VEX V5 Programming Practice

📊 Flowcharts

Launch the interactive flowchart builder in a new window so you can keep this guide open for reference.

What is a Flowchart?

A flowchart is a visual diagram that shows the steps in a program from start to finish. It helps you plan your robot's behavior before you write any code!

Why use flowcharts?

Plan your program logic before coding
See the flow of decisions and actions clearly
Find problems in your logic early
Communicate your ideas to teammates
Debug programs more easily

Flowchart Shapes for VEX Programming

Square

Start/Stop Program

Rectangle

Action/Process

Up Triangle

Conditional (IF)

Down Triangle

End Conditional

Magenta Rectangle

Forever Loop

Green Rectangle

TRUE Path

Orange Rectangle

FALSE Path (ELSE)

💡 Flow Direction: Arrows connect shapes showing the order of operations. Programs flow from top to bottom. Conditionals split into two paths (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE) and then rejoin at the END IF triangle.

Flowchart Examples

Example 1: Simple Forward Drive

Task: Robot drives forward for 3 rotations then stops.

Example 2: Bumper Stop Program

Task: Drive forward until bumper is pressed, then stop.

Practice Exercise: Create Your Own Flowchart!

Challenge: Draw a flowchart for this program:

START
Read Vision Sensor

IF red object detected THEN
    Turn Left 90°
ELSE
    IF blue object detected THEN
        Turn Right 90°
    ELSE
        Drive Forward 1 rotation
    END
END

Stop Motors
END

Shapes you'll need:

1 Green Square (START)
1 Blue Rectangle (Read Sensor)
2 Orange Up Triangles (IF conditions)
3 Blue Rectangles (Actions: Turn Left, Turn Right, Drive Forward)
1 Blue Rectangle (Stop Motors)
2 Purple Down Triangles (END IF)
1 Red Square (STOP)

Tip: Draw it on paper first! Remember to label YES/NO paths from conditionals.

🎯 Flowchart Best Practices:

Always start with a START shape and end with a STOP shape
Use arrows to show the direction of flow
Label conditional branches clearly (YES/NO or TRUE/FALSE)
Every UP triangle (IF) needs a matching DOWN triangle (END IF)
Keep it neat and organized - easier to understand!
Test your flowchart by following the arrows step-by-step

📊 Variables

What are Variables?

Variables are containers that store information in your program. Think of them like labeled boxes where you can keep numbers, text, or true/false values.

Types of Variables:

Number: Stores numeric values (e.g., distance, speed, counter)
Boolean: Stores true/false values (e.g., is robot moving?, is sensor triggered?)
String: Stores text (e.g., "Forward", "Stopped")

Practice Example 1: Creating and Displaying a Variable

Challenge: Learn how to create a variable and display its value on the brain screen.

Step-by-step instructions:

Open VEX V5 Code Visual Blocks
Go to the Logic category (orange blocks)
Click "Make a Variable" button
Name your variable "score"
Drag the "set [score] to [0]" block into your workspace
Change the value from 0 to 10
From the Events category, drag a "when started" block to the top
From the Screen category, drag a "print [ ]" block below
Return to the Logic category and drag the oval "score" variable block
Place the "score" variable block into the empty slot of the "print [ ]" block

Goal: Display the value of "score" on the brain screen.

Practice Example 2: Changing Variable Values

Challenge: Create a program that changes the robot's speed by updating a variable.

Step-by-step instructions:

Open VEX V5 Code Visual Blocks
Go to the Logic category (orange blocks)
Click "Make a Variable" button
Name your variable "driveSpeed"
From Events, drag "when started" block to workspace
From Logic, drag "set [driveSpeed] to [0]" and change the value to 25
From Drivetrain, drag "set drive velocity to [0] %" block
From Logic, drag the oval "driveSpeed" variable block into the velocity slot
From Screen, drag "print [ ]" block
From Logic, drag the oval "driveSpeed" variable into the print block
From Drivetrain, drag "drive [forward]" block
From Control, drag "wait [1] seconds" and change to 3 seconds
From Logic, drag another "set [driveSpeed] to [0]" and change value to 100
From Drivetrain, drag another "set drive velocity to [0] %" block
From Logic, drag the oval "driveSpeed" variable into the velocity slot
From Screen, drag "print [ ]" block
From Logic, drag the oval "driveSpeed" variable into the print block

Goal: The robot starts driving forward at 25% speed (showing "25" on the screen), then after 3 seconds accelerates to 100% speed (showing "100" on the screen) to demonstrate how changing a variable's value changes the robot's behavior!

🔀 Conditional Statements

What are Conditionals?

Conditional statements let your robot make decisions based on conditions. They follow the pattern: "IF this is true, THEN do this, ELSE do something else."

Block Types:

IF-THEN: Execute code only if condition is true
IF-THEN-ELSE: Execute one block if true, another if false
IF-THEN-ELSE IF-THEN-ELSE: Check multiple conditions in order
WAIT UNTIL: Pause program until a condition becomes true
REPEAT UNTIL: Keep repeating actions until a condition becomes true
REPEAT (x): Repeat actions a specific number of times
FOREVER: Repeat actions continuously without stopping
WHILE: Repeat actions as long as a condition remains true

Practice Example 1: Temperature Check

Challenge: Display different messages based on motor temperature.

Pseudocode:

IF motor temperature > 50°C THEN
    Print "Motor is hot!"
    Stop motors
ELSE
    Print "Temperature OK"
    Continue driving
END

Test it: Run motors for a while and see the message change.

Practice Example 2: Multi-Speed Selector

Challenge: Use IF-THEN-ELSE IF-THEN-ELSE to set different speeds based on button presses.

Logic:

Set buttonPressed to 0

Forever loop:
    IF BumperA pressed THEN
        Change buttonPressed by 1
        Wait 0.05 seconds
    END
    
    IF buttonPressed = 1 THEN
        Set drive velocity to 25%
    ELSE
        IF buttonPressed = 2 THEN
            Set drive velocity to 50%
        ELSE
            IF buttonPressed = 3 THEN
                Set drive velocity to 100%
            ELSE
                IF buttonPressed = 4 THEN
                    Set buttonPressed to 1
                ELSE
                    Set drive velocity to 25%
                END
            END
        END
    END
END

Practice Example 3: Battery Level Warning

Challenge: Check battery percentage and respond appropriately.

Logic:

Forever loop:
    IF battery capacity ≥ 80 THEN
        Print "Battery Fully Charged" on screen and set cursor to next row
    ELSE
        IF (battery capacity ≥ 50) AND (battery capacity < 80) THEN
            Print "Battery above 50%" on screen and set cursor to next row
        ELSE
            IF (battery capacity < 50) AND (battery capacity > 25) THEN
                Print "Battery is low" on screen and set cursor to next row
            ELSE
                IF battery capacity ≤ 25 THEN
                    Print "Battery is dangerously low" on screen and set cursor to next row
                    Stop driving
                END
            END
        END
    END
END

Practice Example 4: Count Down Timer

Challenge: Create a count down timer to lift off.

Logic:

Set countDown to 10

Print join "Count down to blast off in: " countDown on screen

While countDown > 0
    Change countDown by -1
    Wait 1 second
    Clear screen
    Print join "Count down to blast off in: " countDown on screen
End

Print "Blast off!" on screen

🔗 Logic Operators

What are Logic Operators?

Logic operators combine multiple conditions to make complex decisions.

Operators:

AND: Both conditions must be true
OR: At least one condition must be true
NOT: Inverts the condition (true becomes false)

Comparison Operators: = (equal), ≠ (not equal), > (greater), < (less), ≥ (greater or equal), ≤ (less or equal)

Practice Example 1: AND Operator - Safe to Move

Challenge: Robot should only move if BOTH battery is good AND temperature is OK.

Logic:

IF (battery > 25%) AND (motor temperature < 50°C) THEN
    Drive forward
    Print "Safe to operate"
ELSE
    Stop
    Print "Not safe - check robot"
END

Practice Example 2: OR Operator - Emergency Stop

Challenge: Stop robot if ANY emergency condition is met.

Logic:

IF (button X pressed) OR (battery < 10%) OR (motor temp > 60°C) THEN
    Stop all motors immediately
    Print "EMERGENCY STOP"
    Flash screen red
ELSE
    Continue normal operation
END

Practice Example 3: Complex Logic - Smart Navigation

Challenge: Combine multiple operators for intelligent behavior.

Logic:

IF (distance < 200mm) AND (NOT button A pressed) THEN
    Turn right
ELSE
    IF (distance > 500mm) OR (button A pressed) THEN
        Drive forward fast
    ELSE
        Drive forward slow
    END
END

What this does: If something is close AND you're not overriding, turn. If path is clear OR you force it, go fast. Otherwise, go slow.

Practice Example 4: Range Checker

Challenge: Check if a value is within a range.

Logic:

Create variable "speed" = 65

IF (speed >= 50) AND (speed <= 75) THEN
    Print "Speed in optimal range"
ELSE
    Print "Adjust speed"
END

📏 Range Finder (Distance Sensor)

🔧 Hardware Setup

Connect the VEX Distance Sensor to a 3-wire port (e.g., Port A, B, C, etc.)
Ensure the sensor is firmly seated in the port
Mount sensor facing forward on your robot
Keep sensor lens clean for accurate readings

In VEXcode Blocks:

Go to Devices menu
Add device → Distance Sensor
Name it (e.g., "FrontDistance")
Select the 3-wire port you used

Sensor Range: Detects objects from ~20mm to 2000mm (2 meters)

How It Works

The Distance Sensor uses ultrasonic waves (sound waves) to measure how far away objects are. It sends out a sound pulse and measures how long it takes to bounce back.

Key Blocks:

Distance found by FrontDistance - Returns distance in mm
Is object detected by FrontDistance - Returns true/false

Practice Example 1: Object Detection

Challenge: Stop the robot when it gets close to a wall.

Algorithm:

Forever loop:
    Drive forward at 50% speed
    
    IF distance found by FrontDistance < 150mm THEN
        Stop motors
        Print "Object detected!"
        Wait 2 seconds
        Drive backward for 0.5 rotations

Skills practiced: Reading sensor values, conditionals, robot control

Practice Example 2: Variable Speed Based on Distance

Challenge: Robot slows down as it gets closer to objects.

Algorithm:

Create variable "currentDistance"

Forever loop:
    Set currentDistance = distance found by FrontDistance
    Print currentDistance to screen
    
    IF currentDistance > 500mm THEN
        Drive at 100% speed
    ELSE
        IF currentDistance > 250mm THEN
            Drive at 50% speed
        ELSE
            IF currentDistance > 100mm THEN
                Drive at 25% speed
            ELSE
                Stop
                Print "Too close!"
            END
        END
    END
END

Practice Example 3: Parking Challenge

Challenge: Drive forward and stop exactly 200mm from a wall.

Algorithm:

Drive forward at 30% speed

Wait until (distance found by FrontDistance < 220mm)

Stop motors
Print "Distance: " + distance found by FrontDistance

IF (distance > 190mm) AND (distance < 210mm) THEN
    Print "Perfect park!"
ELSE
    Print "Try again"
END 

Make it harder: Add points based on accuracy!

💡 Pro Tip: Distance sensors can have trouble with very dark or very shiny surfaces. Test your programs on different materials!

👁️ Vision Sensor

🔧 Hardware Setup

Connect Vision Sensor to a Smart Port (1-21) on the V5 Brain
Smart ports have a different connector than 3-wire ports
Mount sensor with clear field of view
Ensure good lighting in your environment

In VEXcode Blocks:

Go to Devices menu
Add device → Vision Sensor
Name it (e.g., "Vision")
Select the Smart Port you used
Configure Color Signatures: Use VEX Vision Utility to teach the sensor colors

Setting Up Color Signatures

Before using the Vision Sensor, you need to "teach" it what colors to look for:

Connect brain to computer
Open VEX Vision Utility (in VEXcode)
Point sensor at colored object you want to detect
Click "Capture" to save that color as a signature (SIG_1, SIG_2, etc.)
Give it a name like "RED_CUBE" or "GREEN_BALL"
Download signatures to the sensor

Key Blocks:

Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_1 - Look for a specific color
Is Vision detecting signature SIG_1 - Returns true/false
Vision largest object centerX - X position of detected object
Vision largest object width - How wide the object appears

Practice Example 1: Color Detection

Setup: Configure SIG_1 for red objects

Challenge: Robot says "Found it!" when it sees a red object.

Algorithm:

Forever loop:
    Take snapshot with Vision.RED_CUBE
    
    IF Vision detecting signature RED_CUBE THEN
        Stop motors
        Print "Found red object!"
        Wait 1 second
    ELSE
        Drive forward slowly
        Print "Searching..."
    END 

Practice Example 2: Object Tracking

Setup: Configure SIG_1 for a colored object

Challenge: Robot turns to keep the object centered in view.

Algorithm:

Create variable "objectX"

Forever loop:
    Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_1
    
    IF Vision detecting signature SIG_1 THEN
        Set objectX = Vision largest object centerX
        Print "Object at X: " + objectX
        
        IF objectX < 120 THEN
            Turn left slowly
        ELSE
            IF objectX > 200 THEN
                Turn right slowly
            ELSE
                Stop
                Print "Locked on target!"
            END
        END
    ELSE
        Spin right
    END
END

Explanation: Vision sensor has ~316 pixels width. Center is around 158. We use 120-200 as "close enough" to center.

Practice Example 3: Multi-Color Sorting

Setup: Configure SIG_1 = RED, SIG_2 = BLUE, SIG_3 = GREEN

Challenge: Robot responds differently to each color.

Algorithm:

Forever loop:
    Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_1 (check red)
    
    IF Vision detecting signature SIG_1 THEN
        Print "Red detected - Action A"
        Turn left 90 degrees
        Wait 1 second
        Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_2 (check blue)
    ELSE
        IF Vision detecting signature SIG_2 THEN
            Print "Blue detected - Action B"
            Drive forward 1 rotation
            Wait 1 second
            Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_3 (check green)
        ELSE
            IF Vision detecting signature SIG_3 THEN
                Print "Green detected - Action C"
                Turn right 90 degrees
                Wait 1 second
            ELSE
                Print "No color detected"
            END
        END
    END
END 

Practice Example 4: Object Size Detection

Challenge: Determine if object is close or far based on its size.

Algorithm:

Create variable "objectSize"

Forever loop:
    Take snapshot with Vision.SIG_1
    
    IF Vision detecting signature SIG_1 THEN
        Set objectSize = Vision largest object width
        Print "Size: " + objectSize
        
        IF objectSize > 100 THEN
            Print "Object very close!"
            Stop
        ELSE IF objectSize > 50 THEN
            Print "Object nearby"
            Drive slow
    ELSE
            Print "Object far away"
            Drive normal speed
    END 

Concept: Objects appear larger when closer to camera!

💡 Pro Tip: Vision sensors work best with solid, bright colors in good lighting. Avoid shiny or reflective objects. Test your signatures in the actual competition/classroom environment!

🔘 Bumper Switch

🔧 Hardware Setup

Connect Bumper Switch to a 3-wire port (e.g., Port A, B, C, etc.)
The switch has three wires - ensure proper orientation
Mount on robot where it will hit obstacles first (front bumper)
Test by pressing it manually - you should feel a click

In VEXcode Blocks:

Go to Devices menu
Add device → Bumper Switch
Name it (e.g., "FrontBumper", "RearBumper")
Select the 3-wire port you used

How It Works

A bumper switch is a simple digital sensor that's either pressed or not pressed. It's perfect for collision detection!

Key Blocks:

FrontBumper pressed - Returns true when switch is pressed
FrontBumper released - Returns true when switch is not pressed
When FrontBumper pressed - Event-based programming (advanced)

States:

Pressed (true): Switch is pushed in
Released (false): Switch is not pushed

Practice Example 1: Basic Collision Detection

Challenge: Stop robot when bumper hits something.

Algorithm:

Drive forward at 50% speed

Wait until (FrontBumper pressed)

Stop all motors
Print "Collision detected!"

Skills practiced: Reading digital sensor, wait until command

Practice Example 2: Reverse and Continue

Challenge: When robot hits wall, back up and continue.

Algorithm:

Forever loop:
    Drive forward at 50% speed
    
    IF FrontBumper pressed THEN
        Stop motors
        Print "Hit detected!"
        
        Drive backward for 1 rotation
        Turn right 45 degrees
        Print "Adjusted course"

Practice Example 3: Collision Counter

Challenge: Count how many times the robot hits obstacles.

Algorithm:

Create variable "collisionCount" = 0
Create variable "wasPressed" = false

Forever loop:
    Drive forward at 50% speed
    
    IF (FrontBumper pressed) AND (NOT wasPressed) THEN
        Change collisionCount by 1
        Set wasPressed = true
        Print "Collisions: " + collisionCount
        
        Stop motors
        Wait 0.5 seconds
        Drive backward for 0.5 rotations
        Turn right 90 degrees
    END
    
    IF FrontBumper released THEN
        Set wasPressed = false

Explanation: The "wasPressed" variable prevents counting the same collision multiple times.

Practice Example 4: Dual Bumper Navigation

Setup: Add FrontBumper and RearBumper to your robot

Challenge: Robot responds differently based on which bumper is hit.

Algorithm:

Forever loop:
    Drive forward at 40% speed
    END
    
    IF FrontBumper pressed THEN
        Print "Front collision!"
        Stop motors
        Drive backward for 1 rotation
        Turn right 90 degrees
    END
    
    IF RearBumper pressed THEN
        Print "Rear collision!"
        Stop motors
        Drive forward for 1 rotation
        Turn left 90 degrees
    END 

Practice Example 5: Bumper + Logic Operators

Challenge: Complex behavior using bumper with other conditions.

Algorithm:

Create variable "autoMode" = true
Create variable "emergencyStops" = 0

Forever loop:
    IF autoMode AND (FrontBumper released)
        Drive forward at 60% speed
    END
    
    IF FrontBumper pressed THEN
        Stop motors
        Change emergencyStops by 1
        Print "Stops: " + emergencyStops
        
        IF emergencyStops >= 5 THEN
            Set autoMode = false
            Print "Too many collisions - Manual mode"
        ELSE
            Wait 1 second
            Drive backward for 0.5 rotations
    END
    
    IF (NOT autoMode) AND (button A pressed) THEN
        Set autoMode = true
        Set emergencyStops = 0
        Print "Auto mode resumed"
    END 

Concept: After 5 collisions, robot switches to manual mode for safety!

Practice Example 6: Touch-to-Start

Challenge: Use bumper as a start button.

Algorithm:

Print "Press bumper to start"

Wait until (FrontBumper pressed)

Print "Starting in 3..."
Wait 1 second
Print "2..."
Wait 1 second
Print "1..."
Wait 1 second
Print "GO!"

Drive forward at 75% speed for 3 rotations
Turn right 90 degrees
Drive forward at 75% speed for 3 rotations
Print "Complete!"

💡 Pro Tip: Bumper switches are binary (on/off) so they're the simplest sensors. They're great for learning about digital sensors and event-driven programming. Try combining them with other sensors for smarter robots!