VEX IQ COURSES

Build your first VEX IQ BaseBot and learn how motors, wheels, axles, and structural components work together. Students practice driving with the controller and improve their robot for speed, stability, and accuracy.

Design and build a simple manipulator that lets the robot control, move, and score game objects. Students explore basic mechanism design while developing driving skills through a fast-paced robot soccer challenge.

Discover how wheel choice, traction, weight distribution, gear ratio, and center of mass affect robot performance. Students modify their BaseBot and compete to build the strongest pulling robot.

Transform the BaseBot into a functional Clawbot that picks up, carries, and releases objects. Students learn about robot arms, gears, lifting mechanisms, motor control, and mechanical advantage.

Learn the difference between driver-controlled and autonomous robotics. Students program their Clawbot to collect, transport, and organize cubes while learning sequencing, motor commands, loops, and basic autonomous movement.

Add sensors so the robot reacts to its environment. Students use the Optical Sensor and Distance Sensor to detect objects, identify colors, and program the robot to search for and collect specific game pieces.

Combine building, driving, sensors, and programming in a final engineering challenge. Students design their own strategy, improve their robot through testing, and compete in a mini robotics game that introduces the teamwork and problem-solving style of VEX IQ competitions.

Explore how gear ratios change a robot’s speed and torque. Students build and compare multiple gear combinations, including compound gear systems, and learn how engineers balance speed, power, efficiency, and motor load.

Topics: Gear Ratio • Compound Gears • Speed vs. Torque • Gear Trains • Idler Gears

Upgrade a standard drivetrain with advanced power-transfer systems. Students experiment with gears, chain and sprockets, wheel configurations, and drivetrain ratios, then build and test their own high-performance drivetrain.

Topics: Chain & Sprocket • Gear-Based Drivetrain • Wheel Selection • Power Transfer • Drivetrain Ratios

Design a mechanism that quickly collects, controls, and transports multiple game objects. Students explore roller intakes, conveyor systems, friction, compression, and continuous object movement, then optimize their intake for speed and reliability.

Topics: Roller Intake • Conveyor • Chain Drive • Friction • Object Retention • Continuous Motion

Learn how a motor’s rotational motion becomes controlled linear movement. Students experiment with rack-and-pinion systems and linear sliders before designing a mechanism that extends, pushes, or positions objects.

Topics: Rack & Pinion • Linear Slider • Rotary-to-Linear Motion • Mechanical Alignment

Build a lifting system that raises game objects while keeping the end mechanism stable. Students investigate 4-bar linkages, gear reduction, torque, center of gravity, and structural reinforcement.

Topics: 4-Bar Linkage • Parallel Lift • Gear Reduction • Torque • Structural Support

Take lifting mechanisms further with chain-bar arms, 6-bar lifts, and reverse 4-bar systems. Students compare lifting architectures, learn when each design wins, and build a compact mechanism that reaches far beyond a standard robot arm.

Topics: Chain-Bar • 6-Bar Lift • Reverse 4-Bar • Gear Synchronization • Center of Gravity

Combine multiple advanced mechanisms into one complete robot. Given a competition-style challenge, teams choose a drivetrain, intake, lifting mechanism, and manipulator, then follow the full engineering design process: research, brainstorm, prototype, test, and iterate.

Topics: Subsystem Integration • Strategy-Based Design • Mechanism Selection • Testing • Optimization • Iterative Engineering

Learn to read a VEX IQ game manual: scoring opportunities, penalties, and field analysis. Students compare scoring strategies and start thinking about how robot design should support the team’s overall game plan.

Topics: Game Rules • Scoring • Penalties • Field Analysis • Match Strategy • Strategic Thinking

Build and test a Hero Robot to understand the current game and its common scoring mechanisms. Students evaluate strengths and weaknesses, research alternatives, brainstorm ideas, and develop their own competition robot concept.

Topics: Hero Robot • Robot Analysis • Brainstorming • Mechanism Selection • Design Sketching • Strategy-Based Design

Build and improve a complete competition-style robot with drivetrain, intake, lifting, and manipulation systems. The focus: reliability, simplicity, weight distribution, structural strength, and ease of repair.

Topics: Drivetrain • Intake • Manipulator • Lifting Mechanisms • Subsystem Integration • Reliability • Iterative Design

Program the robot to score without driver control. Students build autonomous consistency through precise movement, motor feedback, sensors, repeatable starting positions, and systematic debugging.

Topics: Autonomous Programming • Sensors • Motor Position • Loops • Conditions • Debugging • Repeatability

Develop competition-level driving through timed drills and repeated scoring practice: faster cycles, accurate positioning, efficient routes, mistake recovery, and smooth driver teamwork.

Topics: Driver Control • Scoring Cycles • Route Planning • Speed • Accuracy • Robot Tuning • Skills Practice

Rehearse a real competition: engineering notebook practice, judge interviews, team-role training, robot inspection, Skills runs, and full match simulations, ending with a mock competition.

Topics: Engineering Notebook • Judge Interview • Team Roles • Robot Inspection • Driving Skills • Autonomous Skills • Match Simulation