There are a lot of interesting parts in the IQ (2nd gen) Competition Kit (link to poster of parts). So much so that it is very easy to get lost in the sauce, and not know what many of the parts can do and are capable of! I wanted to create this post to highlight some of those parts and show off just a couple of use cases.
Starting off, let’s take a look at the Shock Absorbers. These are primarily incorporated in vehicle suspension, but they have many more applicable use cases! For instance, you can find this bad boy as Byte’s nose, used to apply variable force to the intake. Because of this, the shock absorber wants to stay in the down position due to the spring inside, but is allowed to move when a game object is scooped up. Due to this movement, you’ll find your intake mechanism will have constant applied pressure to the game piece thanks to the spring resisting to be coiled! How’s that for repurposing this suspension mechanism!
Shock absorbers pictured above, and an in-action Byte nose shown below.
Up next, we’ll take a look at the Rubber Intake Belts. It may be confusing as to what these belts can be driven by, but they will fit perfectly around the 2x Wide 32.2mm Diameter Hub as well as the 2x Wide 48.5mm Diameter Hub! For more information on which belts and tires fit where, view this article from the VEX Library on Understanding VEX IQ Wheels. Rubber intake belts are an awesome addition to your toolbelt, as they allow for continuous contact with game pieces when used, as the name implies, as an intake! This allows for greater control over game pieces, as you can direct them as precise as you want. What other ways would you employ the belt? I can think of making a tank or a construction vehicle with them one of these days… Check out the animation below of these belts in operation as an intake claw! Animation is from this article in the VEX Library.
The Competition Kit includes over 1,000 more pieces than the Education Kit, so these two highlighted above are just the tip of the iceberg. What are some pieces that look wacky to you that you can’t figure out? I’ll keep this thread updated with more interesting pieces in the future!
