Driving Your VEX GO Competition Robot

Follow the steps in this article to start driving your VEX GO Competition Robot with VEXcode GO. For information on how to access VEXcode GO, see this article. 


Access the Drive tab in VEXcode GO

VEXcode GO with a green Brain icon on the Toolbar to indicate that the Brain has connected.

To access the Drive tab in VEXcode GO, first ensure the VEX GO Brain is connected to your device. For more information on how to connect your robot to your device, see these articles. 

VEXcode GO with the Drive tab highlighted to the right of the Code tab.

Next, select the Drive tab. VEXcode GO will switch from coding mode to the driving mode.


Drive Mode

Once in Drive mode, you can drive your VEX GO robot using the joysticks at the bottom of the screen.

You can change the type of joystick control for your robot by switching the Drive Mode to one of four different options:

  • Tank Drive
  • Left Arcade
  • Right Arcade
  • Split Arcade

Tank Drive

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Tank Drive button highlighted in the Drive Mode section.

Tank drive uses both joysticks. Select the Tank Drive icon. Two joysticks will be visible.

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Tank Drive option selected and the left and right joystick buttons highlighted. The left joystick has a note written above saying left motor forward and a note below saying left motor reverse. The right joystick has a note written above saying right motor forward and a note below saying right motor reverse.

The left joystick will move the left motor forward when moved up, and the left motor backwards when it is moved down. The right joystick works in the same way for the right motor.

  • To move your robot forward, move both joysticks up.
  • To move backward, move both joysticks down.
  • To turn your robot to the right, move your left joystick up and/or the right joystick down.
  • To turn your robot to the left, move the right joystick up and/or the left joystick down.

Left Arcade

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Left Arcade button highlighted in the Drive Mode section.

The left arcade only uses one joystick. Select the left arcade icon. The left joystick will be visible.

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Left Arcade option selected and the left joystick button highlighted. The right joystick is not available or used in this Drive Mode.

  • To move your robot forward, move the joystick up.
  • To move your robot backward, move the joystick down.
  • To turn your robot to the right, move the joystick to the right.
  • To turn your robot left, move the joystick to the left.

Right Arcade

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Right Arcade button highlighted in the Drive Mode section.

The Right arcade only uses one joystick. Select the Right arcade icon. The Right joystick will be visible.

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Right Arcade option selected and the right joystick button highlighted. The left joystick is not available or used in this Drive Mode.

  • To move your robot forward, move the joystick up.
  • To move your robot backward, move the joystick down.
  • To turn your robot to the right, move the joystick to the right.
  • To turn your robot to the left, move the joystick to the left.

Split Arcade

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Split Arcade button highlighted in the Drive Mode section.

The Split arcade uses two joysticks. Select the Split arcade icon. Both joysticks will be visible.

Drive tab in VEXcode GO with the Split Arcade option selected and the left and right joystick buttons highlighted.

  • To move your robot forward, move the left joystick up.
  • To move your robot backward, move the left joystick down.
  • To turn your robot to the right, move the right joystick to the right.
  • To turn your robot left, move the right joystick to the left.

For information about the other details and controls in the Drive Tab, see this article.

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

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