Practicing Using V5RC Virtual Driving Skills – VEX Library

VEX V5 Robotics Competition (V5RC) Virtual Driving Skills lets you connect a VEX V5 Controller to your computer for practice Driving Skills matches. This article covers the available practice options and settings.

Note: Virtual Driving Skills is only available when using a Chrome browser.

Playing a Virtual Driving Skills Practice Match

Access Virtual Driving Skills for V5RC here.

Before beginning, ensure that you have your VEX V5 Controller connected to Virtual Driving Skills and your Virtual Skills Key.

V5RC Push Back Virtual Driving Skill Practice page. It reads the controller status connected, then on the right side there is drive mode for tank drive, left arcade, right arcade and split arcade. Then in the middle is the driving skills practice. In the bottom there are robot configuration with drive motors, intake motor and conveyor motor.

Once you have logged in using your Virtual Skills Key and connected your VEX V5 Controller, the Virtual Driving Skills Practice Match is ready to play. The Controller Status will show green and Connected in the upper left corner, and the Hero Bot will be in the starting position.

A close up view of the lower left hand corner of the Driving Skills Practice window, with the Play button, a white rightfacing triangle, highlighted in a red box. The play button is located vertically between the settings icon and 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 view of the upper right hand corner of the Driving Skills Practice window showing the remaining time in the match. The time reads 29 seconds.

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

A close up view of the upper left hand corner of the Driving Skills Window showoing the score updating in real time as the match is played. The score reads 1 points.

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

A close up view of the lower left hand corner of the Driving Skills window showing the Stop button, a white hexagon, that appears in place of the Play button during a match. The Stop button is located vertically between the settings icon and the reset button.

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

The end of match screen showing the Practice Results for the Team Number and Registered Team Name. The Score reads 5 points. The Retry button at the bottom of the screen is highlighted in a red box, indicating what to select to play again.

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.

A close up view of the lower left hand corner of the Driving Skills window showing the Reset button, a white circular arrow. The Reset button is located beneath the settings icon and the Play button.

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

Selecting a Drive Mode

The upper right side of the Driving Skills Practice Window showing the Drive Mode selection area in a red box. Tank Drive is currently selected, and the Left Arcade, Right Arcade, and Split arcade options are shown in a row.

You'll see Drive Mode selection options above the Virtual Driving Skills Practice Window.

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.

Select the name of the Drive Mode to change your configuration.

Each Drive Mode changes how your controller joysticks control the robot's drivetrain movement.

Tank Drive: The left joystick controls the left motor, and the right joystick controls the right motor.
Left Arcade: All movement (forward, reverse, left, and right) is controlled with the left joystick.
Right Arcade: All movement (forward, reverse, left, and right) is controlled with the right joystick.
Split Arcade: The left joystick controls forward and reverse movement, while the right joystick controls left and right turns.

Additional Settings

Camera Options

Four camera options on Virtual Driving skills are highlighted. Driver station icon, orbit camera icon, top down icon and chase icon

Camera 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 driver's perspective.
Orbit Camera Icon: Provides an overview of the entire field.
Top Down Icon: Positions the camera directly above the field.
Chase Icon: Follows the robot from behind.

Robot Configuration

To change the robot's velocities and motor button mappings, scroll down to the Robot Configuration section.

The Drive Motors section of the Robot Configuration area on the bottom of the Driving Skills page. It reads Drive Motors at the top and shows options for Maximum velocity with a slider from 0 to 100%.

The Drive Motors section allows you to adjust Dex's maximum velocity with the slider or by entering a specific value in the text box.

The Intake Motor section of the Robot Configuration area on the bottom of the Driving Skills page. It reads Intake Motor at the top and shows options for Maximum velocity with a slider from 0 to 100%, as well as Controller Mapping options for which buttons control the intake and outtake

The Intake Motor section lets you set the maximum velocity for the Intake Motor and assign controller buttons for intake controls.

Adjust the velocity using the slider or by typing a value in the text box.

Change the controller buttons by selecting the dropdown menus beside Intake and Outtake to choose your preferred buttons.

The Conveyor Motor section of the Robot Configuration area on the bottom of the Driving Skills page. It reads Conveyor Motor at the top and shows options for Maximum velocity with a slider from 0 to 100%, as well as Controller Mapping options for which buttons control the up and down

The Conveyor Motor section lets you set the maximum velocity for the Conveyor Motor and assign controller buttons for conveyor controls.

Adjust the velocity using the slider or by typing a value in the text box.

Change the controller buttons by selecting the dropdown menus beside Carry Up and Carry Down to choose your preferred buttons.