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Unread 17-03-2013, 15:24
mlbernardoni mlbernardoni is offline
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FRC #2704
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Batavia, IL
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Re: Which programming language does your team use?

Labview vs C++ responsiveness

Team 2704 has historically used Labview. This year we programmed both Labview and C++. We found C++ much more responsive.

To clarify, we started this year with a simple drive train (we always build the drive train first). It is a 4 wheel design, front wheel drive, omni's in the back. We did a very simple program in Labview, tank drive, 1 joystick on a Game Pad to one drive wheel, the other joystick on the Game Pad to the second drive wheel.

It acted just as we historically expected from our years of using Labview.

We duplicated the simple program in C++ (1 joystick to 1 powered wheel; 2nd joystick to 2nd powered wheel). There was a night and day difference. Like moving up to a Ferrari. The drive team never realized the lag they had gotten use to with Labview. We will have a hard time getting the drive team to go back to Labview.

I don't know what overhead Labview puts on the program. But every student who drives the robot will tell you that there is a big difference, and it was obvious from watching the robot drive.

Same robot, same CRIO, same communications, official 2013 versions of labview and windriver, both very simple programs (1 joystick to 1 motor etc.). The only way to put it, moving the joysick to motor movement on the robot, c++ is much more responsive.