Official Q&A: VEX V5 Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Push Back

The GDC ruled on this for High Stakes but since Q&As don’t carry over from year to year, I would like an official ruling on this, please.

Relevant rules: G2: V5RC is a student-centered program. Adults should not make decisions about the Robot’s build, design, or gameplay, and should not provide an unfair advantage by providing ‘help’ that is beyond the Students’ independent abilities. G4: The Robot must represent the skill level of the Team. R2: Robots must represent the Team’s skill level. The Robot must be designed, built, and programmed by members of the Team. R25: Robots may use custom-made pieces cut from certain types of non-shattering plastic, up to 0.070” thick. d. Plastic may be mechanically altered by cutting, drilling, bending, etc.

My interpretation of these rules is that only the members of the team are allowed/empowered to do the mechanical work (or directly run the machines that do the work) on the plastic or metal (including any cutting, drilling, bending, etc.). No one outside of the team (including adults) can do any of these things for the team. Is this correct?

If so, are any of the following allowable under G2 /R2? • The students design their own CAD files for custom-cut plastic (or metal) and the coach/mentor runs the CNC machine/laser cutter to cut the material for the students • The mentor/coach makes slight modifications to the file so that the tool works correctly (for example removing duplicate lines or changing the order of the cuts to put less strain on the machine or make the process more efficient) but the students run the machine. • An adult drills holes in metal or plastic in specific locations at the request of the students. • An adult cuts C channels to custom length at the request of the students. • An adult cuts a number of 35 hole long C channels into 25s and 10s and puts them in the organization’s cut metal bin for student use.

And, are either of the following allowable under G4 /R2? • Students at school A develop CAD files for custom-cut plastic (or metal) for their robot but do not have access to a laser cutters/CNC machine. They send the file to school B where the students on another team cut it for them. • Students at school A develop their own CAD files for custom-cut plastic but do not have access to laser cutters/CNC machine. They send their CAD files to an outside commercial service to have the plastic cut for them.

Thank you!