Very confused; need to make right purchases; Are there Vex Go competitions?

VEX Robotics Competition Discussion VRC
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Hi there!

I apologize in advance if this is something that has already been asked or if I am posting in the wrong place. We are doing a homeschool group robotics club, with our 4th graders who are new to robotics.

One child knows a little bit about block coding, but the others do not.

We are too small of a group to host our own “competition” and I cannot afford to purchase both Vex Go and Vex IQ. Add on to that, that our children are nearly 9, so they are very young.

Everything I find shows Vex IQ competitions, but there is nothing for Vex Go. Am I missing something? Why are there no younger competitions? Where can we find these? Is Vex IQ really the only competition level teams and kits?

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There are no Vex GO competitions. There are Vex IQ competitions targeted toward elementary and middle schoolers, and there are VRC competitions targeted toward middle and high schoolers.

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There are, in fact, VEX GO Competitions

This kit was meant to integrate a competitive environment into a classroom, camp, etc. using the VEX GO platform. The competitions are meant to be more home-grown. There are not any organized competitions for this platform. Rather, it is meant to run independent, smaller competitions amongst your own classroom, team, group, etc.

VEX GO is a great place for 4th graders new to robotics to start!

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I’m sure a current VEX Employee or actual educator would have more accurate details, but here’s what I have regardless.

VEX GO is a kit that is set up as curriculum or just a teaching aid for the classroom. You could theoretically hold a competition within the classroom or between multiple classrooms with VEX GO. It’s more of a friendly competition though. No real rankings, no real advancements, no real prizes, etc. Like, there’s not a world’s level event for it or anything. But maybe I’m out of date on this.

Additionally, the VEX GO parts are of a slightly different geometry and are easier for small hands to build with, but come apart easier as well.

VIQC, VEX IQ Challenge, or uh, I guess it’s VIQRC now. Regardless, IQ is set up to be a competition. This is where you will be able to use the RECF website to find and register from competitions near you where your team will compete with and against other teams.
I know of at least 2 homeschool teams personally and I am sure there are many more, so you are not in a unique situation.

Also, your kids are very much old enough to be on an IQ team. Even according to the VIQC Game Manual’s definition of a student, your children would be right at home in this age group. They are not too young for IQ. I’ve pasted the game manual’s definition of Student below.

Student – Anyone born after May 1, 2008 (i.e. who will be 15 or younger at VEX Worlds 2024). Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year. Students are the individuals who design, build, repair, and program the Robot with minimal Adult assistance.
• Elementary School Student - Any Student born after May 1, 2011 (i.e. who will be 12 or younger at VEX Worlds 2024). Elementary School Students may “play up” and compete as Middle School Students.
• Middle School Student – Any eligible Student that is not an Elementary School Student.

I hope this helps answer your questions! If not, feel free to ask more pointed and detailed questions and I’m sure someone will have an answer for those.

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Hi.

Yup! This is what the VEX GO Competition Kit I linked above is set up to do. You are correct that there is no culminating worlds event or anything of the like for GO. It’s meant to be purely independent.

This can be distinguished by the hexagonal flanges on all pins and connectors where round flanges are located on IQ. The snap geometry in GO is meant to be easier to assemble and disassemble.

All good info here as well!

I second the notion to keep asking away if you have any more questions.

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VGRC when?

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While there are no competitions in the US (or outside of China- as far as I know, correct me if I am wrong here), Mainland China holds VEX GO competitions. Additionally, you are correct that there is no “Worlds” event, as these are held at normal (qualifying) competitions in Mainland China (similar to how the Kalahari Signature Event held VIQRC, VEXU, and VRC under the same roof this season).

Here are some photos from this past season:
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(2022-2023 Asian Open held in Xi’an)

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(15th APAC Robotics Signature Event Playoffs held in Macau)

For the 2021-2022 season, Tournament Champions, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place were given out at the Asian Open. The banners were a teal color, which matches up with the VEX GO branding (Asian Open hands out their own custom banners instead of the RECF ones).

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(VEX GO banners are on the bottom right).

I assume similar awards were handed out at other events this season too, however since none of the VEX GO events in Mainland China were posted to Robotevents, I cannot be 100% sure (because of this, I am not even sure if normal VEX banners were awarded for the other VEX GO competitions).

Here is a link to the rules used in the Mainland Chinese competitions, and a link to the rules posted on the VEX Knowledge Base. For this season, iirc they are using the same rules and competition “game” as in last season.

Since there are no VEX GO competitions outside of Mainland China, I recommend giving the VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) a look if your homeschool group wants to compete in competitions. Both VEX GO and VEX IQ are great robotics programs, so whichever program y’all choose your VEXers will have a fun time!

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Thank you for the detailed answer!

This very well makes up my decision to go with Vex IQ! We want competitive events and we did notice the kids were eligible for this one as well!

Vex Go looks much more simplistic and might have been easier to grasp quickly. Hopefully, they will still be able to understand this one as well. :pray:

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This is awesome! Today I learned.

I love being told I’m wrong :stuck_out_tongue:

VEX GO was one of the projects I worked on for awhile as an intern here at VEX, so I really love this! Thanks for sharing.

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I think the IQ is the best route.

It will have a longer lifespan than the GO series.

If they are at all interested, IQ can take them quite far in their learning.

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4th grade: IQ for sure!

In our organization (VEX Team 3547: Virus) we start with IQ at 3rd grade (with parent support). We have VEX GO and VEX 123 for summer-camp programs, and have floated the possibility of a bi-weekly 123/Go programs, alternating one evening every 2 weeks. The GO competition scenario makes a nice exhibition/demo set to demonstrate robotics at community events.

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