Configuring a 4-Motor Drivetrain in VEXcode IQ (2nd gen)

Using VEX IQ (1st generation)? See this article.

When starting to program with VEXcode IQ (2nd gen), blocks from the Drivetrain category will not appear in the Toolbox until a Drivetrain has been configured.

You can only configure one Drivetrain per project. 


Adding a Drivetrain

Icon representing the 'Select the Devices' window in VEXcode IQ, used for configuring VEX IQ robotics systems and managing connected devices for educational and project purposes.

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

Screenshot of the VEX IQ Robot Config interface, showcasing options for selecting and configuring robot components, including motors, sensors, and control settings for educational robotics projects.

Select the generation that you are working with.

Screenshot showing the process of adding a device in the VEX IQ Robot Config section, featuring options and settings for configuring VEX IQ robotics components.

Select “Add a device.”

Diagram showing the configuration of a 4-motor drivetrain for VEX IQ robots, illustrating motor placement and connections for optimal performance in educational robotics projects.

Select 'Drivetrain 4-Motor.'

Note: To configure a 2-Motor Drivetrain, see this article.

Screenshot of the VEX IQ Robot Config section, displaying key components and programming options for the VEX IQ Robotics platform, aimed at educational purposes and beginner robotics enthusiasts.

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

Screenshot showing the Robot Config section of the VEX IQ knowledge base, detailing components and programming options for VEX IQ robotics platform, aimed at educators and beginners in robotics.

The IQ (2nd gen) Brain has a built in gyro that is referred to as the "Brain Inertial" to distinguish it from the external Gyro that is added when configuring for an IQ (1st gen) Brain. To configure this gyro, select 'Brain Inertial'. 

Note: the 'Brain Inertial' gyro built into the (2nd gen) Brain turns clockwise- while the (1st gen) gyro turns counter-clockwise. 

Screenshot of the VEX IQ Robot Config section, displaying key components and programming options for the VEX IQ Robotics platform, designed for educational purposes and beginner robotics enthusiasts.

You will notice that the Brain Inertial icon appears in the upper right corner of the Devices window. 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

Screenshot of the VEX IQ Robot Configuration interface, displaying various settings and options for configuring VEX IQ robotics components, aimed at educational users and beginners in robotics.

You can change the port numbers for the Left Motors and Right Motors in the Drivetrain by selecting a plug icon in the top right corner of the Options screen.

Screenshot showing the Robot Config section of the VEX IQ knowledge base, featuring information on configuring VEX IQ robots, including component details and programming guidelines for educational robotics projects.

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

Screenshot showing the robot configuration interface for VEX IQ, displaying options for setting up robot components and programming settings, aimed at educators and students in robotics.

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


Changing a Drivetrain’s Gear Ratio

Screenshot displaying the VEX IQ Robot Configuration interface, showcasing options for building and programming VEX IQ robots, including component selection and setup instructions for educational robotics projects.

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


Reversing a Drivetrain

Screenshot showing the robot configuration settings for the VEX IQ Robotics platform, highlighting options for customizing robot components and programming features.

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


Deleting a Drivetrain

Screenshot showing the Robot Config section in the VEX IQ knowledge base, highlighting key components and programming options for the VEX IQ Robotics platform, aimed at educators and beginners in robotics.

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

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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