Each year, a Hero Bot is designed from the VEX IQ Competition Kit (2nd generation) to provide teams with a starting point to play the current VEX IQ Robotics Competition (VIQRC) game. Experienced teams are able to quickly assemble a robot to investigate the game's dynamics. New teams can use the Hero Bot to learn valuable building skills and have a robot they can customize to compete with early in the season.
Huey is the Hero Bot for 2025-2026 VIQRC Mix & Match. View this page for more information on the game and how it is played.
For game definitions used throughout this article, and even more detailed information about the game rules and scoring, view the Game Manual for VIQRC Mix & Match.
Building the Hero Bot
You can follow build instructions to construct Huey, this season's Hero Bot, from your IQ Competition Kit (2nd gen).
For suggestions on how to break down the build within your team, look at Session 2: Building Your First Robot of the Competition 101: VIQRC Mix & Match STEM Lab Unit. This session's activities are divided into station-based exploration, so that all team members can be engaged while each stage of Huey is constructed.
Scoring Capabilities
There are many ways to score in VIQRC Mix & Match! Watch the video on this page for an overview of scoring and gameplay. Read the Game Manual for more detailed information about scoring.
Stacking and Clearing Pins
Huey earns points by stacking Pins on the VIQRC Mix & Match Field. Huey is able to pick up and lift Pins to stack them on top of each other. Huey can also clear Starting Pins from the sides of the Field.
Scoring Stacks in Goals
Positioning Stacks in the various Goals on the Field can earn additional points. Huey can lift and place Stacks in the Triangle, Square, or Floor Goals, as well as on top of the Standoff Goal.
Manipulating Beams
The Beams on the Field can be used as part of a multi-color Stack with Pins, and offer additional scoring opportunities. Huey can manipulate the Beams using the Claw and Lift in order to make high-point Stacks.
Design Features
Huey is meant to be a starting point for a competition robot, designed to help students, teachers, and coaches quickly build a robot to begin understanding the game. As such, Huey can be driven with the built-in Drive project on the IQ (2nd gen) Brain. It can complete some, but not all, tasks in the VIQRC Mix & Match game.
This Hero Bot has a few key features that enable it to complete tasks in the game:
2-Motor Drivetrain
Huey's drivetrain is powered by two motors. The drivetrain operates using a gear train to drive the four wheels on the Hero Bot. This allows Huey to move around the VIQRC Mix & Match Field effectively.
Huey uses four omni-directional wheels to enhance the robot's multi-directional movement.
Claw
The Claw enables Huey to grasp Pins and Beams. The Claw's structure, and additional rubber bands, allow Huey to have enough strength and tension to be able to grab and lift Pins and Beams to form Stacks.
The Claw is attached to Huey's Lift, and uses rope from the Kit for added tension.
Lift
The Lift works in tandem with the Claw of Huey. The Lift allows the Claw to slide vertically up and down in order to raise Pins and Beams, create Stacks, or move Stacks into Goals.
The Lift uses a chain and sprocket system attached by a shaft to gears that raise and lower Linear Motion Rack Gears.
Modifying Huey
Huey can be modified to improve its performance based on your team's strategy. For instance, the size and weight of the Beams make it difficult for Huey to move them well. You can consider modifying the Claw to grasp and move Beams more effectively.
Look to Session 5: Improving Your Robot in the Competition 101: VIQRC Mix & Match STEM Lab for a process to help you modify the Hero Bot. This session walks through how to make small modifications, like changing the wheels on Huey, and collect data about those changes. Then you can make a data-based decision about the effectiveness of the change.