Each year, a Hero Bot is designed from the V5 Competition Starter Kit to provide teams with a starting point to play the current VEX V5 Robotics Competition (V5RC) game. Hero Bots are designed using the Competition Kit pieces in a way that the robot can be disassembled at the end of the season and made into the next year's Hero Bot with the same Kit.
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.
Dex is the Hero Bot for 2025-2026 V5RC Push Back. View this page for more information on the game and how it is played.
For game definitions used throughout the article, and even more detailed information about the game rules and scoring, view the Game Manual for V5RC Push Back.
Building the Hero Bot
You can follow build instructions to construct Dex, this season's Hero Bot, from your V5 Competition Starter Kit.
For suggestions on how to break down the build within your team, look at Session 2: Building Your First Robot, of the Competition 101: V5RC Push Back 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 Dex is constructed.
Scoring Capabilities
There are many ways to score in V5RC Push Back! Watch the video on this page for an overview of scoring and gameplay. Read the Game Manual for more detailed information about scoring.
Blocks
Dex earns points by scoring Blocks in the four Goals on the V5RC Push Back Field. Dex can intake Blocks using its Intake and deliver them into a Goal using its Conveyor. Blocks are located both on the Field and in Loaders along the Field walls.
Center Goals
The Center Goal is located in the center of the Field. The Center Goal has an upper and lower section that Dex can score Blocks into. Each section can hold up to seven Blocks at a time. Alliances can earn additional points by having majority control of either Center Goal.
Long Goals
Long Goals are located on either side of the Field. Each of the Long Goals can hold up to 14 Blocks at a time. The Long Goals have a center section marked. The Alliance who has the majority of Blocks in the center section of a Long Goal can earn additional points.
Park Zone
During the final moments of the match Dex can Park in the appropriate Alliance Park Zone to earn additional points. Two Hero Bots are capable of fitting in the Park Zone.
Design Features
Dex 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, Dex can be driven with the built-in Drive program on the V5 Brain. It can complete some, but not all, of the tasks in the V5RC Push Back Game.
This Hero Bot has a few key features that enable it to complete tasks in the game:
2-Motor Drivetrain
Dex has a four wheel, two motor drivetrain, allowing the Hero Bot to easily maneuver around the V5RC Push Back field.
Conveyor
The Conveyor system on Dex uses a variety of Chain Links along with Conveyor Belt Inserts. This helps the Hero Bot lift Blocks on the Field and score them into the four different Goals. The inserts hold the Blocks in place while they travel up the Conveyor Belt to be scored.
Gear Train Intake
Dex's Intake uses multiple gear trains, rubber bands, and chain links in order to grab the Blocks on the Field and lift them high enough off the ground to reach the Conveyor. The chain links are supported by the gear train, and move the 2.75” wheels, all of which is powered by one motor.
Modifying Dex
Dex can be modified to improve its performance based on your team's strategy. For instance, Dex's ability to grab Blocks could be made more effective by modifying the intake.
Look to Session 5: Improving Your Robot in the Competition 101: V5RC Push Back STEM Lab for a process to help you modify the Hero Bot. This session walks through how to make incremental improvements to a robot by making collaborative, data-based decisions.