Controller Questions

[1337pcgamer]

I have a couple questions regarding the controller. What is the "Dashboard" serial port on the controller for?
Also what does easyC mean when it mentions the "dongle" for autonymous?

[1337pcgamer]

Is the dongle thingy included in the kit of parts? Or where do we get one?

[patTeam241]

The dashboard port can be connected to a computer either at competition or in testing, and it will provide the dashboard program (available at IFI FIRST I think) information on the status of your robot.

The dongle is an electrical device frequently used in testing. I'm pretty sure it plugs into the competition port on the board, and it allows you to set your robot in autonomous mode, driver controlled mode and disabled mode (I think that's it, I haven't used one in a while). If your team is interested in building one, there may be instructions in the whitepages section, or there is a simple wiring diagram http://www.ifirobotics.com/docs/competition-port-pinout-guide-reva.pdf (http://http://www.ifirobotics.com/docs/competition-port-pinout-guide-reva.pdf).

Hope this helps

[KTorak]

The dashboard allows you to hook up a PC and use IFI Dashboard to view readouts on things such as controller postiton (IE if its at like 140) and some other cool stuff.

The dongle, if I'm assuming this right, is a homemade switch that you can put on your competition port to be able to disable your robot and to be able to start autonomous with.