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This was my FIRST year with FIRST. But I have been doing autonomous computers as a hobby for years.
The FIRST controller was in adequate not just because it was slow and had no memory to speak of, but it couldn't process interrupts, or look at an IO port more than once a cycle which means you did not have direct connection to the ports. It was ok if it was just an remote controller under radio command. But if you wanted to do auto mode a new controller is needed.
We did a modified external computer to do simple wheel encoders, which gave us better control of the robot in autonomous mode.
The kids I worked with had no problem understanding the concepts and implementing them.
What I understand is that FIRST is coming out with a controller soon and it will be radical change from previous years. The only way to do auto mode well is that you need a different controller. So I do hope that the controller will be released soon so we can train our kids now.
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