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Official Q&A: VEX IQ Robotics Competition 2025-2026: Mix & Match
3070: Further Clarification on R9
The blue box on the game manual includes 'putting their hands near moving parts' - which would include something like a robots arms or claws.
Scenario A: A robots brain is parallel to the floor underneath where an arm moves up and down such that when the arm is down there is a triangle of space between the arm and the brain. At inspection a head referee is able to press power button without contacting gears, beams or other aspects of the robot.
Scenario B: A robot brain is placed perpendicular to the floor behind a claw so that as the arm moves up and down portions of the brain are obscured, when the arm is down the screen is not visable but the power button is reachable by the head referee without contacting other aspects of the robot, however when the arm is in motion the buttons are completely covered.
Scenario C: A robot brain is possitioned such that there is only a narrow amount of space for one to reach the brain - at inspection the head referee is not able to reach into the robot to hit the power button without contacting beams, gears or other robot parts.
Of these scenarios, which are legal brain placements according to the R9 rule?
It is impossible to issue a blanket answer beyond what is written in the Game Manual that encompasses all possible situations based on a snapshot description of a hypothetical Robot or mechanism. This ruling must be made by the Head Referee based on their judgment and hands-on assessment of the Robot.
However, absent any other case-by-case context or extenuating circumstances we can provide very general rulings on the designs in your example. Note that this guidance may not be appropriate for every Robot in every case.
Scenario A: Because the Head Referee can reach the power button without contacting moving parts or hazards, this is likely an acceptable position for the Robot Brain.
Scenario B: Because the power button is intermittently blocked by the Robot arm, this may not be an acceptable position for the Robot Brain. This type of design will require a judgment call by the Robot inspector and Head Referee, and the Team may be asked to revise their design before it can pass inspection.
Scenario C: Because the Head Referee cannot reach the power button without contacting moving and/or potentially hazardous parts, this is unlikely to be an acceptable position for the Robot Brain. Teams should avoid this type of Robot Brain position, and will likely be required to revise their design before it can pass inspection.