Every robot passes inspection before it competes. Here's the secret: inspectors want you to pass. Their whole job is helping your robot become competition-legal — they're not robot police.
Check these five things before you leave home
Most robots that don't pass the first time have one of these easy-to-fix problems:
- Too big — measure your robot against the size limit at home.
- Missing license plates — team number plates on, where they belong.
- Illegal parts — VEX IQ parts only; check anything you're unsure about, including rubber bands.
- Messy wires — tucked in and safe, nothing dangling where it can catch.
- Loose battery — clipped in snug.
Ten minutes checking these at home can save you thirty at the event.
What inspection is like
You bring your robot to the inspection table, power it off, and the inspector works through the official VEX IQ Inspection Checklist — measuring size, checking parts and wiring, making sure everything's safe. (Your team can download that same checklist and run it yourselves before the event — pro move.) They'll talk to you, not your coach — so be ready to show your robot and answer questions. That's normal at every VEX event, and you're more ready for it than you think.
If something needs fixing
No big deal — this happens all the time. The inspector will tell you exactly what needs to change. You go back to your pit, fix it, and return for re-inspection. Teams fix-and-return all morning at every event.
One rule: you must pass inspection before you compete, so head to inspection early — don't wait until your first match is about to start.