Overview of the VEX V5 Sensors – VEX Library

One of the key elements for a robot is the ability to receive feedback from the environment. The V5 Sensors bring the quality and abundance of feedback to a whole new level for educational and competition robots.

Watch this video to learn about the sensors covered in this article. More detailed information is provided below.

Vision Sensor

Diagram of V5 sensors, illustrating various types and their functions, including distance, color, and touch sensors, within the context of V5 robotics category description.

The Vision Sensor gives sight to your robot.
It is capable of detecting up to 7 colors at once, including multi-colored objects.

This sensor can be used for recognizing colors and color patterns
This sensor can be used to follow an object
This sensor can be used to collect information about the environment

Connect a phone or tablet to the V5 Robot Brain through built-in WiFi to stream a live feed of your robot's view to your device from the camera on the sensor’s front.

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their types and functionalities, as part of the V5 Category Description in the VEX Knowledge Base.

Two #8-32 threaded inserts provide for an easy attachment to your robot using any of the #8-32 VEX screws.

There are also Pin holes which can be utilized for attachment with the VEX IQ system, however, these will not provide the same level of securement as the VEX screws and threaded inserts will on a VEX V5 Robot.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, highlighting their features and connections, used in robotics applications for enhanced functionality and performance.

There is a V5 Smart Port for connecting to the V5 Robot Brain on the bottom of the sensor. There is also a VEX IQ Smart Port which allows the sensor to be utilized with the VEX IQ system.

In addition, there is a micro USB port which allows you to connect the Vision Sensor to your device so it can be configured and tuned to identify different colors.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, showcasing various sensor types and their connections in the VEX Robotics system, intended to enhance understanding of sensor integration and functionality.

On the top of the sensor is a button which is used to place the sensor into firmware update mode (hold when you plug in USB).

There is also an LED which turns green when you first connect.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, showcasing their types and features, relevant to V5 Category Description.

VEXcode V5 allows you to configure and tune the Vision Sensor using the Vision Utility and it allows you to utilize the Vision Sensor capabilities to:

Take a snapshot
Set the object count
Measure the objects width, height, center x, center y, angle
Count the number of objects
Detect an object

within example projects and custom user projects.

There are also a number of other custom programming options available.

For more information on Vision Sensor, please see these articles.

Vision Sensor's Specifications

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their components and connections, as part of the V5 Category Description section.

V5 Optical Sensor

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their features and connections, as part of the V5 Category Description.

The V5 Optical Sensor is a combination of the following sensors:

Ambient light sensor
Color sensor
Proximity sensor

The Optical Sensor has a white LED to assist color detection in low light conditions.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including their types and functionalities, as part of the V5 Category Description in the VEX Robotics knowledge base.

The housing of this sensor has two mounting tabs with slotted holes to provide flexibility when mounting the sensor to your robot.

On the face of the sensor there is a small window where the optical sensors are located.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including various types and their connections, used in robotics applications. The image provides a visual representation of sensor placement and functionality within the V5 system.

The Optical Sensor’s illuminated Smart Port is conveniently located on its side which allows for a secure connection with the V5 Robot Brain using a smart cable

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their types and functions, as part of the V5 Category Description in robotics.

VEXcode V5 allows you to utilize the Optical Sensor capabilities to:

Turn the sensor’s white LED light on or off
Set the white LED light’s percentage of power
Detect an object
Detect a color
Measure the percent brightness of ambient light
Measure the hue of a color in degrees

within example projects and custom user projects.

For more information on the V5 Optical Sensor, please see this article.

V5 Distance Sensor

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including their types and functionalities, as part of the V5 Category Description for robotics applications.

The V5 Distance Sensor uses a pulse of classroom-safe laser light to measure the distance from the front of the sensor to an object.

It can also:

detect an object and determine the relative size of the object.as small, medium, or large
used to calculate a robot’s approach speed of the robot/sensor as it moves toward an object

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their types and functionalities, as part of the V5 Category Description.

The housing of this sensor has two mounting tabs with slotted holes to provide flexibility when mounting the sensor to a robot.
On the face of the sensor there is a small window where the laser beam is sent out and then received in order to measure distance.

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their types and functions, used in robotics applications.

The Distance Sensor’s illuminated Smart Port is conveniently located on its side which allows for a secure connection with the V5 Robot Brain using a smart cable.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including various types and their applications in robotics, showcasing connections and functionalities for enhanced performance in VEX robotics systems.

VEXcode V5 allows you to utilize the Distance Sensor capabilities to measure:

Distance to an object in millimeters or inches
An object/robot’s velocity in meters per second
An object’s size as small, medium, or large
If an object is detected

within example projects and custom user projects.

For more information on the V5 Distance Sensor, please see this article.

V5 Inertial Sensor

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, showcasing various types and their functionalities, including distance, color, and gyroscopic sensors, used in robotics applications.

The Inertial Sensor is a combination of a 3-axis (X, Y, and Z) accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope.

The accelerometer will detect a change in motion (acceleration) of your robot in any direction. The gyroscope electronically maintains a reference position so it can measure a rotational change of position of your robot in any direction against this reference.

There is a decal on the top of the sensor which conveniently locates the X, Y, and Z axes

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, showcasing various sensor types and their applications in robotics, including distance sensors, color sensors, and gyroscopes, to enhance functionality and performance in VEX robotics systems.

The housing of the sensor has a single mounting hole which a #8-32 screw can pass through allowing it to be easily mounted to the robot’s structure.

On the bottom of the housing, there is a round boss which is sized to be inserted into a square hole of a piece of structural metal. This will keep the sensor fixed and aligned to its attachment point.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, showcasing various sensor types and their functionalities within the V5 robotics system, intended for educational purposes.

The Inertial Sensor’s illuminated Smart Port is conveniently located on its back, which allows for a secure connection with the V5 Robot Brain using a smart cable.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including various types and their applications, showcasing connections and functionalities for robotics projects.

VEXcode V5 allows you to utilize the Inertial Sensor capabilities to:

Calibrate the Sensor
Set the robot’s heading
Set the robot’s rotation

and/or measure:

The robot’s heading
The robot’s rotation
The robot’s orientation in pitch, yaw, and roll
The robot’s acceleration in the X,Y, or Z axis
The robot’s gyro rate of the X,Y, or Z axis

within example projects and custom user projects.

For more information on the V5 Inertial Sensor, please see this article.

V5 Rotational Sensor

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their types and functions, used in robotics applications, showcasing connections and features relevant to V5 category descriptions.

The V5 Rotation Sensor is capable of measuring the following values for a shaft:

Rotational position
Total rotations
Rotation speed

The rotational position is measured from 0° to 360° with a 0.088 accuracy. The angle is determined absolutely and is not lost when the robot is powered off.

Shaft speed is measured by the sensor in degrees per second.

The Rotational sensor is compatible with both the 1/8” and the 1/4” VEX shafts.

Diagram illustrating various V5 sensors, including their components and connections, as part of the V5 Category Description. The image provides a visual reference for understanding sensor functionality in robotics.

The housing of this sensor has a shaft hole which is sized for the 1/4” VEX Shaft. This shaft hole is capable of rotating within the housing of the sensor.

The sensor housing also has a screw mounting hole which passes completely through the housing and will accommodate #8-32 screws in order to mount the sensor.

Note: The Rotational Sensor comes with two metal shaft inserts which can be inserted into the ¼” shaft hole in order to accommodate the ⅛” VEX shafts.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors, including their features and connections, for educational robotics applications.

The Rotational Sensor’s illuminated Smart Port is conveniently located on its end, which allows for a secure connection with the V5 Robot Brain using a smart cable.

Diagram illustrating V5 sensors with labeled components, showcasing their features and connections for robotics applications.

VEXcode V5 allows you to utilize the Vision Sensor capabilities to:

Set the robot’s shaft position in degrees

and/or measure:

The robot’s shaft angle in degrees
The robot’s shaft position in degrees or turns
The robot’s shaft velocity in rpm or dps

within example projects and custom user projects.

For more information on the V5 Rotational Sensor, please see this article.