Skip to Main Content
VEX Events
 
VEX Robotics

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

Usage Guidelines All Questions

2367: Rapid loading clarification

5491M
9-Dec-2024

<SG5>

Dear VEX IQ, Due to the rule SG5 d, the rapid load ball can only be remove from the loading zone by the robot. Here is some situation:

  1. The ball is placed by the loader, and a rolling roller intake the ball.
  2. The ball is placed by the loader, a one way gate go through it, and pull back the ball which let the ball roll toward the robot itself
  3. The ball is roll by the loader, but it touch some part of the robot that is not moving, for example a plastic sheet and leave the load zone
  4. The ball is roll by the loader, but it touch some part of the robot that is not moving but can be move, for example a roller unconnecting to the motor and leave the load zone
  5. The ball is roll by the loader, but it touch some part of the robot that is moving(connecting to the motor) and leave the load zone

Please clarify the situation above

Thank you, by 5491M

SG5  
Answered by committee
11-Dec-2024

Note: As of the January 28, 2025, game manual update, Rapid Load Balls cannot be rolled or bounced, and must be placed in stationary positions. Portions of this answer no longer apply.

The final decision of whether a specific Robot and mechanism meets the requirements of rule <SG5> must be made by the Head Referee at the event. Some factors that can help Head Referees make this decision are:

  • Would the Rapid Load Ball still be removed from the Starting Zone if the Robot wasn't turned on? If the answer is yes, then that motor-driven, moving Robot part is not much different from a passive mechanism and is probably not removing Balls from the Starting Zone. Even when that part is moving, the Ball is being removed due to some other action, such as being rolled by the Loader, which would be a Violation of <SG5>.
  • Could the Robot obtain the Rapid Load if it was put in a stationary position by a Loader? If rolling or some other motion caused by a human Loader is required for the Robot to obtain the Ball, that Ball is probably not being removed by a Robot action, and it's a Violation of <SG5>.

To address your examples:

  1. A motor-driven, moving roller intake could be considered a Robot action. Removing a Rapid Load Ball from the Starting Zone with a moving roller intake would generally not be a Violation of <SG5>.
  2. We're not 100% certain what is being described in this example. A Robot that retracts a mechanism to grab the Ball or drives with the Ball in its control could be considered a Robot action. Removing a Rapid Load Ball from the Starting Zone via one of these methods would generally not be a Violation of <SG5>.
  3. Contacting a Ball with a passive part of a Robot does not qualify as a Robot action. Removing a Rapid Load Ball from the Starting Zone via means other than a Robot action would result in a Violation of <SG5>.
  4. Contacting a Ball with a passive roller on a Robot does not qualify as a Robot action. Removing a Rapid Load Ball from the Starting Zone via means other than a Robot action would result in a Violation of <SG5>.
  5. A motor-driven, moving part of the Robot could be considered a Robot action. Removing a Rapid Load Ball from the Starting Zone with a moving part of the Robot would generally not be a Violation of <SG5>.