Multiple cortexes?

[HowDoITurnThisOn]

If we run out of space for our motors on our cortex, would it be legal to add a second one? Do the rules specifically prevent this?

[Amadeus]

If this is for an official VRC event:

<R9> Robots must use ONLY one (1) VEX EDR Microcontroller.
a. Examples of VEX EDR Microcontrollers are the VEX v.5 PIC Microcontroller and the VEX
ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller.
b. Microcontrollers that are part of other VEX product lines such as VEXpro, VEX RCR, VEX IQ,
or VEX Robotics by HEXBUG are not allowed.

Any additional motors need to be Y-cabled from the cortex:

<R12> A maximum of one (1) VEX Y-cable can be used per Motor Port of the Microcontroller or
Power Expander. (You cannot “Y off a Y” to have more than two (2) motors controlled by the same
Motor Port.)
a. Teams using the VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller can only power one (1) 2-wire
Motor per each of the two 2-wire motor ports on the Microcontroller. It is illegal to “Y” off a
2-wire Motor Port.
b. Teams may not “Y” off a Motor Controller 29

[kypyro]

@HowDoITurnThisOn?

If we run out of space for our motors on our cortex, would it be legal to add a second one? Do the rules specifically prevent this?

Rule <R9> prohibits this:

<R9> Robots must use ONLY one (1) VEX EDR Microcontroller.
a. Examples of VEX EDR Microcontrollers are the VEX v.5 PIC Microcontroller and the VEX ARM® Cortex®-based Microcontroller.

Full rules available here:

VRC-InTheZone-GameManual-20170817.pdf

[Edit: Ninja-ed. Very good answer by @synapse, including why you shouldn’t be running out of motor ports.]

[HowDoITurnThisOn]

@Amadeus

If this is for an official VRC event:

Any additional motors need to be Y-cabled from the cortex:

it’s not, it’s for “in the zone”

[HowDoITurnThisOn]

@5YNAP5E Any additional motors need to be Y-cabled from the cortex

What exactly is a Y-cable?

[kypyro]

@HowDoITurnThisOn?

it’s not, it’s for “in the zone”

Okay. I’m assuming you need to learn a little background. How can we help?

I say this because “In The Zone” is this year’s official VRC game, and any sanctioned competition in the game will be an official VRC Event.

So, are you a new team, a new team member, or just striking out on your own?

[kypyro]

@HowDoITurnThisOn?

What exactly is a Y-cable?

Here’s the products page entry with a bit of relevant info:

https://www.vexrobotics.com/vexedr/products/accessories/electronics/extension-cables.html

You have to click on the tab at the bottom for 3 wire extension cables.

The basic idea is it lets two motors be controlled by a single port.