# Announcing Release 1.5 of the VRX Simulation Environment with VRX 2022 tasks

**URL:** <https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274>\
**Category:** Marine Robotics\
**Tags:** release, competition\
**Created:** [September 13, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274 "2021-09-13T18:44:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![M1chaelM](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/m1chaelm/32/10515_2.png) [@M1chaelM](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/M1chaelM)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 6:44pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/1 "2021-09-13T18:44:04Z")

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We are pleased to announce the release of version 1.5 of the VRX simulation platform! The VRX platform is a virtual environment built in Gazebo, designed for accelerating development of unmanned surface vehicles. It also serves as the virtual “venue” for the [VRX 2022 Competition](https://robotx.org/programs/vrx-competition-2022/), a virtual competition closely coordinated with [RobotX 2022](https://robotx.org/programs/robotx-challenge-2022/).

This release features all six VRX Competition 2022 tasks with working examples. Please check out our new Release 1.5 Highlight Video for a quick tour.

[![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/ros/original/3X/7/f/7fece1f24a1ebcddf9aa24a0a2782c84da0cf944.jpeg "Gazebo Virtual RobotX (v1.5)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2BP2P3CHYw)

Some notable additions include:

- New[tutorials for getting started with VRX 2022 tasks](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/wiki/vrx_2022-task_tutorials).
- Mobile Crocodile, platypus and turtle models for the [Wildlife Encounter and Avoid task](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/wiki/vrx_2022-wildlife_task), inspired by RobotX 2022.
- A new ball shooter and targets for the [Scan and Dock and Deliver task](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/wiki/vrx_2022-scan_dock_deliver_task).
- Complete competition documentation, described in the
  - [VRX Competition Technical Guide](https://robonation.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/VirtualRobotX2022_Technical-Guide_v1.0.pdf)
  - [VRX Competition and Task Descriptions](https://robonation.org/app/uploads/sites/2/2021/09/VirtualRobotX2022_Task-Descriptions_v1.0.pdf)

- For additional details please see the [Changelog](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/blob/master/Changelog.md).

As a reminder, VRX 2022 is open to any student team affiliated with an educational institution. Please see our [website](https://robotx.org/programs/vrx-competition-2022/) and [Wiki](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/wiki) for an overview of the event and key dates.

What’s coming next :

- [VRX Release and Competition Tutorials – now available](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/wiki)!
- Registration Opens - October 2021
- VRX Introduction at RoboNation Community Hour - October 2021
- Workshop & Kickoff – November 2021
- Competition Phase 1 – December 2021
- Competition Phase 2 – March 2022
- Finals – April 2022

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

The VRX Technical Team: Brian, Carlos, Carson, Jessica and Michael

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**Author:** ![mabelzhang](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/mabelzhang/32/6376_2.png) [@mabelzhang](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/mabelzhang)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/2 "2021-09-13T19:41:22Z")

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So the sound track comes with the installation, right? How else are we supposed to prove we’re having fun.

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**Author:** ![glpuga](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/glpuga/32/8298_2.png) [@glpuga](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/glpuga)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/3 "2021-09-13T21:00:55Z")

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I loved the ball shooter 😂

Looks like plenty of fun!

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**Author:** ![arjo129](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/arjo129/32/6316_2.png) [@arjo129](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/arjo129)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:28am UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/4 "2021-09-14T02:28:23Z")

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Ah yes - The wildlife. An important aspect of the physical RobotX 2018 competition.

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**Author:** ![caguero](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/caguero/32/3037_2.png) [@caguero](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/caguero)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2021, 2:46pm UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/5 "2021-09-14T14:46:51Z")

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It’s turtle timeeee!

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**Author:** ![russkel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.openrobotics.org/russkel/32/6715_2.png) [@russkel](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/u/russkel)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://discourse.openrobotics.org/t/announcing-release-1-5-of-the-vrx-simulation-environment-with-vrx-2022-tasks/22274/6 "2021-09-23T00:34:43Z")

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For those interested in using ROS2 there is a PR with a ROS2 version of VRX, platypus and all:  
[https://github.com/osrf/vrx/pull/366](https://github.com/osrf/vrx/pull/366)