The Q&A is closed for the 2021-2022 season. Any rule changes or clarifications pertaining to the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship will be included in the April 5 Game Manual Update. Teams attending VEX Worlds who wish to pre-submit questions for the driver's meeting should have received a contact form via email; if not, please contact your REC Foundation Team Engagement Manager for more information.

Official Q&A: VRC 2021-2022: Tipping Point

Usage Guidelines All Questions

820: Hot Swap Motors


7157X
20-Jul-2021

Can a motor be rigged to be hot swapped?

This is done by taking out the cover screws from the motor cover. The cover is is mounted to the robot in the traditional way with mounting screws. The motor case is then fastened to the cover with either zip ties or rubber bands. This allows a participant to quickly be able to replace a malfunctioning motor during competition.

Answered by committee

Please review the Q&A Usage Guidelines before posting, specifically point 3, "Quote the applicable rule from the latest version of the manual in your question".

Rule R22 reads as follows, with a portion bolded for emphasis:

<R21> No modifications to electronic components are allowed. Motors (including the internal PTC or Smart Motor firmware), microcontrollers (including V5 Robot Brain firmware), extension cords, sensors, controllers, battery packs, reservoirs, solenoids, pneumatic cylinders, and any other electrical component or pneumatics component of the VEX platform may NOT be altered from their original state in ANY way.

[...]

c. Teams may make the following modifications to the V5 Smart Motor’s user-serviceable features. No other modifications are permitted.

i. Changing or replacing the gear cartridge with other official replacement cartridges.

ii. Replacing the V5 Smart Motor Cap (276-6780).

iii. Replacing the threaded mounting inserts (276-6781).

Provided that no modifications are made other than replacing the V5 Smart Motor Cap, this would be legal.