Any Programmers Have The Same Feeling As Me?

[brianc217]

Where does FIRST give the target tracking code for LabVIEW? Are you just talking about the libraries or is there default code in the autonomous VI for vision?
I haven't looked at the new LabVIEW yet since we just finished installing it on our computers. Thanks.

[a kenny03]

Originally Posted by Tanis

The others have explained it pretty well-

The reason is because many teams lack the coding prowess to do a lot of that by themselves.

However, in my experience, truly implementing the code they give you well is the more challenging part. Sure they give you the code that runs the encoders and camera, but doing something with that data (and doing it well) requires a lot of time, patients, and know-how.

For example, last year they gave everyone the two-color camera tracking code. Yet even with that, very few teams were able to effectively follow the trailers.

And once you get some of that working, ask yourself what else you can do. The next step could involve PID loops. Some teams have even included ultrasonic or IR sensors, GPS devices, and more. There is always more you can in your code (with some electronic assistance) to make your job more challenging.

our team gave up on the 2 color tracking demo. as for the basic java programs, you have to update the plugins

[DanDon]

Originally Posted by bear24rw

Kevin Watsons code could easily be adapted for the servo tracking, (http://kevin.org see tracking.c from 2007). It basically just keeps adding the current error (position of target - center) to the servo values.

A man of my own mind....they can still be optimized though....I remember making some extensive modifications to them in 2007, including running 2 CMUcams at the same time .

[bear24rw]

Originally Posted by DanDon

A man of my own mind....they can still be optimized though....I remember making some extensive modifications to them in 2007, including running 2 CMUcams at the same time .

Any chance of you posting those optimizations somewhere? I'm doing a side project involving tracking stuff with servos and would be interested in seeing what all you changed

[jmanela]

Originally Posted by brianc217

Where does FIRST give the target tracking code for LabVIEW? Are you just talking about the libraries or is there default code in the autonomous VI for vision?
I haven't looked at the new LabVIEW yet since we just finished installing it on our computers. Thanks.

to answer your question, in the new LV architechure (not sure about WR or Java) they impliment the vision tracking program for you (it's in the vision code). However, there is room for improvement based on your application.

The libraries are good so you can skip the housekeeping. To learn effectively, it is better to get right to the mashed potatoes and get into your logic.

[Boydean]

I find it useful, while not intruding. I'm going to be using the out of the box camera tracking for our needs, with a little extra tweaking(aka, restructuring to make it process faster). But other then that, I had it tracking the target and centering just fine after about 15min of refining. I want to spend that time saved trying to do more complex things, like calculating the trajectory of the ball accurately.

I'm the kinda of person who doesn't like to reinvent the wheel. If someone has already done it, and gives it to me; I'll use it and go work on something else.

[TheDominis]

If you think about it, the WPI library only provides low-level functions such as motor and servo control, interpretation of sensor data, an interface with the driver station, and vision (acquisition and interpretation via NI's vision library).

Programming, especially in this competition, isn't always about writing low-level code, but also the constructive use existing code. Finding a creative way to these mechanisms is easy, but the implementation can be infinitely harder.

[Dragon Princess]

I found that when you use the codes already given, you spend more time tailoring it to your robot then anything else, but you can also remember that you can choose not to use the given code and write yours from scratch, I'll tell you that it's some-what frustrating at time but it is entirely possible.

[jerry w]

Originally Posted by brianc217

Where does FIRST give the target tracking code for LabVIEW? Are you just talking about the libraries or is there default code in the autonomous VI for vision?
I haven't looked at the new LabVIEW yet since we just finished installing it on our computers. Thanks.

I am embarrassed to say that we could not find the vision code. I knew FIRST had supplied it. I had a student search on-line for the labview library. Then two days ago I was teaching two new students how the FRC code worked. There in the default vision loop was the entire example code.
The code is very thorough and should be easy for even our laziest student to follow. (Don't worry Gavin, no one will know it is you.)