Configuring a 4-Motor Drivetrain in VEXcode V5 – VEX Library

When starting to program with VEXcode V5, Drive and Turn blocks will not appear in the Toolbox until a Drivetrain has been configured.

You can only configure one Drivetrain per project.

If you are configuring a Drivetrain without a Gyro Sensor, click here.

In this article, the default values in the Drivetrain Settings are for the VEX V5 Clawbot.

Adding a Drivetrain

VEX V5 Robot Configuration button graphic, illustrating the interface for setting up robot parameters and controls in the VEX V5 system.

To configure a Drivetrain, select the Devices button to open the Devices window.

Diagram showing the configuration of a V5 robot with labeled components, including motors and sensors, illustrating the setup process for adding devices in the V5 robotics system.

Select “Add a device.”

Diagram of a VEX V5 Select 4-DT Motor configuration, illustrating the motor's design and connections in the context of robot configuration.

Select “Drivetrain 4-Motor.”

Diagram of VEX V5 motor configuration showing various motor types and their placement in a robot setup, illustrating the components for optimal performance in robotics applications.

Select which ports the Left Motors, Right Motors, and the Gyro Sensor are attached to on the VEX V5 Brain. Ports that are already configured for other devices will be unavailable.

Note: The Gyro Sensor is connected to a 3-Wire port not a Smart Port.

Screenshot of a robot configuration interface in V5, displaying various settings and options for configuring robot components.

Once the Drivetrain has been configured, select “Done” to submit the device to the configuration or “Cancel” to return back to the Devices menu.

Note: Selecting “Cancel” will undo any changes you have made to the device and will not be a part of the configuration.

Changing a Drivetrain’s Port Numbers

Diagram showing the drive port number configuration for V5 robot, illustrating the layout and labeling of various drive ports in the Robot Config section.

You can change the port numbers for the Left Motors or Right Motors in the Drivetrain by selecting the device’s plug icon in the top right corner of the Options screen.

Diagram showing port selection for V5 robot configuration, illustrating various ports and their functions, relevant to the V5 Category Description and Robot Config section.

Select a different port on the Port Selection screen and the port number will turn green. Then select "Done" to submit the change.

Changing a Drivetrain’s Wheel Size

VEX V5 robot wheel, showcasing its design and features, used in the context of robot configuration.

You can change the wheel size for the Drivetrain by selecting the drop down menu under “Wheel Size.”

Changing a Drivetrain’s Track Width

Diagram illustrating the DTRatio for robot configuration in V5, showing the relationship between wheel size and gear ratio for optimal performance.

You can change the size of the track width for the Drivetrain by entering the values in the number box and by selecting the drop down menu under “Track Width.” The track width is the measurement between the middle of the front left wheel to the middle of the front right wheel.

Changing a Drivetrain’s Gear Ratio

Diagram illustrating the process of changing the robot configuration in VEX V5, showing various components and settings adjustments needed for optimal performance.

You can change the gear ratio for the Drivetrain by entering values in the “Input” and “Output” boxes.

Reversing a Drivetrain

Diagram of V5 Robot Configuration showing various components and their connections, illustrating the setup for optimal performance in robotics applications.

The Options screen also allows the direction of the Drivetrain to be reversed.

Deleting a Drivetrain

Diagram illustrating the robot configuration in V5, showing various components and their arrangement for optimal performance.

A Drivetrain can also be deleted by selecting the “Delete” option at the bottom of the screen.

Changing a Gear Cartridge

Illustration of a V5 robot cartridge, showcasing its design and components, relevant to the V5 Category Description and Robot Config section.

The Options screen also allows the gear cartridge to be changed.