Configuring a Custom Robot in VEXcode GO – VEX Library

When building a custom robot with any of the following devices, each device will need to be configured to be available for use in VEXcode GO. These include:

Drivetrain - Drivetrain blocks
non-drivetrain Motor - Motion blocks
LED Bumper - Bumper Looks/Sensing blocks
Electromagnet - Magnet block
Eye Sensor - Eye Sensing blocks

Diagram of the GO Brain with both rows of Ports shown side by side. The 4 Smart Ports are highlighted on one side of the Brain, and the Eye Sensor Port is highlighted on the opposite side.

You can configure a device by selecting ’Add a device’ in VEXcode GO. You only need to configure the devices which you are using on your custom robot. You can add up to four Smart Port devices and one Eye Sensor.

Smart Port devices:

You can configure one build (set of devices) per project.

Adding a Device to the Configuration

VEX GO Toolbar with the Devices icon highlighted to the left of the Monitor Console icon.

To add a device for your custom robot, select the Robot Configuration icon to open the Devices window.

Note: These steps need to be followed each time you add a new device to your custom robot.

VEX GO Devices menu with the Add a device button highlighted.

Select ‘Add a device.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the Add a device button has been selected. The Custom Robot option is highlighted.

Select ‘CUSTOM ROBOT.’

Adding a Drivetrain - Drivetrain blocks

Diagram of the Code Base robot with the two Motor pieces labeled together as a Two Motor Drivetrain.

If your custom robot has a two-motor drivetrain, like the Code Base robot, you will need to add a Drivetrain to the configuration.

VEX GO Devices menu after the Custom Robot option has been selected. The Drivetrain option is highlighted.

After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘DRIVETRAIN.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the Drivetrain option has been selected. There is a list of the robot's 4 Smart Ports, and the port numbered 4 is highlighted so it can be assigned to the Left Motor.

Select the Smart Port the Left Motor is plugged into.

Diagram of the Code Base robot looking from the rear to the front, so the front is facing away. The Motor on the left from this angle is labeled Left Drive, and the right Motor is labeled Right Drive.

Note: you can determine the drive side by looking from the rear of your robot to the front. The standard Code Base build has the left motor in port 4 and the right motor in port 1.

VEX GO Devices Drivetrain menu after the Left Motor option has been selected. There is a list of the robot's 4 Smart Ports, and the port numbered 1 is highlighted so it can be assigned to the Right Motor.

Select the Smart Port the Right Motor is plugged into.

VEX GO Devices Drivetrain menu after the Motor ports have been selected. There are options to change the robot's gear ratio and the preferred drive direction.

Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.

Note: there is an option to change the Gear Ratio of the Drivetrain.

VEX GO Workspace with the Blocks Toolbox shown and the Drivetrain category selected.

Once the Drivetrain has been configured, the following Drivetrain blocks will be available for your project.

For more information on the commands from the ‘Drivetrain’ category, view the Help information.

Adding a Motor - Motion blocks

Diagram of the Robot Arm build with the Motor used to spin the arm labeled as a Non-Drivetrain Motor.

If your custom robot has a motor which is a non-drivetrain motor, like the Robot Arm (1-Axis) build, you will need to add it to the configuration.

VEX GO Devices menu after the Custom Robot option has been selected. The Motor option is highlighted.

After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘MOTOR.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the Motor option has been selected. There is a list of the robot's 4 Smart Ports, and the port numbered 2 is highlighted so it can be assigned to the new Motor.

Select the Smart Port the Motor is plugged into.

VEX GO Devices Motor menu after the port has been selected. There are options to change the Motor's name, the name of each direction, and a toggle to reverse the Motor's rotation.

Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.

Note: there is an option to change the name of the Motor in the text window from Motor2 to a different name, and an option to change the direction the Motor spins.

VEX GO Devices Motor menu after the port has been selected. The Motor's name has been renamed to ArmMotor and is highlighted.

For example, if a motor lifts an arm on your custom robot, you can rename the motor to ArmMotor.

VEX GO Spin block that reads Spin ArmMotor forward. A label indicates that the block's Motor dropdown menu can be used to change the selected Motor.

Renaming the motor will make programming much easier because the name will show up on the Motion blocks.

VEX GO Devices Motor menu after the port has been selected. The name of the Motor's directions have been changed from forward and reverse to up and down.

The actions of the motor can also be renamed to make your programming easier. For example, you could change the text window labels for the ArmMotor’s direction to up and down.

Note: for the Competition Advanced robot, the Normal/Reverse switch should be toggled to Reverse.

VEX GO Spin block that reads Spin ArmMotor up. The block's direction dropdown menu is opened to indicate that it be used to change the direction the Motor will spin.

Changing these labels will also show up on the parameters for the Motion blocks.

VEX GO Workspace with the Blocks Toolbox shown and the Motion category selected.

Once the Motor has been configured, the following Motion blocks will be available for your project.

For more information on the commands from the ‘Motion’ category, view the Help information.

Adding a LED Bumper - Bumper Looks/Sensing blocks

LED Bumper piece with a connected cable that can be plugged into a Smart Port.

If your custom robot has a LED Bumper, you will need to add a LED Bumper device to the configuration.

VEX GO Devices menu after the Custom Robot option has been selected. The LED Bumper option is highlighted.

After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT’, select ‘LED BUMPER.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the LED Bumper option has been selected. There is a list of the robot's 4 Smart Ports, and the port numbered 3 is highlighted so it can be assigned to the new LED Bumper.

Select the Smart Port the LED Bumper is plugged into.

VEX GO Devices LED Bumper menu after the selected port has been changed to 3. The LED Bumper's name has been renamed to LEDBumper3 and is highlighted.

Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.

Note: there is an option to change the name of the LED Bumper in the text window from LEDBumper3 to a different name.

VEX GO Workspace with three Blocks that are used to control the LED Bumper. The blocks read set LEDBumper3 to red, Set LEDBumper3 brightness to 50%, and LEDBumper3 pressed?

Once the LED Bumper has been configured, the following ‘Bumper Looks’ and ‘Bumper Sensing’ blocks will be available for your project.

For more information on the commands from the ‘Bumper Looks’ and ‘Bumper Sensing’ categories, view the Help information.

Adding an Electromagnet - Magnet blocks

Electromagnet piece with a connected cable that can be plugged into a Smart Port.

If your custom robot has an Electromagnet, you will need to add an Electromagnet device to the configuration.

VEX GO Devices menu after the Custom Robot option has been selected. The Electromagnet option is highlighted.

After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT,’ select ‘ELECTROMAGNET.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the Electromagnet option has been selected. There is a list of the robot's 4 Smart Ports, and the port numbered 2 is highlighted so it can be assigned to the new Electromagnet.

Select the Smart Port the Electromagnet is plugged into.

VEX GO Devices Electromagnet menu after the selected port has been changed to 2. The Electromagnet's name has been renamed to Magnet2 and is highlighted.

Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.

Note: there is an option to change the name of the Electromagnet in the text window from Magnet2 to a different name.

VEX GO Energize electromagnet block that reads Energize Magnet2 to boost.

Once the Electromagnet has been configured, the following Magnet block will be available for your project.

For more information on the Magnet command, view the Help information.

Adding an Eye Sensor - Eye Sensing blocks

Diagram of the Eye Sensor piece with a connected cable that can only be plugged into the Eye Sensor Port. The diagram shows the cable being plugged into the Eye Sensor Port on the brain.

If your custom robot has an Eye Sensor, you will need to add an Eye Sensor device to the configuration. Note: The Eye Sensor must be plugged into the Eye Sensor port - NOT one of the 4 Smart ports.

VEX GO Devices menu after the Custom Robot option has been selected. The Eye option is highlighted.

After selecting the ‘CUSTOM ROBOT,’ select ‘EYE.’

VEX GO Devices menu after the Eye option has been selected. There is a message reading Connect to Eye Port, and the Done button below is highlighted.

Select ‘DONE’ to complete the configuration or ‘CANCEL’ to return to the Devices menu.

Note: Be sure the Eye Sensor is plugged into the Eye Port.

VEX GO Workspace with the Blocks Toolbox shown and the Eye Sensing blocks inside the Sensing category shown.

Once the Eye Sensor has been configured, the following Eye Sensing blocks will be available for your project.

For more information on the Eye Sensor commands, view the Help information.

Deleting a Device

VEX GO Devices menu with a list of connected devices shown. An LED Bumper is highlighted, indicating that it can deleted after selecting it.

After you have added the devices, a device can be deleted by selecting the device.

VEX GO Devices menu after selecting the connected LED Bumper device. The Delete button in the bottom left corner is highlighted.

Selecting the ‘Delete’ option at the bottom of the screen will delete the device.