Embedded Files
Electronics
Electronics
Electronics is a part of both the building and programming aspects of robotics. This page will walk you through each electronic, from sensors to batteries. It will also show you through how to configure electronics when coding.
Brain (Gen 2)
Brain (Gen 2)
The brain is the essential part of the robot that makes everything work. It has 3 main parts on it, Drive, Programs, and Electronics, which will be explained more in depth later.
Controller (Gen 2)
Controller (Gen 2)
The Controller is connected to the brain through either a wire or smart radio. The buttons can be programmed to serve different functions when driving.
Smart Motor
Smart Motor
The VEX IQ Smart Motor is used to rotate shafts. It has a set speed of 120 RPM, but that can be changed through gear ratios.
Battery (Gen 2)
Battery (Gen 2)
The battery is the part that makes the brain turn on. It is charged using a USBC cable, and snaps into the back of the brain.
Battery Charger
Battery Charger
The battery charger is the way to charge Generation 1 Batteries and are an alternative way to charge Generation 2 Batteries.
Smart Cables
Smart Cables
Smart Cables allow you to connect devices, such as motors and sensors, to the brain so that the electronics can be controlled.
Sensors
Distance Sensor (Gen 2)
Distance Sensor (Gen 2)
The Distance Sensor can tell if an object is in its view and calculate the relative size, distance, and velocity of a game element.
Optical Sensor (Gen 2)
Optical Sensor (Gen 2)
The Optical Sensor can identify if an object is in front of it. It can also provide the colors and numerical hue values of game elements, and detect their brightness level while also emitting light.
Bumper Switch (Gen 1 + Gen 2)
Bumper Switch (Gen 1 + Gen 2)
The Bumper Switch has an imput of 0 and 1 that allows you to tell if the sensor has been activated or deactivated.
Touch LED (Gen 1 + Gen 2)
Touch LED (Gen 1 + Gen 2)
The Touch LED can detect capacitative touch while also emitting different colored lights.
Gyro Sensor (Gen 1)
Gyro Sensor (Gen 1)
The Gyro Sensor allows you to know the robot's speed and rotation.
Distance Sensor (Gen 1)
Distance Sensor (Gen 1)
The Distance Sensor can detect whether or not something is in its field of view and can calculate the distance between it and an object.
Color Sensor (Gen 1)
Color Sensor (Gen 1)
The Color Sensor can identify color, hue value, brightness, proximity, and grayscale value through reflected light.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting
When utilizing VEX IQ's electronics, it is a great starting point to watch videos and read websites (such as the one you are currently reading) to understand how your electronic works. Doing so will eliminate most confusion and allow you to better incorporate your electronic into your robot build.
However, if you are facing issues, there are multiple ways to work around them.
For one, many teams learn by trial and error, which can be done by controlled experimentation. With controlled experimentation, testing is done to determine the cause of the problem by removing factors one at a time.
If the solution above does not work, you can also search for answers in other resources, such as the ones we have listed on the bottom of the page.
Finally, you can ask your upper-classmen who have more experience in when dealing with electronics.
Tips
Tips
Never Drop any Electronics
Never Drop any Electronics
Dropping your electronics can cause much harm to its hardware, causing malfunctions and confusion over if the problem stems from the build of your robot or the electronic components.
If you do drop something, test it out to see if any damage was done, and tell your coach.
Trial and Error
Trial and Error
Do not be afraid to take risks. One facet of robotics that is quite appealing is the leinancy towards adaptation and implementation. There are many different ways electronics can be used and implemented in your robot and different ways to optimize them, such as programming. Learn about programming here!
You can learn much more through controlled trial and error than from just reading articles on the internet.
Other Resources
Other Resources
These are other websites and sources that have great, accurate information as well as tips for configuring and utlizing electronics in VEX IQ.
The Vex Knowledge Base, which has a section on electronics, both Generation 1 and Generation 2: https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/categories/360002324792-IQ?sc=electronics
The Overview of VEX IQ (2nd Gen) Sensors, which gives an overview of all 2nd Generation sensors, with more resources there at the bottom: https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/14021137100308-Overview-of-VEX-IQ-2nd-gen-Sensors
The Overview of VEX IQ (1st Gen) Sensors, which gives an overview of all 1st Generation sensors, with more resources there at the bottom: https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/14010976374548-Overview-of-VEX-IQ-1st-gen-Sensors
The VEX Forum, which is a compilation of valuable discussion made from other people who participate in VEX IQ. The Vex Forum is a continuous thread of questions and answers: https://www.vexforum.com/c/vex-iq-general-discussion/5
The Understanding the IQ Pneumatics Kit Components article from the VEX Library, which offers a detailed description on all pneumatic parts and their purpose. https://kb.vex.com/hc/en-us/articles/17309463041172-Understanding-the-IQ-Pneumatics-Kit-Components
Page updated
Report abuse