You received your new control system ... Now What?

[Joe Ross]

Over the next 2-3 weeks, close to 500 teams are going to be receiving their new control systems. I know everyone is excited, but I wanted to share some things that will make everyone's life a little easier.

As you may know, I am on one of the 18 beta teams. Over the past two months, we have been reviewing documentation, writing code, testing the hardware and software, and giving demos. We started with version 0.1 of documents, and have helped them go through 3 or 4 or 5 revisions. The software we started with has now been updated 6 times. However, the documentation and software is still not perfect. We've looked at everything 15 times, so now we don't see the problems. That's your job, to find the things everyone's been overlooking. Now the beta team's jobs are to help the 500 teams who now have the control systems. We're the triage unit to help teams with the easy things, and make sure the real problems get addressed.

From the control system manual:

Please remember the primary goal of “early control system shipment” is for you to learn how the system works and to resolve any potential problems before kickoff.

So, where do you start?

I think everyone's first idea will be to either install the programming software (LabVIEW, Windriver Workbench, or both) or to install the cRIO into a robot or test platform. While not the worst thing you could do, you'd be much better off following the guide that FIRST put together in section 1 of the control system manual. You'll notice that of 10 steps, installing the software is step 4 and installing the cRIO on a robot is step 8.

The real place to start is at http://usfirst.org/frccontrolsystem

That is where FIRST has posted the control system manual, along with links to other documentation from NI and WPI.

Read section 1 of the manual all the way through. It will point you to where you need to get anything else you need. It has has the 10 step process for getting everything set up, and eventually into a robot. It leads you along in a logical fashion. No matter what you do, don't miss step 2, inventorying the kit within 3 days. You'll proceed along, first hooking everything up in a benchtop test, then verifying very basic functionality. You'll then progress to loading new "images", setting up the wireless, and finally writing your own code. To quote the manual once again.

The beta test teams followed these steps and found that these tasks
provided them with the information they needed in order to successfully use the new control system. If you follow the steps below, the beta test teams will be better able to provide assistance to your team if you encounter any problems.

So, where do you ask questions?

I know there will be a lot of questions. That can be a good thing, and that can be a bad thing. Many times, people get excited and ask poor questions. Take a little bit of extra time to reread the manual, and look around for the solution. More times then not, someone has already had your problem. Now that I got that out of the way, to quote the manual again:

Please post requests for technical support to the 2009 FRC Control System Beta Test Public Forum
at forums.usfirst.org. Beta test teams will be monitoring the forum to assist you.

One of the requirements for the beta test teams is to monitor and answer questions on the public beta test forums. We are not required to answer questions on chiefdelphi, via email, or via twitter (although some people may choose to do so). I like chiefdelphi as much as anyone (and have over 3000 posts to prove it), however, over the next 2 months, my obligation is to the FIRST beta test forums. If you want my help, you'll get it faster if you post there. I know it's force of habit to hop onto chiefdelphi to ask something, but please consider posting it on the beta test forums instead. Most teams won't be getting their control systems for a few more days, so hop over there, register, and start reading. In case you have trouble navigating through the many forums there, the direct link to the 2009 FRC Control System Beta Test Public Forum is http://forums.usfirst.org/forumdisplay.php?f=743

You'll notice that I quoted quite a bit from the manual. That's because many people at FIRST, NI, BAE, and WPI put a lot of time into the manuals, along with all the beta teams. It's not perfect, but you'll get much farther if you read it.

I'm finishing up a few cool (in my opinion) examples, so keep checking the beta forums for those too.

Here's to a great control system and a great season!

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

From the control system manual:



So, where do you start?


The real place to start is at http://usfirst.org/frccontrolsystem....



That is where FIRST has posted the control system manual, along with links to other documentation from NI and WPI.

Read section 1 of the manual all the way through. It will point you to where you need to get anything else you need. It has has the 10 step process for getting everything set up, and eventually into a robot. It leads you along in a logical fashion. No matter what you do, don't miss step 2, inventorying the kit within 3 days. You'll proceed along, first hooking everything up in a benchtop test, then verifying very basic functionality. You'll then progress to loading new "images", setting up the wireless, and finally writing your own code. To quote the manual once again.

Thanks Joe.!!!
I too would like to re-enforce the though of reading the manuals. There is more info stuffed into them than you might imagine.

I do have one question that didn't seem to fit into the forums. On the link you provided as the place to start, there is a link for "Chapter 4 Software Installation". It only leads back to USFIRST.org. Any clue what is up with that??

[Mark McLeod]

There is a gotcha during the software installation step that might be addressed in the missing "Software Installation" chapter.

Labview and Wind River install as a single package.
Wind River requires an active Internet connection to install, however, so make sure you are connected before you begin, and have plenty of disk space.

Be warned that the Wind River activation is not school network friendly.

You may find about two hours into the installation when Wind River installs, that your Internet connection is not open enough and you will be left at a standstill.

Have an Internet proxy ready or install through a home network if at all possible.
I'm not sure we'll be able to use the software on our FIRST robotics desktop computers.

P.S.
I should add that Labview is completely on Disk 1 and is installed first.
Disk 2 only has Wind River and can be installed later on it's own if your Internet connection isn't available or turns out not to be up to snuff.

[rees2001]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

There is a gotcha during the software installation step that might be addressed in the missing "Software Installation" chapter.

Labview and Wind River install as a single package.
Wind River requires an active Internet connection to install, however, so make sure you are connected before you begin, and have plenty of disk space.

Be warned that the Wind River activation is not school network friendly.

To go along with this, it should tell you to install on a laptop (or stand-alone) computer. You will need to change the IP address in the ports & unless your school's IT department gives you those privileges you will need another place to download code from. We found that we can use the school computers to write code in masses & then save to a repository, put on flash drive, & then bring to the programming computer.

Also, Joe, you rock. Your comments are very helpful & insightful. FIRST is lucky to have a great mentor like yourself. To everyone working on your new control systems, please read & re-read Joe's comments.

Please don't rush through your setup. You have been given time, take advantage of it.

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

There is a gotcha during the software installation step that might be addressed in the missing "Software Installation" chapter.

Labview and Wind River install as a single package.
Wind River requires an active Internet connection to install, however, so make sure you are connected before you begin, and have plenty of disk space.

Be warned that the Wind River activation is not school network friendly.

You may find about two hours into the installation when Wind River installs, that your Internet connection is not open enough and you will be left at a standstill.

Have an Internet proxy ready or install through a home network if at all possible.
I'm not sure we'll be able to use the software on our FIRST robotics desktop computers.

P.S.
I should add that Labview is completely on Disk 1 and is installed first.
Disk 2 only has Wind River and can be installed later on it's own if your Internet connection isn't available or turns out not to be up to snuff.

Thanks again Mark.
These suggestions and potential troubleshooting scenarios will save our team lots of time and headaches when we get it.

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by billbo911

Thanks Joe.!!!
I too would like to re-enforce the though of reading the manuals. There is more info stuffed into them than you might imagine.

I do have one question that didn't seem to fit into the forums. On the link you provided as the place to start, there is a link for "Chapter 4 Software Installation". It only leads back to USFIRST.org. Any clue what is up with that??

OK, to answer my own question.
The link for "Chapter 4 Software Installation" is now corrected and takes you to the PDF document.

Thanks FIRST!!!

[Jon236]

Does everyone else with the new control system have the keyed pwm connectors with hoods? They are great as extensions, and work well with the Y'ed drive pwm connectots, but they won't plug into the speed controllers!

[Nate Smith]

Originally Posted by Jon236

Does everyone else with the new control system have the keyed pwm connectors with hoods? They are great as extensions, and work well with the Y'ed drive pwm connectots, but they won't plug into the speed controllers!

There's an update on the FIRST site for how to modify these cables for use with the speed controllers...
http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Rel...ble%20Memo.pdf

[Jon236]

Originally Posted by Nate Smith

There's an update on the FIRST site for how to modify these cables for use with the speed controllers...
http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Rel...ble%20Memo.pdf

Thank you!!