Programming Minibot

[ssmith2]

So I see that there are multiple languages you can program the minibot in which is fine and I think we can figure that out. Our team's issue is that we don't have a nearby FLL or FTC team and I don't know where to get the "brick" and other other components that are used to build the minibot. Are those just things we can buy on andymark or something? Please forgive my ignorance and any pointers in the right direction will be appreciated.

Team 1737

[davidthefat]

http://www.legoeducation.us/store/de...D=187&by=9&c=1

[rEgonicS]

Are we allowed to use a microcontroller such as a Basic Stamp or an Arduino?

[Guppy]

Originally Posted by jshkish

... but team 931 my team is not going to program it we are gonna use household switches..

Wouldn't that interfere with rule <R03>?

Custom circuits and COTS electronics are expressly prohibited if they:
A. Interfere with the operation of other ROBOTS.
B. Directly affect any output devices on the ROBOT.

ROBOT is defined as

ROBOT – ...ROBOT includes both the HOSTBOT and the MINIBOT.

The motors are output devices. Or is this a misinterpretation of the rules?

[davidthefat]

Originally Posted by rEgonicS

Are we allowed to use a microcontroller such as a Basic Stamp or an Arduino?

No, it has to be the one listed on the rules.

[Robototes2412]

my minibot design is a flat circuit board

it has a switch that kicks on the motors when its activated, and the motors die once it hits the top.

I'll scan my drawing asap

[eugenebrooks]

Motors die as in magic white smoke?
That would be expensive... :-)

[Dustin Shadbolt]

Originally Posted by eugenebrooks

Motors die as in magic white smoke?
That would be expensive... :-)

lol!

[Al Skierkiewicz]

The minibot rules do not require a controller. If you intend to use one, it must be the NXT only. The definition of ROBOT & MINIBOT differ. Do not be confused.

[dag0620]

Here's a question I have.

I was pretty familiar with the NXT Brick in FTC and that it could be programmed in LabView.

However those of us on our team are having this debate. I know FTC has there own FMS and the bricks can be tied into them. However, will the Mini-bots be tied into the FMS for us somehow? The manual seemed to be vague on that, not mentioning on it either way, and I didn't see anything in the Control System manuals.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Dave,
The mini is a completely autonomous vehicle. There is no external control either from the FMS or from a driver station.

[sloteera]

So... can I connect the battery directly to the motor without using that HiTechinic Driver...

That's right?

[dag0620]

Thanks Al!

This then brings up the point theres going to need to be mechanisms to get the robot to move right on time, I'm sensing a big problem that the engineers and programmers on teams will be trying to tackle.

[pschre]

My team is looking to use an NXT brick, and possibly program with NXT-G (I am not our FRC programming mentor but I am the school's FLL coach so my only experience is with NXT-G). However, our school's FLL team advanced to city champs (same weekend as the NYC Regional) so we won't use their bricks. For us, an FLL team is much easier to find than an FTC team. One of our alumni may lend us his, but I believe his is imaged for one of the other languages.

But since minibot weight stands to make all the difference, minibots that can go without an NXT brick will, in many cases, be very hard for minibots that do have that extra weight to beat.

[Jack Jones]

Originally Posted by sloteera

So... can I connect the battery directly to the motor without using that HiTechinic Driver...

That's right?

IMO - That remains to be ruled upon. If MINIBOT is a subset of ROBOT, then it appears that it must conform to the ROBOT rules, which say that custom circuits (eg. a switch) can not directly supply power to a motor. OTOH, if the MINIBOT is a "robot" (which is hard to define - but I know one when I see one ) then some other intrepretation based solely on the manual section 4.3.14 MINIBOT may apply.