Operators#

Introduction#

The Operators blocks in VEXcode AIM handle mathematical calculations and string manipulations. These blocks allow for performing arithmetic, evaluating conditions, and processing text. Below is a list of available blocks:

Math – Perform calculations and evaluate numerical conditions.

  • math operator – Performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

  • comparison operator – Compares two values using greater than, less than, or equal operators.

  • logical operator – Evaluates multiple conditions using and or or.

  • not operator – Inverts a Boolean value.

  • range operator – Checks if a number falls within a range.

  • pick random – Generates a random number within a specified range.

  • round number – Rounds a number to the nearest whole number.

  • math functions – Applies operations such as square root, trigonometry, logarithms, and exponentiation.

  • atan2 – Computes the inverse tangent of Y/X.

  • remainder – Returns the remainder of a division operation.

Strings – Manipulate and analyze text.

  • join – Combines two strings into one.

  • letter – Extracts a character from a string by position.

  • length – Returns the number of characters in a string.

  • contains – Checks if a string includes a specific word or character.

  • convert – Converts a number into text, a whole number, or a decimal.

Math#

math operator#

The math operator block performs basic arithmetic on the values placed on either side. It returns a result based on the project’s print precision, which defaults to 0 decimal places but can be adjusted using the set print precision block.

The Math operator reporter block.#
    ([0] [math_plus v] [0])

Parameters

Description

value 1

The first number used in the operation.

operator

The mathematical operator to use:

  • + - Addition
  • - - Subtraction
  • * - Multiplication
  • / - Division

value 2

The second number used in the operation.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Perform basic addition and show two decimal places.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v] on screen
  print ([10] [math_plus v] [10.5]) on screen ▶

comparison operator#

The comparison operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether the comparison between two values is true or false.

  • True – The comparison is correct (e.g., 5 > 3 returns True).

  • False – The comparison is incorrect (e.g., 2 ≥ 5 returns False).

The Comparison operator Boolean block.#
    <[0] [math_equal v] [0]>

Parameter

Description

value 1

The first value to compare.

operator

The comparison to use:

  • = - Equal to
  • < - Less than
  • ≤ - Less than or equal to
  • > - Greater than
  • ≥ - Greater than or equal to

value 2

The second value to compare.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Turn right until the heading reaches 90 degrees.]
  turn [right v]
  wait [0.05] seconds
  wait until <(heading in degrees) [math_greater_than v] [90]>
  stop all movement

logical operator#

The logical operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether the logical condition between multiple values is true or false.

  • True – The logic condition is met.

  • False – The logic condition is not met.

The Logical Operator Boolean block.#
    <<> [and v] <>>

Parameter

Description

condition 1

The first Boolean condition to evaluate.

operator

The logical operator to use:

  • and - Returns True if both conditions are True.
  • or - Returns True if at least one condition is True.

condition 2

The second Boolean condition to evaluate.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Kick a held sports ball when the screen is pressed.]
  forever
  if <<has [sports ball v] ?> [and v] <screen pressed?>> then
  kick object [hard v]

not operator#

The not operator block inverts the result of a Boolean block. If the input is True, it returns False, and if the input is False, it returns True.

  • True – The input condition would normally return False.

  • False – The input condition would normally return True.

The Not Operator Boolean block.#
    <not <>>

Parameter

Description

condition

The Boolean condition to be inverted.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Turn until a sports ball or barrel is detected.]
  forever
  get [all cargo v] data from AI Vision
  if <not <AI Vision object exists?>> then
  turn [right v]
  else
  stop all movement

range operator#

The range operator block returns a Boolean indicating whether a value falls within a specified range.

  • True – If the value is within the range.

  • False – If the value is outside the range.

The Range Operator Boolean block.#
    <[0] [math_less_than v] [0] [math_less_than v] [0]>

Parameter

Description

first operator

The comparison operator to use:

  • < - Less than
  • ≤ - Less than or equal to
  • > - Greater than
  • ≥ - Greater than or equal to

value

The value to check.

second operator

The comparison operator to use:

  • < - Less than
  • ≤ - Less than or equal to
  • > - Greater than
  • ≥ - Greater than or equal to

Example

    when started :: hat events
    [Move forward and report when out of bounds.]
    move [forward v] for [100] [mm v] ◀ and don't wait
    forever
    clear screen
    set cursor to row [1] column [1] on screen
    if <[25] [math_less_than v] ([y v] position in [mm v]) [math_less_than v] [75]> then
    print [In Bounds.] on screen ▶
    else
    print [Out of Bounds!] on screen ▶

pick random#

The pick random block returns a random number, either an integer or a decimal, within the specified range.

The Pick Random reporter block.#
    pick random [1] to [10]

Parameters

Description

min

The lowest possible number that can be picked.

max

The highest possible number that can be picked.

Examples

  when started :: hat events
  [Display a number between 1 and 10.]
  print (pick random [1] to [10]) on screen ▶

  when started :: hat events
  [Display a decimal number between 1 and 10.5.]
  set print precision to [All Digits v] on screen
  print (pick random [1] to [10.5]) on screen ▶

round number#

The round number block returns the given number rounded to the nearest whole number, following standard rounding rules:

  • If the decimal is 0.5 or greater, the number rounds up.

  • If the decimal is less than 0.5, the number rounds down.

The Round Number reporter block.#
    (round [0] to [0] decimal places)

Parameter

Description

number

The number to round.

decimal places

The amount of decimals places to round to.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the rounded result of 10 / 3.]
  set print precision to [0.01 v] on screen
  print (round ([10] [math_division v] [3]) to [1] decimal places) on screen ▶

math functions#

The math functions block applies a selected mathematical function to a given number and returns the result. It supports operations such as absolute value, rounding, square roots, trigonometric functions, logarithms, and exponentiation.

The Math Functions reporter block.#
    [abs v] of [0]

Parameter

Description

function

The mathematical operation to apply to the input value:

  • abs - Absolute value
  • floor - Rounds down
  • ceiling - Rounds up
  • sqrt - Square root
  • sin - Sine
  • cos - Cosine
  • tan - Tangent
  • asin - Inverse sine
  • acos - Inverse cosine
  • atan - Inverse tangent
  • ln - Natural logarithm
  • log - Base 10 logarithm
  • e^ - Euler’s number raised to a power
  • 10^ - 10 raised to a power
  • negative - Returns the negative of the number

number

The number to apply the function to.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the square root of 16.]
  print ([sqrt v] of [16]) on screen ▶

atan2#

The atan2 block returns the inverse tangent of Y/X as an angle in degrees, representing the angle between the positive X-axis and the point (X, Y).

  (atan2 of x: [4] y: [3])

Parameter

Description

X

The horizontal position of the point, measured from the origin (0,0).

Y

The vertical position of the point, measured from the origin (0,0).

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Calculate the angle from current position (4, 3).]
  print (atan2 of x: [4] y: [3]) on screen ▶

remainder#

The remainder block returns the remainder of the division operation between two values.

The Remainder reporter block.#
    remainder of [0] / [0]

Parameter

Description

dividend

The number to be divided.

divisor

The number to divide by.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the remainder of 10 / 3.]
  print (remainder of [10] / [3]) on screen ▶

Strings#

join#

The join block returns a single string that combines two or more input strings.

The Join reporter block.#
    (join [apple] [banana])

parameter

description

string 1

The first string to combine.

string 2

The second string to combine.

  when started :: hat events
  [Display "VEXcode" on the screen.]
  print (join [VEX] [code]) on screen ▶

letter#

The letter returns a single-character string from the specified position in the given string.

The Letter reporter block.#
    (letter [1] of [apple])

parameter

description

position

The position of the character in the string (starting at 1).

string

The string to extract a letter from.

  when started :: hat events
  [Display the first letter of "Robot".]
  print (letter (1) of [Robot]) on screen ▶

length#

The length block returns the number of characters in the specified string, including spaces.

The Length reporter block.#
    (length of [apple])

parameter

description

string

The string to measure the length of.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Count the number of characters in "VEX Robotics".]
  print (length of [VEX Robotics]) on screen ▶

contains#

The contains block returns a Boolean indicating whether the specified string includes the given word or character.

  • True – The string includes that specific word or character.

  • False – The string does not include that specific word or character.

The Contains Boolean block.#
    <[apple] contains [a] ?>

parameter

description

string

The main string to search within.

search term

The word or character to check for inside the string.

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Check if "robotics" contains "bot".]
  if <[robotics] contains [bot] ?> then
    print [The word contains "bot".] on screen ▶
  else
    print [Not found.] on screen ▶
  end

convert#

The convert block returns the value of a number converted to the specified type, either as text or a number.

  • text – Converts the number to a string. Numbers must be in string format to work with String Operator blocks.

  • number – Converts the number to a decimal (floating-point) value.

The Convert reporter block.#
    (convert [0] to [text v])

parameter

description

value

The number to convert.

type

The type to convert the number into:

  • text
  • number

Example

  when started :: hat events
  [Add any number to 5.]
  ask [Give me a number.] and wait
  print ((convert (answer) to [number v]) [math_plus v] [5]) on screen ▶