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The official VEX IQ Robotics Competition Question & Answer system has closed for this season.

Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2024-2025: Rapid Relay

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2155: Rubber band issue in competition kit

Jon Bukont (Event Partner)
25-Sep-2024

<R6>

A local team has a set of Gen 2 competition kits with the expansion/upgrade kit. This kit includes 2 'large silicone rubber bands' in the competition kit. These rubber bands at first appear to be 117b rubber bands which are legal in Vex IQ. However, when I was checking them, the rubber bands are not actually 117B size. They are the correct 7" long, but are 1/4" wide, not 1/8" wide.

I double checked the most recent legal/illegal parts lists and onlt standard 117B rubber bands (7" x 1/8") are on the list. I also checked the Vex website, and that size (7" x 1/4") bands are not for sale anywhere on the website, except it would appear, in the competition kit.

I need to know if these rubber bands are considered legal for competition. As it stands now, I can see having to disqualify a lot of teams who purchased the competition kit thinking everything in it was a legal part.

So my questions are:

  1. Is the 7"x1/4" band that comes in the competition kit legal?

  2. When will that part be added to the legal parts list so I will not have issues as an EP when someone uses one? (Or the QA? I may have missed it if this has already some up)

  3. Where can teams get these 1/4" wide 7" rubber bands?

[Example Image]

[Example Image]

R6  
Answered by committee
26-Sep-2024

Thank you for your question! We agree that part number 228-2500-470, Silicone Rubber Band #117B, was named incorrectly and that it should be updated to denote the correct size, #170.

  1. Is the 7"x1/4" band that comes in the competition kit legal?

Yes, the band that comes in the competition kit is legal for use in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition.

  1. When will that part be added to the legal parts list so I will not have issues as an EP when someone uses one? (Or the QA? I may have missed it if this has already some up)

Clause A of rule <R7> will be revised in the next game manual update to include #170 rubber bands.

  1. Where can teams get these 1/4" wide 7" rubber bands?

This Silicone Rubber Band (228-2500-470) is not currently available for purchase from VEX Robotics as a standalone part. With the addition of #170 to the allowable rubber band sizes found in clause A of <R7>, teams may purchase #170 rubber bands as an equivalent size, although performance may vary based on the specific material of the rubber band.