View Single Post
  #9   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 18-02-2010, 00:39
reversed_rocker's Avatar
reversed_rocker reversed_rocker is offline
Alumni
AKA: Ken Condon
FRC #0706 (Cyberhawks)
Team Role: College Student
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Rookie Year: 2008
Location: Hartland
Posts: 69
reversed_rocker is on a distinguished road
Re: Who Has Programmed From Scratch?

yes, the demo code will work for a simple robot, but if you want to go beyond that you have the option. the code for 706's robot recently broke 500 lines (i started with the example "simple robot template", which was around 40 lines to begin with). it all depends on how many features you want and the amount of control you want on each one. i find that if programming has become to repetitive or too easy, i can just come up with a couple more sensors to add to take that extra load off the driver, or make an awesome autonomous mode.

some great ways to challenge your programming skills:

write an autonomous mode that automatically aims at the target

give your robot a swerve drive and make your own steering wheel

use a custom controller (something beside the joysticks)

write debugging code/add diagnostic sensors to see if any part of your robot is malfunctioning

all of these things are very possible but cant be done by copying and pasting demo code, and of course you can always write your own commands instead of using the ones built into the WPI library (i for one really dont like the PID controller)