Practicing Using VEX IQ Virtual Driving Skills – VEX Library

VEX IQ Robotics Competition Virtual Driving Skills allows you to connect a VEX IQ (2nd gen) Controller to your computer and complete practice Driving Skills matches. This article walks through the options available to you when practicing Virtual Driving Skills.

Note: Virtual Driving Skills is available only when using a Chrome browser with a VEX IQ (2nd gen) Controller.

Playing a Virtual Driving Skills Practice Match

Virtual Driving Skills for VEX IQ can be accessed using this link.

Before beginning, ensure that your VEX IQ (2nd gen) Controller is connected to Virtual Driving Skills, and that you have your Virtual Skills Key ready.

The Virtual Skills Practice window showing the Connection status in the upper left corner as green and Connected. In the upper right corner, the Drive Mode shows four options, Tank Drive is selected, and Left Arcade, Right Arcade, and Split Arcade, are pictured alongside. The Driving Skills Practice field is shown at the start of the match.

Once you have logged in using your Virtual Skills Key and connected your VEX IQ (2nd gen) Controller, the Virtual Driving Skills Practice Match is ready to play. The Controller Status will show green and display Connected in the upper left corner, and the Hero Bot will be in the starting position.

A closeup of the lower left corner of the Driving Skills Practice window with the Play button, showing a rightfacing arrow, highlighted above the reset button.

To start the match, press the Play button in the bottom-left corner.

The Driving Skills Practice window with a large 3 in the center showing the countdown to the start of the match.

A countdown will appear in the center of the screen, allowing you to prepare to start driving using your controller.

A close-up screenshot of the upper right corner of the Practice window, with the timer highlighted showing the time at 1 minute at the start of a match.

During the match, the time remaining is shown in the upper-right corner.

A close up of the upper left corner of the Practice window where it reads Score and shows 6 points.

During the match, your score will update in the upper-left corner.

The same lower left corner of the Practice window, now with a Stop sign icon in place of the Play button, above the refresh button.

To end the match before time runs out, select the Stop button in the bottom-left corner.

The Practice Results pop up showing the team name and number with a score of 6 points, and the retry button on the bottom beneath the score is highlighted. In the upper left corner is an X button.

At the end of the match, your team name and final score will be displayed. Select Retry to close this window and reset the field. Select the X in the upper left corner to close the window without resetting the field.

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The Reset button in the bottom-left corner can also be used to reset the field layout.

Selecting a Drive Mode

A screenshot of the upper right portion of the screen above the Practice Window reads Drive Mode and shows four options. Tank Drive is selected and the Left Arcade, Right Arcade, and Split Arcade shown beside it.

Above the Virtual Driving Skills Practice Window, you will see options for selecting the Drive Mode.

A close up view of the Drive Mode options, showing Tank Drive selected. The other three options are to the right and read Left Arcade, Right Arcade, and Split Arcade.

The selected Drive Mode will show the name in dark blue and have a blue line around the icon.

To change the configuration, select the name of your desired Drive Mode.

Each Drive Mode sets the configuration of your controller joysticks and how the joysticks control the movement of the Drivetrain.

Tank Drive — Drives the left motor of the robot using the left joystick, and the right motor of the robot using the right joystick.
Left Arcade — Drives the robot forward, reverse, left, and right all using the left joystick.
Right Arcade — Drives the robot forward, reverse, left, and right all using the right joystick.
Split Arcade — Drives the robot forward and reverse using the left joystick, and turns the robot right and left using the right joystick.

Additional Settings

Camera Options

A close up of the lower right corner of the Driving Skills Practice window with the three camera buttons highlighted below the match loads.

View options for the Field are located in the lower-right corner of the Virtual Driving Skills Practice Window.

Driver Station Icon — Changes the camera to the view from the Driver Station.
Top Down Icon — Changes the camera to be positioned above the Field.
Chase Icon — Changes the camera to be positioned behind the robot.

Robot Configuration

The Hero Bot Flop with forward and backward facing arrows extending from the front through the intake and the back between the rear wheels,. Beneath it reads Drive Motors with Max Velocity limit with a slider and text box to enter a value of 0 to 100 percent.

The Drive Motors section enables you to set the Hero Bot's maximum velocity. Select the slider to change the velocity or type the desired maximum velocity in the text box.

The intake on flip is highlighted with a dual facing arrow showing the direction of spin. Beneath it reads Intake Motor with max velocity inputs in a text box and slider, and controller mapping with dropdowns for intake and outtake direction.

The Intake Motor Group section enables you to set the maximum velocity for the Intake Motor, as well as set the controller buttons that control the Intake.

To adjust the velocity, select and drag the slider, or type the desired velocity limit in the text box.

To change the controller buttons, select the dropdown beside Intake and Outtake to set your desired buttons.

Flop's arm extended toward the rear of the robot with a double ended arrow showing the direction of movement. Beneath it reads Arm Motor and has a slider and text box to adjust the max velocity and controller mapping with drop downs for arm up and arm down.

The Arm Motor section enables you to set the maximum velocity for the Arm Motor, as well as set the controller buttons that control the Arm.

To adjust the velocity, select and drag the slider, or type the desired velocity limit in the text box.

To change the controller buttons, select the dropdown beside Arm Up and Arm Down to set your desired buttons.

Match Loads

You can add Match Loads to the Load Zone on the field using the Match Load buttons. Each match begins with four Match Loads of each color.

A close up of the lower right corner of the Practice window with the Match Load buttons highlighted above the camera buttons. The top button shows a red bean bag and reads x 4, the bottom shows a blue bean bag and reads x 4.

Select the color Bean Bag (red or blue) you wish to load. You can add one Match Load at a time. Once added, the counter will count down to show the remaining Match Loads available in that color.

A close up of the Red Load Zone in the corner of the field, with the load zone with a red bean bag in it highlighted.

Once selected, the Match Load will be added to the Load Zone corresponding to the color selected. You will not be able to add an additional Match Load until that one is picked up.