Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

This is my first year on my team as a non-freshman, so I want to fully learn and become self sufficient in programming and electronics. I've been reading the docs, but have had trouble finding basic but necessary information. For example, we were testing the cam and had to hook up the RC. I had no idea which breaker to use for it, and only found out when another team member told me.
Some devices have manuals up, but they usually aren't… enough. The smart power distro panel is supposed to hook into the program port and be able to influence the program, but what commands do I use for that? The cam comes with plenty of documentation, but after I've calibrated it, how do I tell the robot to "drive to green, stop x feet away, pick up tetra, find yellow, stop x feet away, drop tetra on goal."?? To make matters worse, the c programming that everything is teaching about seems to be obsolete… in some way. There is this new scripting system they've introduced, but, again, I can't find anything about it!

How did you, the team programming and electronics experts, get to where you are? Where do I turn to become a FIRST robotmaster? Thanks in advance.

Note: I'm going to log off for the night, so I'll only see your responses tomorrow afternoon.

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

Chief Delphi is a good place to start. I would search, and ask questions. I know there are answers to your current questions, so, search, search, search.

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

Sid,
I can't(shouldn't) help with programming, there are more knowledgable people on the programming forum to ask. If you have electrical questions, ask them on electrical (or PM me) and I will help you. The electrical block diagram/blueprint was posted yesterday on the FIRST site. Download and study and many questions will be answered. Hold the parts in your hand while you check the blueprint and robot electrical rules. Then ask whatever questions you have left.
Al

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

Well, I learned everything about electronics by using electrical diogram. If you dont understad you should go to Innovation FIRST. You can find all information about electronics. If you still don't understand then you can ask me.

I tryed do programming and electronics at the same time it is hard. You real you realy need 2 years to understand it!!!
:cool:

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

My first step recommendation would be to read the documentation. Then, go step by step through the process of putting together a demo board. Then, start seeing what you can do with the programming. Take it in small steps and go from there. Don't try anything complicated at first. See if you can get a motor to move. See what happens when a sensor gets tripped. Experiment.

Matt

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

Sidney,

I have also read many articles claiming that C is obsolete. Please do not believe it. C is the most widely used programming language on the planet and is still the language of choice for new embedded control designs.

Regards,

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

Thanks for your replies so far!
I wasn't particularly asking these questions - they were just general examples. I have been looking at the ifi docs, but, as I said, they seem to be lacking. Is FIRST planning to post any more info? And by C being obsolete, I didn't mean widely but on the bots. At the kickoff they talked about some kind of script-based replacement. I want to learn C, but I also want to know about this. Thanks again.

Re: Programming and Electronics — Getting Started
 

The backend to the scripting 'program' is written in C. Download the newest navigation code from www.kevin.org , and look at the robot.c file. That may help you out a little.