Hey everyone,
I'm excited to share AirForge (airforge.dev), a free, browser-based one-stop shop for the VEX V5 robot design lifecycle. It requires zero installation and is optimized to run smoothly on lightweight hardware like school Chromebooks. I'm sharing it here as an early beta to get feedback from actual teams.
A quick backstory: Last year, my rookie robotics team missed out on the World Championships purely due to a lack of upfront design planning. Fusion 360 felt too overwhelming for us at the time, so we built entirely from memory, ultimately wasting a month redoing non-functional parts. To bridge this gap, I started building AirForge over winter break. It was only after joining a more experienced team later on that I truly learned CAD. I realized how transformative it is, and how steep the barrier to entry remains for beginner teams. I hope AirForge can be the lift teams like mine needed.
Here is what it brings to the table right now:
- Physics & Driving Sim: Drive and test your build with live physics that utilize real motor data and gear ratios on the Override field.
- Code Editor & Auton Testing: Paste your live VEXcode Python program to instantly test driver control, autonomous routines, and precise odometry (via simulated inertial and tracking wheels) using the built-in match controller.
- Easy Plastic Design: Fluidly cut and drill custom polycarbonate parts directly in the app. Use them on your bot in AirForge or export them to your favorite CAD.
- Online Co-op: Build with your teammates in real time via a simple share link.
- Instant CAD Import: Drop in a .STEP file from any other CAD software (Fusion 360, Inventor, Onshape), auto-tag the wheels and motors, and drive it immediately.
Or.. just jump onto the Playground and take the demo-drivetrain for a ride!
Looking ahead: Next up is a complete physics engine overhaul to track motor load, friction, and stress points. Beyond that, I’m building a custom GNN integration to autonomously analyze those stress points and generate optimized, part-by-part design rebuilds.
As a student building this for the community and my own team, AirForge is completely free, and you don't even need an account to test it out.
Since it's an early beta, it's still a bit rough around the edges, which is why I need your help. Let me know if any part dimensions are off or missing, how the driving physics feel, what UI changes you'd like to see, or what features would make it genuinely useful for your team.
Give it a shot at airforge.dev and let me know what breaks! Good luck getting started on the Override season, and happy building!
Thanks,
Advaith
(Note: Best on laptop/desktop for now; large CAD imports might take a moment to load)