VEX Robotics Competitions: STEM-On-Rails IP Math & Physics Guide

Name: Eclat Institute — UClub LaunchPad @ one-north
Address: 67 Ayer Rajah Crescent, #02-14, Singapore, 139950, SG

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01 Dec 2025, 00:00 Z

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Q: What does VEX Robotics Competitions: STEM-On-Rails IP Math & Physics Guide cover?
A: How the VEX IQ, V5 (VRC) and VEX U contests translate coding, mechanics and teamwork into the very algebra, vectors and energy laws your IP child meets in.

TL;DR
VEX Robotics is a season-long, game-change competition that begins with a May game reveal, funnels through local qualifiers and culminates at the VEX World Championship - Guinness lists it as the world's largest student robotics event. Each division (IQ, VRC, U) bakes gear ratios, projectile arcs and PID control straight into the IP Maths & Physics syllabus, making every driver-practice a stealth WA revision. Specs below reflect the 2024-25 games; confirm new rules after the May reveal.

Registration quick answer (Singapore): Teams/coaches register on RobotEvents (official REC Foundation platform) for Singapore events; rules and windows change each season. Start from REC Foundation and the RobotEvents portal for listings and requirements: https://recf.org/ and https://www.robotevents.com/

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Reinforce robotics prep with the IP Maths hub, which covers proof techniques, WA checklists, and complementary contests.

1 What exactly is “VEX”?

Division	Age/Level	Robot kit & size	Field	2024-25 game
VEX IQ Challenge (VIQC)	Primary & lower secondary $≈8-14 y$

Month	Milestone	IP-friendly action
Apr	World Championship + next-game reveal	Watch reveal video; start brainstorming drivetrain geometry.
May-Jun	Rulebook v1.0 released	Turn scoring rules into linear-programming “max score” worksheet.
Jul-Nov	Local scrimmages & Signature Events	Log each match - use scatter plots of score vs cycle time for Maths WA data-handling.
Jan	Singapore Nationals	Counts for DSA-Sec/JAE portfolios under Robotics talent area
Apr (next yr)	Worlds, Dallas (VRC & VIQC)	Travel-team experience = real-world vector decompositions & budget spreadsheets.

Match	Length	Teams/Alliances	Scoring cue
VIQC	60 s driver, 15 s autonomous	2 robots collaborate	Points for moving rings to goals or corral (see current manual for values).
VRC	15 s auton + 1 min 45 s driver	2-team alliances	Triball scoring and end-game bonuses vary by season-use the latest game manual.
VEX U	same structure	University dual-bot alliance	Larger object count, extra autonomy bonus (per current manual).

VEX task	Mirror WA topic	Mini-drill
Tune flywheel hood angle	Trig identities	Prove $\sin(90^\circ - \theta)= \cos \theta$ then set hood = $\theta$ .
Auton line-follow using PID	Differential calculus	Plot error vs time, identify overshoot.
Drivetrain gearing for 200 rpm	Ratio & proportion	Simplify $36:12:60$ two-stage.
Build load-spreader for ramp	Moments	Sum clockwise = anticlockwise around axle.

VEX Robotics Competitions: STEM-On-Rails IP Math & Physics Guide

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1 What exactly is “VEX”?

1.1 Scale of the programme

2 Season timeline (sync your child's planner)

3 Where VEX dovetails with IP Maths & Physics

3.1 Gear ratios ↔ Algebraic fractions

3.2 Torque & power ↔ Work-Energy

3.3 Projectile arcs ↔ SUVAT

3.4 PID control ↔ Calculus

4 Competition mechanics (what parents need to know)

5 Getting started in Singapore

6 Quick WA-booster drills

7 Further reading

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