Thirty Foot Dash Worksheet
VEX V5 Robotics Lab
Thirty Foot Dash
Autonomous Distance Mission
Page 1 of 2: Calculation Model
Student Name:
Team / Robot ID:
Period / Class:
Date:
Mission Objective: Drive your autonomous VEX V5 robot across the floor to stop at exactly 30 feet. Because VEX motor commands use wheel turns (rotations), complete the step-by-step engineering math below to find the exact parameter for your code.
1
Measure Tire Diameter (\(d\))
Tool: Ruler (Inches)
Measure across the widest center point of your robot's drive wheel from outer tread to outer tread.
Measured Diameter (\(d\)):
inches
diameter (d) Outer edge to edge
2
Calculate Circumference (\(C = \pi \cdot d\))
Distance per 1 wheel turn
Use \(\pi \approx 3.1416\) to determine how many inches the robot travels in one complete turn.
Show Calculation Work (\(3.1416 \times d\)):
Circumference (\(C\)):
\(C =\)
in/turn
3
Convert 30 Feet to Inches
1 foot = 12 inches
Convert the target course distance (30 feet) into inches to match your wheel measurements.
Conversion Work (\(30\text{ ft} \times 12\text{ in/ft}\)):
Target Distance (\(D\)):
\(D =\)
inches
4
Calculate Required Turns (\(N = \frac{\text{Distance}}{\text{Circumference}}\))
Code Input Value
Divide total target inches by circumference per turn. Round to two decimal places (hundredths).
Division Setup & Work (\(D \div C\)):
Programmed Turns (\(N\)):
turns to program
Double-check all math with your team partner before coding. Page 2: Track Testing & Analysis →
V5
Thirty Foot Dash: Field Testing & Data Log
Robot ID:
| Page 2 of 2
5
Enter Parameter in VEXcode
Drivetrain Block / Text
VEXcode Blocks
drive forward for [ ] turns
VEXcode Python
drivetrain.drive_for(FORWARD, turns , TURNS)
6
Track Testing & Tuning Data
Target = Exactly 360.0 in (30 ft)
| Run | Programmed Turns | Actual Distance (in) | Error (\(\pm\) in) | Tuning Action / Field Notes |
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| Trial 1 | | | | |
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| Trial 2 |
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| Trial 3 |
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7
Engineering Analysis & Reflection
1. Error Analysis: Did your robot stop at exactly 30 feet on Trial 1? Identify two real-world mechanical factors (e.g., tire squish/deformation, wheel slippage on the floor, robot momentum) that caused differences between theoretical calculation and measured distance.
2. Wheel Diameter Comparison: If your team swapped to larger 4-inch diameter wheels, would the robot need MORE or FEWER turns to travel 30 feet? Explain why using the circumference formula.
3. Software Tuning: If your robot consistently stops 6 inches short of the 30-foot line, how would you calculate the exact number of additional turns to add to your code?
Teacher 30-Foot Challenge Verification
Robot finishes within \(\pm 2\) inches of the 30-foot tape line autonomously.
Passed
Teacher Signature:
VEX V5 Robotics Curriculum • Autonomous Navigation Formula Reference: \(C = \pi \cdot d\) • Target: \(30\text{ ft} = 360\text{ in}\) • \(N = \frac{D}{C}\)
