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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match
2928: Are pins required to have their top notches aligned with the field in exactly the manner shown in field layout images?
<RSC3><SG1>[<FO>] (https://www.vexrobotics.com/mix-and-match-manual#fieldover)
When setting up the pins for either teamwork or skills matches, must each pin be horizontally rotated exactly like the game manual images show? In other words, do the pin notches have to all be aligned with the black lines on the field floor, or is the rotation of the pins irrelevant?
I haven't seen any robots yet that rely on the pin notches to be oriented in a particular way, but it is conceivable that some teams' autonomous code might expect the pin notches to be oriented a particular way.
Another consequence of this requirement is that field resets take additional time to make sure all pins are rotated correctly.
Thanks, Cory, for your question.
Rule <T5> will be expanded in the December 4 game manual update to reflect that the rotation of Pins is not specified. If a Pin is within tolerance, either on the Field or on a Starting Pin Support, it should not be adjusted before the Match. This change is effective immediately.