VEX IQ's plastic components can be utilized to create both an efficient, yet robust robot. However, a basic knowledge of these parts are the key to produce a result that is satisfactory to the needs of each year's game.

The following paragraphs are an overview of most of the information that is needed in order to begin building.

The knowledge of gear ratios is fundemental in order to create your robot's  chassis as well as other crucial mechanisms. 

The following terms listed below are to provide an overall understanding of  gear ratios.

• Driving/Input Gear: A driving gear is a gear that is directly connected to the motor. 

• Driven/Output Gear: A driven gear is a gear that is indirectly connected to the motor through a connection with the driving gear. 

• Direct Drive: A direct drive is when both the driving and driven gear are the same size, resulting in a rotational speed that is exactly the same as the motor. A direct drive is also known as a 1:1 ratio.

• Speed: Speed is created when the driving gear is larger than the driven gear. 

• Torque: Torque is created when the driven gear is larger than the driving gear. 

• RPM: Rotations per Minute

To determine the gear ratio of your build, use this equation:

Driven Gear's Teeth/Driving Gear's Teeth

Then, to determine the RPM, use this equation:

Driven Gear's Teeth/Driving Gear's Teeth * 120 

You multiply your equation by 120 as that is the set rpm for a VEX IQ Smart Motor. 

Building a sturdy and reliable robot requires many things, one of which is bracing. 

Bracing is any part of the robot that has the purpose of acting as structural support. Bracing can be beams connecting two subsystems to standoffs used to space out individual mechanisms. 

Typically, bracing is on the outside of the robot. Many teams use long 2x beams or plates with capped pins to support the outer layer of their build. 

It is easier to either brace vertically and horizontally rather than diagonally. Bracing diagonally can create issues further along the building process, such as warpage and crookedness because the hole sizes are often not aligned.

Look at the pink arrows at left for examples of bracing. 

Hero Bots are robots that are released by VEX in the beginning of the season that completes some or most tasks of the current game, but not all or doesn't complete them well. VEX releases step-by-step instructions for these robots (like Lego bricks) and YouTube video explanations for the mechanisms on their channel.

At first glance, Hero Bots seem quite simple, both in functionality and how they are built. However, you can get a lot of information based on them, and they can give you great inspiration on how to utilize some parts in a unique way. 

If you are starting your first year in robotics, it is helpful to look at how it is built, and even construct it yourself. 

For example, in the 2023-2024 game, Full Volume, the Hero Bot, Byte, has many opportunities for learning. 

For one, you can see the use of connectors not only connect beams, but also off-set them. 

You can also see the use of a shock absorber used in a different fashion than is the norm. 

While building, your team may find that due to time constraints, it is not possible to fulfill your whole robot design chosen from Step 5, Choosing the Best Idea. There are several ways to combat this problem. 

First, thoroughly evaluate what is the most necessary in order to compete in a tournament. 

For example, if the season's game heavily relies on shooting game elements, it would benefit a team if they spend more time on a catapult and roller intake system rather than an endgame that only rewards a slight amount of points. 

However, one should plan ahead for their future subsystems while building their current ones. 

To help with this choosing process, teams can create design matrices.

Learn more about decision matrices here!