2007 Robot Controller

[Kingofl337]

For all of you who want USB because your laptop doesn't have any serial ports. Here is some inside info.

These rule! : CARDBUS / PCMCIA - RS232 Cards

They are insanely fast compared to USB to RS-232.

[efoote868]

Originally Posted by BrianBSL

c) IEEE1394 isn't nearly as standard on PC's as USB

PC's maybe... i've seen quite a few laptops with them though. Anyhow it was just a thought...

[tux]

> There isn't a computer that can be used for programming that doesn't have USB support

My old Pentium 1 begs to differ... And it's much faster than the 486 we used last year, too.

[Mike]

I used to be on the bandwagon that wanted a USB interface.

However much a USB interface would benefit those doing solely IFI programming, it would be detrimental to those teams using off-board processors. Right now there are two ways to get information to the IFI board during a game. The program port and the TTL port. Unless you feel like designing a pass-through system so you can use your system and the camera on the TTL port, the other option is using the program port.

I mean I guess we could just use a USB->Serial converter, but I'd rather have slow programming time than slow data transmission.

[ThomasP]

The new controller is going to be Java based.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

The new controller is going to be Java based.

I almost spit my Mountain Dew out reading that.

[bear24rw]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

The new controller is going to be Java based.

Yeah, i really hope they dont do that..

And to the post above that about needing another serial line for co processing, they could have two ttl ports and a mini usb just for programming...

[Tom Bottiglieri]

The new controller is going to be exactly the same as the old controller. They may upgrade the PIC again, seeing as there was so many problems with the 8722.

[Tottanka]

I heared that last year's controller has some major isues with gyro...
Some teams reported they gyro had actually burned their RC, so it is probably one of the things that gonna be cahnged..

Onboard radio would be awesome cause personnlay, we had one friendly match last year with no robot functioning' cause the Radio in came out of the RC, wich wouldnt have happened if we had it onboard...

USB's would be an awesome addition to the RC, cause i remember having many problems with that last year,like bringing a laptop wich doesnt support serial, but only USB, and then having to carry around with a huge Desktop computer and a monitor is not really fun...

Also, maybe they will change the OI too, having it supported with USB ins, so we can use much better joystics and other controllers, without having to switch from USB to Serial...

Getting a 9 pin cable was also a bit of aproblem last year, with USB, stuff will be much easier, as its used everywhere and there are like 10 of them in each house. At least 10...

[ThomasP]

Originally Posted by bear24rw

Yeah, i really hope they dont do that..

And to the post above that about needing another serial line for co processing, they could have two ttl ports and a mini usb just for programming...

What's wrong with Java?

CollegeBoard uses Java for the AP Computer Science exam and schools with a FIRST team are likely to have an AP Computer Science class... there aren't many extreme syntax differences between C and Java but using a language that the average HS computer science student is familiar with would probably spark more interest.

[chris31]

Originally Posted by Tottanka

USB's would be an awesome addition to the RC, cause i remember having many problems with that last year,like bringing a laptop wich doesnt support serial, but only USB, and then having to carry around with a huge Desktop computer and a monitor is not really fun...

Buy a USB to serial converter. I have seen people bring desktops to competiton and its a huge waste of pit area.

[bear24rw]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

What's wrong with Java?

CollegeBoard uses Java for the AP Computer Science exam and schools with a FIRST team are likely to have an AP Computer Science class... there aren't many extreme syntax differences between C and Java but using a language that the average HS computer science student is familiar with would probably spark more interest.

Yeah i took AP CS last year, idk i guess its just a preference, i would just prefer C

[chris31]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

What's wrong with Java?

CollegeBoard uses Java for the AP Computer Science exam and schools with a FIRST team are likely to have an AP Computer Science class... there aren't many extreme syntax differences between C and Java but using a language that the average HS computer science student is familiar with would probably spark more interest.

Java doesnt run on PICs by default. Plus Microchip is a sponsor of FIRST. I think that they hope with there donation of Mplab that they assume some people will grow to use and like it and then use PICs and there C compiler for personal and buisness projects..

[Kristian Calhoun]

Originally Posted by Tottanka

on board radio would be awesome cause personnlay, we had one friendly match last year with no robot functioning' cause the Radio in came out of the RC, which wouldn't have happened if we had it on board...

Word of advice: make sure to check and tighten your radio connection on the processor before every match. It also doesn't hurt to check and see if any of your pwm cables are loose, and that the backup battery is securely fastened. There's nothing worse than being in the middle of a match and suddenly getting no response from a motor/sensor, or the entire robot as a whole if the radio comes loose.

Originally Posted by ThomasP

What's wrong with Java?

Well you see, the thing is, that they have been working so hard developing and trying to perfect EasyC Pro, that if they switched over to Java, then they would have to start all over with EasyJava. And rumor has it that banana sensors don't quite work the right way in java.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by ThomasP

What's wrong with Java?

Java isnt built to run on small embedded devices. The main point of Java is to provide cross platform compatibility. When you compile a Java program, it does not compile to straight machine code, as a C program does. It compiles to whats called Java Byte Code, which then has to be run through an interpreter to be turned into machine code your processor can understand. Based on your system (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, UNIX, etc..) you will need a different interpreter. We are all using the same system in FIRST, so there is no need for that level of abstraction. Java is one of the slowest languages out there, and when developing for embedded devices you want to strive for speed and efficiency.

The reason AP CS is taught in Java is for its wide range of compatibility, and the fact it is an object oriented language which is built off the idea of classes. While your final product may be slow and limited, the programming methods you must use to create applications is very robust and practical. The AP CS class doesn't exist to teach you Java, but rather to teach good programming techniques in an object oriented language.