This thread will be used to publish updates to the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual.
Please start a separate thread in this forum for unofficial discussion of any of these changes. For any official questions, please post in the official VIQRC Full Volume Q&A.
On June 14th, 2022, Version 0.2 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Updated rule G5 to correct metric conversions
Updated typo in rule SG1 to be Goals I and II
Updated Figure 18 to provide further clarity to SG1
Updated rule SG3 to include G10 interactions
Updated rule R4a to state that Robots may only start a Match contacting the Floor and Field Perimeter
Updated rule R6 to include VEX CTE
The next manual update, Version 1.0, will occur on June 27th, 2023.
On June 27th, 2023, Version 1.0 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Added a new bullet to T11 to clarify that the Field Reset Pins are optional
Added R16 to provide regulations on VEX IQ Pneumatics
Minor typo fixes
The next manual update, Version 2.0, will occur on August 1st, 2023.
On August 1st, 2023, Version 2.0 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
By definition, all Violations of this rule become Score Affecting as soon as a Robot which was built by an Adult scores points in a Match.
Note: The 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 VIQRC games will include a third Drive Team member. This will be a non-Driver role that will focus on human “match load” interactions with Game Objects. More information will be available when the 2024-2025 VIQRC Game Manual is released in May 2024.
Have no motors or other mechanisms in motion or “running” until the Match begins. Pre-charging a pneumatic system (i.e., having the Pneumatic Pump running prior to the Match) is the only permitted exception to this rule.
Note: There is no limit on the number of Pneumatic Cylinders or Pneumatic Control Units that may be used, provided that no other rules are violated. There are no restrictions on running the Pneumatic Pump prior to (or during) Matches.
Robots may not expand horizontally beyond the 11” x 20” starting dimension limit at any time during a Match. This “horizontal” measurement is made relative to the Robot’s starting orientation; it is not “absolutely horizontal” relative to the Floor.
Added a new figure to SG2 to illustrate the above change
Updated R15 to include the cutting of pneumatic tubing
Updated T1e to clarify that a Head Referee may only watch one Match at a time
Every Qualification Match and Finals Match must be watched by a Head Referee. Head Referees may only watch one Match at a time; if multiple Matches are happening simultaneously on separate fields, each field must have its own Head Referee.
The next manual update, Version 2.1, will occur on October 3rd, 2023.
On October 3rd, 2023, Version 2.1 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Updated G1 to include a link to the Code of Conduct Process
Updated SG3 to state that Blocks being returned to the Supply Zone should not disturb other Blocks or contact a Robot
Blocks that leave the Field during a Match may be returned to the Supply Zone by a Driver or Referee.
a. “Leaving the Field” means that a Block is outside of the Field Perimeter and no longer in contact with the Field, Field Elements, other Blocks, or Robots. If Blocks are removed from a Robot during a interaction, these Blocks are considered “out of the Field” as soon as they are no longer in contact with any Robots.
b. Blocks may not be placed in contact with any Robots.
c. Moving or disturbing other Blocks during this action may be considered a Violation of rule . If a Block is unable to be returned without disturbing other Blocks, it should remain outside of the Field until it can be legally placed.
d. Any Blocks which remain outside of the Field at the end of a Match will be considered “in” the Supply Zone (i.e., the Supply Zone will not be eligible to be Cleared). "
Updated R15 to clarify intent
Updated T17 to clarify multi-division tournament structure
For tournaments that have more than 1 division, Teams will be ranked among all Teams in their specific division. Each division will have its own Finals Matches. The winners of each division will then have an overall event Finals. Any multi-division event must be approved by the REC Foundation EEM/RSM prior to the event, and divisions must be assigned in sequential order by Team number.
The next manual update, Version 2.2, will occur on December 5th, 2023.
On December 5th, 2023, Version 2.2 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
The region behind the Field where the Drivers must remain during their Match unless legally interacting with their Robot. The Driver Station is represented by the orange line in Figures 1 and 2.
b. Any Scoring into Goals which happens after the Match, even if Robots have stopped moving, will result in that Goal being considered “empty”. All Blocks in the Goal will receive zero points, the Goal will not receive any points for a Uniform Bonus. The Goal will not have reached any Fill Level, therefore no Height Bonus will be awarded.
Violation Notes: A Team’s first instance of Scoring a Block after the end of the Match will be considered a Minor Violation. Subsequent Violations will be recorded as Major Violations and Disqualifications.
Note: Accidentally dislodging the following Field Elements will not result in a Violation of this rule:
- Any Starting Peg
- The red 2x20 beams marking the edges of the Supply Zone
Drivers must remain in their Driver Station, except when legally interacting with their Robot per G10 or returning a Block to the Supply Zone per SG3.
The definition of the word “promptly” is at the discretion of the Event Partner and Head Referee, who will consider event schedule, previous warnings or delays, etc. As a general guideline, five seconds to check Robot alignment would be acceptable, but five minutes to go get a new battery would not.
The following general guidelines can be used for Block placement tolerances:
- Red Blocks: The curved face should be balanced on both halves of the Starting Peg. Neither of the gray Starting Peg plates should be able to “nest” inside of the red Block’s triangular notches.
- Purple Blocks: The angled corners should not cross over any black line, and the Block should not overlap any holes in the field tiles.
- Green Blocks: The angled corners should not cross over any black line.
The next manual update, Version 3.0, will occur on January 30th, 2024.
On January 30th, 2024, Version 3.0 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
The VEX IQ Brain and VEX IQ Controller may not be physically connected during a Match, and may only communicate through the radio.
The next manual update, Version 4.0, will occur on April 2nd, 2024.
On April 2nd, 2024, Version 4.0 of the VIQRC Full Volume Game Manual was released, and the following changes were made:
Fields & Robots
- Fields will be elevated 16” off of the ground.
- The full Robot Inspection Checklist can be found here
- Robots will be inspected with Blocks in their intake/manipulator to determine accurate size.
Tournament Structure (Divisions)
The 2024 VEX Robotics World Championship will consist of the following divisions:
- VIQRC Middle School: 5 divisions
- VIQRC Elementary School: 5 divisions
To determine Division Champions, each division will play as a separate standalone tournament.
- Teams will have 10 Qualification Matches.
- Finals Matches will follow the standard format laid out in rule .
- 20 Teams / 10 Alliances will play in Finals Matches of each division.
Tournament Structure (Overall Finals / “VEX Dome”)
- To determine the World Champions at each grade level, the Division Champions within each grade level will play a single set of Finals Matches, per the standard format in rule .
- Other than the seeding purposes listed below, scores from the Division Finals are not used in the Overall Finals (i.e., it is a “full reset”). For example, if an Alliance achieves a lower score in their Overall Finals Match than the score that won their Division, the Overall Finals Match score will be the one that is used to determine their final ranking.
- Division Champions will be seeded within the divisions in their grade level for this tournament using the following criteria:
- Alliance score that won their Division
- Sum of the two Teams’ Qualification Match scores
- Random electronic draw
Added new grey boxes to various rules throughout the manual to note significant Q&As that Teams should be aware of before the VEX Robotics World Championship.
Updated the violation note of SC1 to clarify intent
A Team’s first instance of Scoring after the end of the Match (e.g., Scoring a Block, Clearing a Starting Peg, Clearing the Supply Zone, or Parking) will be considered a Minor Violation. Subsequent Violations will be recorded as Major Violations and Disqualifications.
To ensure that Drive Team Members are aware of verbal calls or warnings during a Match (as an application of rules T1, G1, S1, and G3), powered headphones, earbuds, and passive earpieces connected to electronic devices cannot be worn/used in the Alliance Station except as required by an officially approved accommodation request.
The Robot must be placed back into a legal starting position, which includes contacting the Field Perimeter and not contacting any Blocks, Goals/structures, Starting Pegs, or other Robots. The Robot’s height does not need to be reset.
There is a difference between accidentally and willfully violating a Robot rule. Any violation of Robot rules, accidental or intentional, will result in a Team being unable to play until they pass inspection (per R3d).
However, Teams who intentionally and/or knowingly circumvent or violate rules to gain an advantage over their fellow competitors are in violation of the spirit and ethos of the competition. Any Violation of this sort may be considered a violation of and/or the REC Foundation Code of Conduct."
Upon handling the Robot, it must be immediately brought back to any legal Starting Position. The Robot’s height does not need to be reset, and motors/mechanisms may remain in motion.