[FTC]: And here we go again!

[iblis432]

a complex autonomous could be built were it not for the NXT's horrible memory management. I don't know about other teams, but i constantly had to tweak my teleop before i even built autonomous to fit on the NXT last year.

[PhilBot]

The key to making your NXT programs smarter jet still fit in the NXT is to make strong use of SubVI's (or subroutines).

The code for these is shared, so they take up less room than two sets of duplicate code.
So if you find yourself adding the code to turn 90 Dec several times in your program, you can make your program smaller by creating a SubVI to do that turn.

Better yet, make a SubVI that has the turn angle as an input.

We had an Auto program last year that had 12 different move patterns.
We just kept making the SubVI's smarter, and more generic, till we got to the point that every Auto sequence was built up from three or four VI's (which managed moving and shooting).
To add an entire new sequence we just had to call the existing VIs. This required very little extra code or memory.

Remember. Cut & Paste is the enemy of programs. If you find yourdelf doing a cut & paste of C or LabVIEW code, it's time for a Subroutine or subVI.

Phil.

[JohnFogarty]

I'm not a master C programmer yet but when it comes to programming in the language follow the KISS method is how we do it and the world championship last year proved us right in most respects. Now this year we are doing aLOT more sensor based programming to a small extent but what people didn't realize last year I didn't see a single team out there where that Infared sensor worked consistently. Now Line following...I liked that i have heard it was VERY reliable for autonomous espcially.

Within your code for C make sure you're not repeating your int statements at the Tennesse regional espcially I went around helping teams alot of them had 2-3 in statements reintializing the same thing multiple times.

And going to what Phil said about in LabVIEW those subVI's can sometimes make or break you on file size requirements.

Have fun this season
John Fogarty

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by John_1102

I didn't see a single team out there where that Infared sensor worked consistently.

For the record, our IR sensor worked 100% reliably.

If we ever missed a goal in Auto, it was because our shooting height fluctuated, or somene blocked the robot from getting in position. If not, we were always dead center.

It also worked really well in teleop. We had single button for aim-and-fire. If the driver got the distance right, it was always on target.

The Key to a useful IR sensors was using the required 30 degree offset (to center the narrow beam on the target) and then comparing the intensity of the two beams on either side to split the absolute center of the beam.

ps: it also helps if you don't let the beacon battery go dead

Phil.

[Kevin Thorp]

I just finished the game animation a couple days ago. Wow, the Game Design Team at FIRST did a great job coming up with some fun challenges this year! I'm looking forward to seeing all the innovative robot systems the teams design to meet those challenges.

I probably shouldn't do this, but here is a link to the last frame of the game animation.

[PhilBot]

Real helpful.....

I suppose I should just "Get over it".

[ttldomination]

Anyone know when the information goes live on the FIRST website?

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

Anyone know when the information goes live on the FIRST website?

You need to look around a bit.
It's on the main FTC page.

5:00pm EST Sat 9/11

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=962

Phil.

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by PhilBot

You need to look around a bit.
It's on the main FTC page.

5:00pm EST Sat 9/11

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=962

Phil.

I do apologize. After posting here I went to the FIRST page and there it was.

[iblis432]

I'm so excited, i spent my morning intensly reading the Samantha files and info, and i've kept a timer open for how long until 5 PM. Being co captain of the team this year, I'm very eager to bring our team to fame and fortune.

I have a not so healthy obsession with FIRST i think, but then again so does everyone else here.

[fireyoshi]

The game is called Get Over It.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...lt.aspx?id=968

The timer page is being glitchy, though.

EDIT: Or not, the video is up.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...nt.aspx?id=962

[PhilBot]

Originally Posted by PhilBot

Real helpful.....

I suppose I should just "Get over it".

Called it !!