track real-time scoring is to use tablets or mobile devices running the TM Mobile app. If TM Mobile is unavailable, a portable scoreboard may be used by counting Passes on one side and Goals on the other. Other scoring methods, such as the VIQRC Hub app or handheld “clicker counters,” are permitted but heavily discouraged. When possible, a method that displays the counts to competitors and spectators during the Match should always be used. Each Match is required to have a Head Referee and at least one Scorekeeper Referee. Exact scoring processes may vary depending on a given event’s resources, and should be communicated to all Teams before Matches begin (e.g., during the Event Meeting). One recommended starting point is as follows: 17 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual a. The Scorekeeper Referee stands near the Goal Wall, and tracks Scored Balls. b. The Head Referee stands mid-field, and tracks Passes. c. Referees and Drivers verbally confirm actions to each other as they occur. For example, Drivers call out “Pass!” and the Head Referee responds with “Pass - Check!” to confirm that it has been recorded. When possible, two Scorekeeper Referees are preferred, so that the Head Referee can focus on the Match as a whole. This is a new way to play VIQRC! This rule may be updated to share any “best practices” that are found by early-season events. 18 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Scoring Examples 1. Robot A retrieves a Ball from the Loading Station and launches it down the Field. 2. Robot B retrieves the Ball. a. Scorekeeper records a Pass. 3. Robot B scores a Goal. a. Scorekeeper records a Goal. Result: One Pass, one Goal. Explanation: This is a “normal” Rapid Relay cycle. 1. Robot A retrieves a Ball from the Loading Station and launches it down the Field. 2. Robot B retrieves the Ball. a. Scorekeeper records a Pass. 3. Robot B attempts to score a Goal, but misses. 4. The Ball bounces off of the Goal Wall and back into the Field. 5. Robot A retrieves the Ball and scores a Goal. a. Scorekeeper records a Goal. Result: One Pass, one Goal. Explanation: The Ball never left the Field, so it was not yet eligible for additional Passes. 1. Robot A retrieves a Ball from the Loading Station. 2. Robot A attempts to score a Goal, but misses the Goal Wall entirely. 3. The Ball leaves the Field; a human Loader retrieves the Ball and re-introduces it through the Loading Station. 4. Robot B retrieves the Ball and scores a Goal. a. Scorekeeper records a Goal. Result: Zero Passes, one Goal. Explanation: As soon as the Ball left the Field, its previous contact was forgotten. Robot B’s contact was not a Pass; rather, it became the “first Robot” for the new cycle. 19 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual 1. Robot A retrieves a Ball from the Loading Station and launches it down the Field. 2. Robot B retrieves the Ball. a. Scorekeeper records a Pass. 3. Robot B attempts to score a Goal, but misses. 4. A human Loader retrieves the Ball and Loads it through the Loading Station. 5. Robot A retrieves the Ball and launches it down the Field. 6. Robot B retrieves the Ball. a. Scorekeeper records a Pass. 7. Robot B scores a Goal. a. Scorekeeper records a Goal. Result: Two Passes, one Goal. Explanation: It is possible to have a cycle with a Pass but no Goal. However, if the Match were to end at this moment, the Alliance would only receive points for one Pass. See. Same steps as Example above. In step 4, the Ball is Rapid Loaded into a Starting Zone instead. Steps 5-7 continue as written. Result: One Pass, one Goal. Explanation: In this scenario, the second contact in step 6 does not count as a second Pass. Same steps as Example above. After the Goal is scored in step 7, a human Loader retrieves the Ball, Rapid Loads it into a Starting Zone, where Robot B retrieves and scores it again. Result: Two Passes, two Goals. Explanation: Rule only takes effect at the end of the Match. This is why all Passes are recorded during the Match, even if they temporarily exceed the number of Goals. 20 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Safety Rules Stay safe, don’t damage the Field. If, at any time, the Robot operation or Team actions are deemed unsafe or have damaged any Field Elements or Balls, the offending Team may be Disabled and/ or Disqualified at the Head Referee’s discretion. The Robot will require re-inspection before it may again take the Field. Note: Teams may not step onto the Field at any time. If a Team’s Robot requires stepping onto the Field during pre-Match setup, this will be considered a Violation of , , and/or. The Team’s Robot may be removed from the current Match at the Head Referee’s discretion. Students must be accompanied by an Adult. No Student may attend a VEX IQ Robotics Compe- tition event without a responsible Adult supervising them. The Adult must obey all rules and be careful to not violate student-centered policies, but must be present for the full duration of the event in the case of an emergency. Violations of this rule may result in removal from the event. General Game Rules Treat everyone with respect. All Teams are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner while competing in VEX IQ Robotics Competition events. If a Team or any of its members (Students or any Adults associated with the Team) are disrespectful or uncivil to event staff, volunteers, or fellow competitors, they may be Disqualified from a current or upcoming Match. Team conduct pertaining to may also impact a Team’s eligibility for judged awards. Repeated or extreme violations of could result in a Team being Disqualified from an entire event, depending on the severity of the situation. This rule exists alongside the REC Foundation Code of Conduct. Violation of the Code of Conduct can be considered a Major Violation of and can result in Disqualification from a current Match, an upcoming Match, an entire event, or (in extreme cases) an entire competition season. The Code of Conduct can be found here. More information regarding the event Code of Conduct process can be found at the RECF Library. We all can contribute to creating a fun and inclusive event experience for all event attendees. Some examples include: When dealing with difficult and stressful situations, it is… Okay for Teams to be gracious and supportive when your Alliance partner makes a mistake. Not okay for Teams to harass, tease, or be disrespectful to your Alliance partner when a Match does not go your way. When a Team does not understand a Match ruling or score, it is… 21 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Okay for Drive Team Members to consult with a Head Referee to discuss a ruling per the process outlined in in a calm and respectful manner. Not okay for Drive Team Members to continue arguing with the Head Referee after a decision has been finalized, or for Adults to approach a Head Referee with ruling/ scoring concerns. When Teams are getting ready for an upcoming Match, it is… Okay for Teams in an Alliance to develop a game strategy that utilizes the strengths of both Robots to cooperatively solve the game. Not okay for one Team in an Alliance to ask another Team to sit in a corner during the Match or to intentionally play beneath their abilities. Violation Notes: Any Violation of may be considered a Major Violation and should be ad- dressed on a case-by-case basis. Teams at risk of a Major Violation due to multiple disre- spectful or uncivil behaviors will usually receive a “final warning”, although the Head Referee is not required to provide one. VIQRC is a student-centered program. Adults may assist Students in urgent situations, but Adults may never work on or program a Robot without Students on that Team being present and actively participating. Students must be prepared to demonstrate an active understanding of their Robot’s construction and programming to judges or event staff. Some amount of Adult mentorship, teaching, and/or guidance is an expected and encouraged facet of VEX competitions. No one is born an expert in robotics! However, obstacles should always be viewed as teaching opportunities, not tasks for an Adult to solve without Students present and actively participating. When a mechanism falls off, it is… Okay for an Adult to help a Student investigate why it failed, so it can be improved. Not okay for an Adult to put the Robot back together. When a Team encounters a complex programming concept, it is… Okay for an Adult to guide a Student through a flowchart to understand its logic. Not okay for an Adult to write a premade command for that Student to copy / paste. During Match play, it is… Okay for an Adult to provide cheerful, positive encouragement as a spectator. Not okay for an Adult to explicitly shout step-by-step commands from the audience. This rule operates in tandem with the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy, which is available on the REC Foundation website for Teams to reference throughout the season: 22 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Violation Notes: Potential Violations of this rule will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. By definition, all Violations of this rule become Score Affecting as soon as a Robot which was built or programmed by an Adult scores points in a Match. Use common sense. When reading and applying the various rules in this document, please remember that common sense always applies in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition. Some examples may include: If there is an obvious typographical error (such as “per ” instead of “per ”), this does not mean that the error should be taken literally until corrected in a future update. Understand the realities of the VEX IQ Robot construction system. For example, if a Robot could hover above the Field for a whole Match, that would create loopholes in many of the rules. But… they can’t. So… don’t worry about it. When in doubt, if there is no rule prohibiting an action, it is generally legal. However, if you have to ask whether a given action would violate , , or then that’s probably a good indication that it is outside the spirit of the competition. On the other hand, if there’s not a rule that makes a Robot part legal, it’s not allowed. In general, Teams will be given the “benefit of the doubt” in the case of accidental or edge-case rules infractions. However, there is a limit to this allowance, and repeated or strategic infractions will still be penalized. The Robot must represent the skill level of the Team. Each Team must include Drivers, Coder(s), Designer(s), and Builder(s); many also include notebooker(s). No Student may fulfill any of these roles for more than one VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team in a given competition season. Students may have more than one role on the Team (e.g., the Designer may also be the Builder, the Coder, and a Driver). a. Team members may move from one Team to another for non-strategic reasons outside of the Team’s control. i. Examples of permissible moves may include, but are not limited to, illness, changing schools, conflicts within a Team, or combining/splitting Teams. ii. Examples of strategic moves in Violation of this rule may include, but are not limited to, one Coder “switching” Teams in order to write the same program for multiple Robots, or one Student writing the Engineering Notebook for multiple Teams. iii. If a Student leaves a Team to join another Team, still applies to the Students remaining on the previous Team. For example, if a Coder leaves a Team, then that Team’s Robot must still represent the skill level of the Team without that Coder. One way to accomplish this would be to ensure that the Coder teaches or trains a “replacement” Coder in their absence. Points i and ii are intended to represent real-world situations that are found in industry engineering. If a vital member of a professional engineering team were to suddenly leave, the remaining members of the team should still be capable of working on / main- taining their project. 23 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual b. When a Team qualifies for a Championship event (e.g., States, Nationals, Worlds, etc.) the Students on the Team attending the Championship event are expected to be the same Students on the Team that was awarded the spot. Students can be added as support to the Team, but may not be added as Drivers or Coders for the Team. i. An exception is allowed if only one (1) member of the Team is able to attend the event. The Team can make a single substitution of a Driver or Coder for the Championship event with another Student, even if that Student has competed on a different Team. This Student will now be on this new Team and may not substitute back to the original Team during the season. c. Loaders are an exception to this rule. If a Team only has two Students and is unable to field a three-Student Drive Team, they may choose from one of the following options: i. For a given Match, they may substitute in a Student from their Alliance Partner’s Team as a temporary Loader. They may do this in as many Matches as needed. ii. For a given event, they may substitute in a Student from another Team to be their Loader for the duration of the event. This Student may only serve as a Loader for one Team at a given event, and will effectively become a member of the new Team for that event. iii. There is no requirement for a Drive Team to have a Loader; if desired, they can play the Match with only two Drivers, and rely on their Alliance Partner’s Loader. Violation Notes: Violations of this rule will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, in tandem with the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy as noted in , and the REC Foundation Code of Conduct as noted in. Regarding point C and substitute Loaders: It would be severely outside the intent of this rule, and a potential Code of Conduct / Violation, for a Team to forcefully “offer” a substitute onto their Alliance Partner, and/or ask their Alliance Partner’s Loader to sit out for a Match. Event Partners should bear in mind , and use common sense when enforcing this rule. It is not the intent to punish a Team who may change Team members over the course of a season due to illness, changing schools, conflicts within a Team, etc. Event Partners and referees are not expected to keep a roster of any Student who has ever been a Driver for one day. This rule is intended to prohibit any instance of loaning or sharing Team members for the sole purpose of gaining a competitive advantage. Robots begin the Match in the starting size. At the beginning of a Match, each Robot must fit within an 23” wide x 73” long x 15” high (584mm x 1854mm x 381mm) volume, as checked during inspec- tion per. Violation Notes: Any Violation of this rule will result in the Robot being removed from the Field prior to the start of the Match; rules and will apply until the situation is corrected. They will not receive a Disqualification, but they will not be permitted to play in the Match. 24 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Keep your Robot together. Robots may not intentionally detach parts or leave mechanisms on the Field during any Match. Parts that become unintentionally detached from the Robot are no longer considered to be part of the Robot and can be either left on the Field or collected by a Drive Team Member (utilizing ). Note: Adding or replacing mechanisms on a Robot mid-Match (e.g., during a interaction) is considered a Violation of the intent and spirit of this rule. Significant Q&As: 2056 - Detached parts that remain contained within the Robot may be legal Don’t damage the Field. Robot interactions which damage the Field or any Field Elements are prohibited. For the purpose of this rule, “damage” is defined as anything which requires repair in order to begin the next Match, such as causing part of the Loading Station to detach from the Field. Teams are responsible for the actions of their Robots at all times, especially when interacting with the Goal Wall and the Loading Station. If a Team chooses to repeatedly ram full-speed into a Field Element, it will be hard to convince a Head Referee that any damage caused was “accidental.” Violation Notes: In most cases, accidental Field damage should only be considered a Minor Violation. Egregious, intentional, or repeated accidental/Minor Violations may escalate to a Major Vio- lations at the Head Referee’s discretion. Drivers drive your Robot, and stay in the Driver Station. During a Match, Robots may only be operated by that Team’s Drivers and/or software running on the Robot’s control system. Drivers must remain in their Driver Station, except when legally interacting with their Robot per. Drive Team Members are prohibited from any of the following actions during a Match: a. Bringing/using any sort of communication devices into the Driver Station, including wireless headphones of any kind, even if powered off. Non-headphone devices with communication features turned off (e.g., a phone in airplane mode) are allowed. b. Standing on any sort of object during a Match, regardless of whether the Field is on the floor or elevated. c. Bringing/using additional materials to simplify the game challenge during a Match. Point C is intended to refer to non-Robot-related items that directly influence gameplay, such as using a ramp to assist with the Loading Station. Provided no other rules are violated, and the items do not pose any safety or field damage risks, the following examples are not considered Violations of : 25 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Materials used before or after a Match, such as a pre-Match alignment aid, or a carrying case for Robots/Controllers Strategic aids, such as a whiteboard or clipboard Earplugs, gloves, or other personal accessories Note: Drive Team Members are the only Team members that are allowed to be in the Driver Station during a Match. Adults (other than event staff) are not permitted to be in the Driver Station during a Match. Note 2: Loaders are not restricted to the Driver Station, and may move around the Field freely. Violation Notes: Major Violations of this rule are not required to be Score Affecting, and could invoke Violations of other rules, such as , , or. Hands out of the Field. During a Match, Drive Team Members are prohibited from making intentional contact with any Field Element, Robot, or Ball that has been introduced to the Field, except for the allowanc- es in , , and/or. Note: Any concerns regarding Field Element starting positions should be raised with the Head Referee prior to the Match. Team members may never adjust Field Elements themselves. Handling the Robot mid-match is allowed under certain circumstances. If a Robot goes complete- ly outside the playing Field, gets stuck, tips over, or otherwise requires assistance, the Drive Team Members may retrieve & reset their Robot. To do so, they must do the following: a. Signal the referee by placing their VEX IQ Controller on the ground. b. Any Balls being controlled by the Robot while being handled must be removed from the Field, and can be returned through the Loading Station or Rapid Loaded as appropriate based on the Match timer. i. In the context of this rule, “controlled” implies that the Robot was manipulating the Ball, and not simply touching it. For example, if the Ball moves with the Robot either vertically or while turning, then the Robot is “controlling” the Ball. ii. Clause d of applies to Balls that are removed from the Field during the last 15 seconds of the Match. c. The Robot must be placed back into a legal position that meets the criteria listed in clauses a & b of. As described in rule , Students cannot step into the Field at any time during a Match. If the Drive Team Members cannot reach the Robot due to the Robot being in the center of the Field, they may ask the Head Referee to pick up the Robot and hand it to the Drive Team Members for placement according to the condi- tions above. Note: If any Balls are preventing the Robot from being legally placed, such as resting against the Field Perimeter wall, they may be removed from the Field and reintroduced (in accordance with ). 26 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Violation Notes: This rule is intended to allow Teams to fix damaged Robots or help get their Robots “out of trouble.” Strategically exploiting this rule may be considered a Minor Violation or Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. A Team’s two Drivers switch Controllers midway through the Match. In a given Match, up to two (2) Drivers, plus one Loader, may be in the Driver Station per Team. The two Drivers must switch their controller between twenty-five seconds (0:25) and thirty-five seconds (0:35) remaining in the Match. a. No Driver shall operate a Robot for more than thirty-five seconds (0:35). b. The second Driver may not touch their Team’s controls until the controller is passed to them. c. Once the controller is passed, the first Driver may no longer touch their Team’s controls. d. A Driver cannot also be a Loader in the same Match. If a Team only has two members, they must exercise one of the substitute Loader options listed in rule. Note: If only one Driver is present , this rule still applies and they must cease Robot operation after the first thirty-five (0:35) seconds of the Match. Violation Notes: At a minimum, any Violation of this rule is considered a Minor Violation. Whether it escalates to a Major Violation or not is dependent upon the Head Referee’s judgment regarding: Prior warnings or Violations Any Score Affecting actions that were a direct result of the Violation, such as the first Driver scoring additional points after 35 seconds of driving 27 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Specific Game Rules Pre-match setup. At the beginning of a Match, the Robot must be placed such that it is: a. Satisfying all constraints listed in (i.e., fully contained within one Starting Zone and no taller than 15”). b. Contacting the inside of the Field Perimeter wall. c. Contacting exactly one (1) Preload. d. Completely stationary (i.e., no motors or other mechanisms in motion). Pre-charging a pneumatic system (i.e., having the Pneumatic Pump running prior to the Match) is the only permitted excep- tion to this rule. e. Not occupying the same Starting Zone as the Alliance partner Robot. There are no specific starting positions, as long as the above criteria are met. Per , Robots must arrive at the Field ready to play with minimal additional setup. Repeated delays may result in a Violation of and/or removal of the Robot from the current Match at the Head Referee’s discretion. Violation Notes: Any Violation of this rule will result in the Robot being removed from the Field prior to the start of the Match; rules and will apply until the situation is corrected. They will not receive a Disqualification, but they will not be permitted to play in the Match. Figure SG-1: Robots in a legal pre-Match starting position. 28 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Robot expansion is limited. Robots may not expand beyond the 23” x 73” horizontal or 15” vertical starting size limits at any time during a Match. The 15” height limit is a “virtual ceiling,” meaning that no part of a Robot may exceed 15” above the Floor, regardless of Robot orientation. Violation Notes: It is expected that momentary Minor Violations may occur, such as when a Robot drives over the VEX IQ beams that mark the Starting Zones. These will likely only result in a verbal warning and will not be recorded as Violations if no gameplay advantage occurs. Keep Balls in the Field. It is expected that some Balls may leave the Field without being scored. When this happens, they may be retrieved by a Loader and legally Loaded through the Loading Station. a. “Leaving the Field” means that a Ball is outside of the Field Perimeter and no longer in contact with the Field, Field Elements, other Balls, or Robots. A Ball that is scored through a Target is not considered to have left the Field. b. If a Ball is removed from a Robot during a interaction, it is considered “out of the Field” as soon as it is no longer in contact with any Robots. c. If a Ball is on its way out of the Field (as determined by the Head Referee), but is deflected back into the field by a Drive Team Member, field monitor, ceiling/wall, or other external factor, would still apply. This Ball should be considered “out of the Field,” removed by a Head Referee, and given to a Loader. i. If the redirection occurred due to contact with a Drive Team Member, it will be at the Head Referee’s discretion whether or should apply. d. Balls which leave the Field during the Rapid Load Period must be returned through the Loading Station; they may not be Loaded directly into a Starting Zone. Using the Loading Station. Balls Loaded through the Loading Station must meet the following criteria: a. No more than two (2) Balls may be in play at any one time (i.e., the next Ball should not be Loaded until a previous Ball is either scored or leaves the Field). b. The Loader must be the last human to contact the Ball before it is released. c. The Loader’s hand may not cross into the volume of the Loading Station at any time. d. No Robot(s) may be in the Load Zone at the time the Ball is released by the Loader. e. If a Ball is introduced improperly through the Loading Station, the Head Referee will verbally notify the Loader as soon as possible (e.g., “your hand crossed, load that one again”). The Ball must then be removed from the Load Zone by a Loader before it is retrieved by a Robot and legally Loaded again. f. If a Ball is introduced improperly outside of the Loading Station (e.g., into the middle of the Field prior to the Rapid Load Period), the Ball must be retrieved by a referee and handed to a Loader. 29 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Figure SG-4: This Robot is breaking the plane of the Loading Zone while the Ball is being entered. This Ball would need to be removed from the Loading Zone, and legally reintroduced. Note: The legal edge of the Load Zone is on the side of the black line closest to the Loading Station. The other edge of the black line is intended to be a “warning zone.” Robots touching or breaking the plane of this line during a Load may receive a “close call” warning from the Head Referee. This warning is not a Violation, as long as the Robot never enters the Load Zone. Violation Notes: Most Violations which are not Score Affecting (i.e., where a Robot never retrieves the illegally Loaded Ball) are considered Minor Violations, even after repeated occurrences. The primary penalty is intended to be the Match time that is lost from retrieving and re-introducing the Ball. Teams are responsible for their own actions. Violations will always be given to the Loader’s Team. Violations of point D where the Loader and Robot are from different Teams will be given to both Teams. Robot contact with the Loading Station while a Ball is being Loaded is considered an egre- gious Violation of point D for the Robot’s Team, and is an exception to all previous notes. Repeated occurrences by the same Robot, even if not Score Affecting, may escalate to a Major Violation for that Robot’s Team at the Head Referee’s discretion. 30 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Significant Q&As: 2014 - There is a not a possession limit 2032 - Loaders can toss the Ball from the Pickup Zone to the Loading Zone 2052 - If the human Loader is no longer contacting a Ball that is being (or has been) Loaded, it is legal for a Robot to enter the Load Zone Loading during the Rapid Load Period. During the last fifteen (15) seconds of the Match, Loaders have the option to introduce Balls directly onto the Starting Zone (i.e., without using the Loading Station). a. Clauses “A” and “B” of must still be satisfied during the Rapid Load Period. b. Rapid Load Balls must be released by the Loader directly onto the Floor inside a Starting Zone before being contacted by a Robot. c. Balls may never be in contact with both a Robot and a human Loader at the same time. d. Rapid Load Balls may only be removed from the Starting Zone by a Robot (i.e., cannot be bounced, rolled, or otherwise removed from the Starting Zone by a Loader). e. Rapid Load Balls are not eligible to receive credit for Passes. f. The human Loader may not contact the Floor while introducing the Match Load (e.g., cannot step into or place a hand on the Floor to reach the center of the Field).” If a Ball is Rapid Loaded improperly, the Ball must be retrieved by a referee, given to a Loader, and re-Loaded legally before it may be retrieved by a Robot. Note: Although it is not required, Robots are highly recommended to remain some distance away from the Ball entirely until the Loader’s hand has clearly been removed. This will make clauses “B” and “C” abundantly clear to Head Referees, and help them to verify clauses “A” and “D”. Note 2: Although it is not required, placing the Ball gently down onto the Field without any addi- tional motion is highly recommended. Unorthodox strategies, such as “tossing” or “rolling” the Ball, will not receive any “benefit of the doubt” if the Head Referee cannot clearly confirm that all criteria have been met (especially clauses “B” and “D”). Violation Notes: Teams are responsible for their own actions. Violations that involve a Loader and Robot from opposite Teams will be given to both Teams. It is expected that most Violations of this rule will be accidental. In accidental cases that end up being Score Affecting (i.e., an illegally-Loaded Ball scores a Goal), the first occurrence during a Qualification Match may be treated as a Minor Violation and a “final warning” for any future Violations. 31 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Score Affecting Violations during a Finals Match (accidental and intentional) must be treated as a Major Violation. Repeated, intentional, or egregious Violations may escalate to a Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. One example of an egregious Violation would be placing a Ball directly onto a Robot without ever contacting the Floor. Retrieving Balls from the Pickup Zone. Once a Goal is scored, that Ball will fall through the Goal Wall and into the Pickup Zone. This rule also applies to Balls that land in the Pickup Zone without being scored. a. Once the Ball contacts the Floor of the Pickup Zone, a Loader may retrieve it. They may not reach into the Field until the Ball contacts the Floor. b. A Ball which has been Scored through a Target may not be used for additional scoring or Switch Clearing until it is retrieved by a Loader and legally re-Loaded. Note: Although not explicitly required, it is highly recommended for Loaders to have a designat- ed “staging location” to rest their hands while waiting for a Ball (such as the outside face of the Field Perimeter). This will help make it abundantly clear to the Head Referee that point A is not being Violated. If a Scored Ball gets stuck inside the Goal Wall structure and does not make it to the Pickup Zone, a referee may free it by carefully reaching into the Goal Wall. This should be rare; in most cases, a gentle nudge will be all that is needed to move the Ball into the Pickup Zone. Extreme circumstances, such as multiple Balls being stuck at once, or interference with gameplay during this interaction, may warrant a Match replay at the Head Referee’s discretion (see ). Violation Notes: Accidental Violations of point A, such as reaching over the Field but not touching a Ball, should be treated as warnings / Minor Violations. Egregious or repeated Violations that result in retrieving a Ball before it contacts the Floor of the Pickup Zone are inherently Score Affect- ing, and will escalate to a Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. The intent of point B is to prevent Robots from retrieving Balls out of the Pickup Zone. Viola- tions of this rule should be rare, as Robots should never be designed to do so. 32 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Section 3 The Robot Description Every Robot must pass a full inspection before being cleared to participate in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition. This inspection will ensure that all Robot rules and regulations are met. Initial inspections will typically take place during team check-in / practice time. Every Team should use the rules below as a guide to pre-inspect their Robot and ensure that it meets all requirements. Inspection Rules One Robot per Team. Only one (1) Robot will be allowed to participate per Team at a given event. Though it is expected that Teams will make changes to their Robots at the event, a Team is limited to only one (1) Robot, and a given Robot may only be used by one (1) Team. The VEX IQ system is intended to be a mobile robotics design platform. As such, a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Robot, for the purposes of the VEX IQ Robotics Competition, has the following subsystems: Subsystem 1: Mobile robotic base including wheels, tracks, or any other mechanism that allows the Robot to navigate the majority of the flat playing Field surface. For a stationary Robot, the robotic base without wheels would be considered Subsystem 1. Subsystem 2: Power and control system that includes a VEX IQ legal battery, a VEX IQ control system, and associated Smart Motors for the mobile robotic base. Subsystem 3: Additional mechanisms (and associated Smart Motors) that allow manipulation of Balls or navigation/manipulation of Field Elements. Given the above definitions, a minimum Robot for use in any VEX IQ Robotics Competition event (includ- ing Skills Challenges) must consist of subsystems 1 and 2 above. Thus, if you are swapping out an entire subsystem 1 or 2, you have now created a second Robot and are no longer legal. a. Teams may not compete with one Robot while a second is being modified or assembled at a competition. b. Teams may not have an assembled second Robot on hand at a competition that is used to repair or swap parts with the first Robot. c. Teams may not switch back and forth between multiple Robots during a competition. This includes using different Robots for Skills Challenge, Qualification Matches, and/or Finals Matches. d. Multiple Teams may not use the same Robot. Once a Robot has competed under a given Team number at an event, it is “their” Robot; no other Teams may compete with it for the duration of the competition season. The intent of , , and is to ensure an unambiguous level playing field for all Teams. Teams are welcome (and encouraged) to improve or modify their Robots between events, or to collaborate with other Teams to develop the best possible game solution. 33 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual However, a Team who brings and/or competes with two separate Robots at the same tournament has diminished the efforts of a Team who spent extra design time making sure that their one Robot can accomplish all of the game’s tasks. A multi-Team organi- zation that shares a single Robot has diminished the efforts of a multi-Team organiza- tion that puts in the time, effort, and resources to undergo separate individual design processes and develop their own Robots. To help determine whether a Robot is a “separate Robot” or not, use the Subsystem definitions found in. Above that, use common sense as referenced in. If you can place two complete and legal Robots on a table next to each other, then they are two separate Robots. Trying to decide if changing a pin, a wheel, or a motor constitutes a separate Robot is missing the intent and spirit of this rule. Robots must represent the Team’s skill level. The Robot must be designed, built, and pro- grammed by members of the Teams. Adults are permitted to mentor and teach design, building, and programming skills to the Students on the Team, but may not design, build, or program that Team’s Robot. In VIQRC, we expect Adults to teach fundamental Robot principles like linkages, drive- trains, and manipulators, then allow the Students to determine which designs to imple- ment and build on their Robot. Similarly, Adults are encouraged to teach the Students how to code various functions involving applicable sensors and mechanisms, then have the Students program the Robot from what they have learned. Robots must pass inspection. The Team’s Robot must pass inspection before being allowed to participate in any Matches. Noncompliance with any Robot design or construction rule will result in removal from Matches or Disqualification of the Robot at an event until the Robot is brought back into compliance, as described in the following subclauses. a. Significant changes to a Robot, such as a partial or full swap of Subsystem 3, must be re-in- spected before the Robot may compete again. b. All possible functional Robot configurations must be inspected before being used in competition. c. Teams may be asked to submit to spot inspections by Head Referees. Refusal to submit will result in Disqualification. d. If a Robot is determined to not be legal before a Match begins, the Robot will be removed from the Field. A Driver may remain so that the Team does not get assessed a “no-show” (per ). e. Robots which have not passed inspection (i.e., that are in Violation of one or more Robot rules) will not be permitted to play in any Matches until they have done so. will apply to any Matches that occur until the Robot has passed inspection. 34 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual f. If a Robot has passed inspection, but is later found to be in Violation of a Robot rule during or immediately following a Match, then they will be Disqualified from that Match and / will apply until the Violation is remedied and the Team is re-inspected. g. All inspection rules are to be enforced at the discretion of the Head Referee within a given event. Robot legality at one event does not automatically imply legality at future events. Robots which rely on “edge-case” interpretations of subjective rules, such as whether a decoration is “non-functional” or not, should expect additional scrutiny during inspection. Starting configuration. At the start of each Match, the Robot must be able to satisfy the following constraints: a. Only be contacting the Floor and the inside face of the Field Perimeter. b. Fit within the volume of a Starting Zone. c. Be no taller than 15” (i.e., roughly the height of the yellow VEX IQ beams above the bottom two Targets). d. The starting configuration of the Robot at the beginning of a Match must be the same as a Robot configuration inspected for compliance. i. Teams using more than one possible Robot configuration at the beginning of Matches must tell the Inspector(s) and have the Robot inspected in all configurations. Rule will apply if a Robot is placed in an uninspected configuration (i.e., will not be permitted to play until re-inspected, but will not be considered a “no-show”). Note: These dimensions (i.e., fit within a Starting Zone and height limit of 15”) are also the maximum expansion limits during Match play. Figure R4-1: The 15” Robot height limit roughly aligns with the top of the lower set of Targets. 35 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Prohibited items. The following types of mechanisms and components are NOT allowed: a. Those that could potentially damage Field Elements or Balls. b. Those that could potentially damage or entangle other Robots. c. Grease, oil, graphite, and/or any other lubricant or plastic additive. d. Tape and/or any other material that adheres to or changes a legal part, other than non-functional decorations as permitted by. VEX IQ product line. Robots may be built ONLY from official Robot components from the VEX IQ product line, unless otherwise specifically noted within these rules. a. Official VEX IQ products are ONLY available from VEX Robotics. To determine whether a product is “official” or not, consult www.vexiq.com. b. If an Inspector or event official questions whether something is an official VEX IQ component, the Team will be required to provide documentation to an inspector that proves the component’s source. Such documentation may include receipts, part numbers, or other printed documentation. c. Only VEX IQ components specifically designed for use in Robot construction are allowed. Using additional components outside their typical purpose is against the intent of the rule (i.e., please don’t try using VEX IQ apparel, Team or event support materials, packaging, Field Elements, or other non-Robot products on a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Robot). d. Products from the VEX 123, VEX V5, VEX CTE, VEX EXP, Cortex, or VEXpro product lines cannot be used for Robot construction. However, products from the VEX V5 product line that are also cross-listed as part of the VEX IQ product line are legal. A “cross-listed” product is one which can be found in both the VEX IQ and VEX V5 sections of the VEX Robotics website. e. Mechanical/structural components from the VEX Robotics by HEXBUG* product line are legal for Robot construction. However, electrical components from the VEX Robotics by HEXBUG* product line are illegal for Robot construction. f. Mechanical/structural components from the VEX GO product line are legal for Robot construction. However, electrical components from the VEX GO product line are illegal for Robot construction. g. Official Robotics components from the VEX IQ product line that have been discontinued are still legal for Robot use. However, Teams must be aware of. h. Functional 3D printed components, such as replicas of legal VEX IQ parts or custom designs, are not legal for Robot use. i. Additional VEX IQ products that are released during the season are legal for use, unless otherwise noted on their product pages and/or in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition Legal Parts Appendix. j. VEX IQ Smart Cables may only be used for connecting legal electronic devices to the VEX IQ Robot Brain. Note: A comprehensive list of legal parts can be found in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition Legal Parts Appendix, as mentioned above. This Appendix is updated as needed if/when new VEX IQ parts are released, and may not coincide with scheduled Game Manual updates. * The HEXBUG brand is a registered trademark belonging to Spin Master Corp 36 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Non-VEX IQ components. Robots are allowed to use the following additional “non-VEX IQ” components: a. Rubber bands that are identical in length and thickness to those included in the VEX IQ product line (#32, #64 & #117B). b. ⅛” metal shafts from the VEX V5 product line. 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-func- tional.” Unless otherwise specified below, non-functional decorations are governed by all standard Robot rules. a. Decorations must be in the spirit of an educational competition. b. To be considered “non-functional,” any decorations must be backed by legal materials that provide the same functionality. For example, a giant decal cannot be used to prevent Balls from falling out of the Robot unless it is backed by VEX IQ material. A simple way to check this is to determine if removing the decoration would impact the performance of the Robot in any way. c. The use of non-toxic paint is considered a legal non-functional decoration. However, any paint being used as an adhesive or to impact how tightly parts fit together would be classified as functional. Teams should be mindful of any non-functional decorations which could risk “distract- ing” Alliance partner Robots’ Vision Sensor or other sensors. Officially registered Team numbers must be displayed on Robot License Plates. To participate in an official VEX IQ Robotics Competition Event, a Team must first register on robotevents.com and receive a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Team Number. This Team number must be legibly displayed on at least two (2) VEX IQ Robotics Competition License Plates on opposing sides of the Robot. Teams may choose to use the official VEX IQ Robotics Competi- tion License Plate (VEX Part Number 228-7401), or may create their own custom License Plates. a. License Plates must fulfill all inspection rules. b. License Plates must be clearly visible at all times. For example, License Plates must not be in a position that would be easily obstructed by a Robot mechanism during standard Match play. c. Any custom-made License Plates used must be the same length and height as the official License Plate (3.5” x 1.5” [88.9mm x 38.1mm]). They must not exceed the width of the official License Plate (0.25” [6.35mm]). d. Custom-made License Plates are considered non-functional decorations, and must therefore meet all of the criteria listed in. Therefore, 3D printed License Plates are permitted within these rules. 37 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual Figure R9-1: A VEX IQ Robotics Competition License Plate with a VEX Figure R9-2: An example of a legal custom License Plate. IQ Robotics Competition Team Number written upon it. Let it go after the Match is over. Robots must be designed to permit easy removal of Balls from their Robot without requiring that the Robot have power or remote control after the Match is over. Robot Brain. Robots are limited to one (1) VEX IQ Robot Brain. a. Robot Brains, microcontrollers, and other electronic components that are part of the VEX Robotics by HEXBUG, VEX GO, VEX EXP, VEX V5, VEX 123, or VEXpro product lines are not allowed. i. The Robot AA Battery Holder (228-3493) is the only exception to this rule, per. b. If using a first generation VEX IQ Brain, Robots must use one (1) VEX IQ 900 MHz radio, VEX IQ 2.4 GHz radio, or VEX IQ Smart Radio in conjunction with their VEX IQ Robot Brain. The VEX IQ Brain and VEX IQ Controller may not be physically connected during a Match, and may only communicate through the radio. c. The only legal method of driving the Robot during Teamwork Challenge Matches and Driving Skills Matches is the VEX IQ Controller. d. See and for more information about operating the Robot during Autonomous Coding Skills Matches. e. Additional Robot Brains cannot be used on the Robot (even Robot Brains that are not connected) Motors. Robots may use up to six (6) VEX IQ Smart Motors. a. Additional motors cannot be used on the Robot (even motors that aren’t connected). Batteries. The only allowable sources of electrical power for a VEX IQ Robotics Competition Robot are one (1) VEX IQ Robot Battery (first or second generation) or six (6) AA batteries via the Robot AA Battery Holder (228-3493). 38 Copyright 2024, VEX Robotics Inc. Version 1.1 - Released August 6, 2024 VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay - Game Manual a. Additional batteries cannot be used on the Robot (even batteries that aren’t connected). b. Teams are permitted to have an external power source (such as a rechargeable battery pack) plugged into their VEX IQ Controller during a Match, provided that this power source is connect- ed safely and does not violate any other rules (such as ). Note: Although it is legal, the Robot AA Battery Holder (228-3493) is not recommended for use in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition. Firmware. Teams must use VEXos version 2.2.1 or newer on Gen1 Brains, or VEXos version 1.0.8 or newer on Gen2 Brains. The latest firmware can be found at https://link.vex.com/firmware. Custom firmware modifications are not permitted. a. The minimum VEXos version requirement is subject to change over the course of the season. b. When the minimum version is updated, Teams have a two week (14 calendar days) grace period from the time the minimum version is changed to update their firmware to the latest minimum version. c. VEX reserves the right to deem any firmware update critical, and remove the allowable grace p

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